Hurricanes, Blue Jackets Race for Playoff Spots!

As play continues on Tuesday, both the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets are positioned within the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff field, with their final seeding to be determined by the remaining games. The Hurricanes currently hold the top spot in the Metro Division and are contending for the overall No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. This positioning would pit them against a wild-card team in the first round.

The Blue Jackets occupy the second wild-card position. They are in a close race, trailing the Boston Bruins for the first wild card and the New York Islanders for third in the Metro. Several other teams are closely pursuing them. Stathletes projections suggest the Hurricanes will narrowly edge out the Tampa Bay Lightning for the conference's top seed, while the Blue Jackets are projected to fall just short of both a divisional playoff spot and a wild card.

With fewer than 10 games remaining for each team before the regular season concludes on April 16, every point earned, especially against Eastern Conference opponents, is critical. The NHL employs a draft lottery for the first round, meaning the last-place team does not automatically secure the No. 1 selection. Up to 10 spots can be gained through the lottery, making only 11 teams eligible for the No. 1 pick. Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State, is currently atop draft boards.