NHL Wild Card Standings: Which teams will clinch the remaining playoff spots?

The NHL Wild Card race is coming to a head. With every team in the NHL having 5-7 games left on the schedule, it’s anyone’s guess who will clinch the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern and Western Conference.

Let’s take a look at the NHL Wild Card rankings for each conference and assess where each team stands heading into the final stretch

NHL Eastern Conference

#1 New York Islanders, 87 Points, 5 GL

#2 Florida Panthers, 85 Points, 5 GL

#3 Pittsburgh Penguins 84 Points, 6 GL

#4 Buffalo Sabres 81 Points, 7 GL

#5 Ottawa Senators 79 Points, 6 GL

New York Islanders

The Islanders held a two-point cushion in the first Wild Card spot. With games remaining against Carolina, Tampa Bay, and even Washington, that could all change. With the way the Islanders have been playing, there’s a better than good chance they take at least one of the two Wild Card spots.

Florida Panthers

Just when you think this team is completely out of it, they jump back in. With only five games left, every game is a playoff game for the Panthers. They have Buffalo and Ottawa in their next two and both of those are must wins.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins have a game in hand over the Panthers, and four of their final six are against tanking teams like Chicago and Columbus. The Penguins are in the perfect position to leapfrog past Florida.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are four points back of a playoff spot, but a lot could change next week with two games in hand over the Panthers. Both the Panthers and the Senators are on their schedule. If they can snatch wins from a couple of playoff teams, they could be right back in it.

Ottawa Senators

With the Senators' shutout loss last night, it looks like the Senators' season is coming to an end. Five of their last six games have been against teams that are either in the playoffs or above them fighting for a spot.

NHL Western Conference

#1 Seattle Kraken, 90 Points, 7 GL

#2 Winnipeg Jets, 87 Points, 6 GL

#3 Calgary Flames, 85 Points, 6 GL

#4 Nashville Predators, 84 Points, 7 GL

Seattle Kraken

The Kraken have a prime opportunity to wrap up their NHL playoff positioning this week. The Kraken are three points ahead of the Jets with a game in hand. If they can take down Arizona, Vancouver, Arizona, Chicago, and Arizona again, they can rest their starters against the Vegas Golden Knights in the final two.

Winnipeg Jets

Everyone has been waiting for the other shoe to drop for the Jets. This could be the week. The Jets will have to play New Jersey, Calgary, and Nashville in a crucial homestand before finishing at Minnesota and Colorado.

Calgary Flames

With the Jets' tough schedule ahead, it’s time for the Flames to strike. They’ve won four of their last five and five of their last six are against teams behind them in the NHL Western Conference standings or eliminated. If the Flames go to Winnipeg and win, it could be their spot for the taking

Nashville Predators

Nashville is three points back but with a game in hand. The Predators will go to both Winnipeg and Calgary in a two-game stretch that could either make or break their season. The other five games on the schedule are a murder row for the best teams in the NHL Western Conference. 0-7 is a real possibility.