As the NHL regular season nears its end, several playoff seeding outcomes are still undetermined. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are vying for the Atlantic Division title, with the Florida Panthers also in the mix for home-ice advantage. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers are set for a fourth consecutive first-round matchup, with home-ice advantage crucial for the Kings due to their strong home record.
In the race for playoff spots, the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets are competing for a position, while the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames are battling for playoff berths. The Wild and Blues have one game left each, while the Flames have two remaining, with all three teams eyeing postseason qualification in matchups against Vegas and Winnipeg. Each team's fate hinges on their upcoming performances and the outcomes of their rivals' games in the final week of the regular season.