The NHL playoff race is hitting fever pitch with less than a month left in the 2025-26 season. And boy, is it getting interesting.
A surprising number of teams are still fighting for those precious few playoff spots. But here’s the real question: which bubble team could cause the biggest headache for a top seed in Round 1?
The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking downright dangerous. Since their shocking January move to bring in Rick Bowness as head coach, they’ve been dominating the ice. They’re now sixth-best in the league at controlling play during even-strength hockey.
Zach Werenski is playing like a superstar on defense, while young goalie Jet Greaves keeps turning heads. Add in Kirill Marchenko’s two-way excellence and some sneaky-good depth at center, and you’ve got a team nobody wants to face in a seven-game series.
But don’t sleep on the Ottawa Senators. Under Travis Green, they’ve been putting up impressive numbers all season. Now that they’re finally getting solid goaltending, those wins are starting to pile up.
The Sens aren’t just happy to be here – they’re hungry. After making the playoffs last year, they’re desperate to prove it wasn’t a fluke. With major changes looming if they fall short, they’re playing with real urgency.
The New York Islanders have been turning heads too. Matthew Schaefer has been electric between the pipes, while Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat are playing their best hockey of the year.
They might not be the most exciting team to watch, but they know how to shut things down. If they can channel that suffocating defensive style that made them so tough during the COVID years, watch out.
Out west, the Utah Mammoth are raising eyebrows in their debut season. Adding Mackenzie Weegar to their blueline was huge, and splitting up Clayton Keller (44 points in his last 42 games) and sniper Dylan Guenther (33 goals) has their offense clicking.
The Mammoth might have lucked out with their likely seventh-place finish. They could end up facing some beatable Pacific Division teams – a struggling Vegas squad, a defensively-challenged Ducks team, or even an Oilers group that might be missing Leon Draisaitl.
Two wins against that crowd could put Utah in the Western Conference Final. It won’t be easy, but in this year’s wide-open playoff race, anything seems possible.
