As of March 23, 2025, the NHL playoff race is intensifying with teams vying for top positions as the regular season nears its end.

In the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes hold the top position with a 15.3% chance of winning the Stanley Cup, followed closely by the Tampa Bay Lightning at 12.6%.

In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights currently lead with a 12.4% chance of winning the Cup, closely followed by the Colorado Avalanche at 12.3%.

Other notable contenders in the West include the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers, with playoff chances of 5.8% and 5.4%, respectively.

Despite acquiring star player Mikko Rantanen, the Dallas Stars are ranked seventh among Western teams with only a 3.1% chance of winning the Cup.

Teams like the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are still in the playoff hunt despite lower percentages, with the Stars at 3.1% and the Blues at 3.5%.

The final day of the regular season is set for April 17, 2025, creating urgency for teams to secure favorable playoff positions.

Current playoff matchups indicate the Florida Panthers leading the Atlantic Division and facing the Ottawa Senators, while the Tampa Bay Lightning are matched against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs follow with playoff chances of 9.5% and 5.5%, respectively, while the Florida Panthers are slightly behind at 5.0%.

The standings reflect the urgency as teams compete for playoff berths, detailing points, regulation wins, and upcoming games.

Key matchups today include the Lightning facing the Golden Knights and the Hurricanes playing the Ducks, both scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

The article discusses playoff probabilities and points projections for all 32 teams, assessing their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.