NHL Wild Card Races Heat Up
The NHL's Western Conference wild card chase is tight as teams compete for playoff spots with just 20 games left [https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/48157427/nhl-playoffs-bracket-standings-2026-wild-card-bracket-games-matchups]. The Lightning and Avalanche remain Stanley Cup favorites [https://nytimes.com/athletic/7101257/2026/03/10/nhl-playoffs-trade-deadline-lightning-avalanche-stanley-cup].
The Seattle Kraken are currently holding the second Western Conference wild card spot with 67 points. However, the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are only one point behind, making it a tight race. The Central Division is currently dominated by the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild. These three teams are in a good position to make the playoffs, with the Avalanche needing only about five more wins. Despite the Lightning and Avalanche being favorites, the Avalanche have the best odds to win the 2026 Stanley Cup at +260. The Lightning are second at +410, followed by the Carolina Hurricanes at +550.
