Pacific Division Logjam: Three Teams Tied for Final Wild Card Spot as Playoff Push Heats Up
With the Olympic break looming, the Pacific Division is shaping up to be one of the NHL’s most competitive battlegrounds. Right now, three teams - the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle Kraken - are locked in a dead heat at 57 points apiece, battling for the final wild card spot.
Thanks to the tiebreaker, the Sharks currently hold that playoff position, but with each team set for a busy stretch, the margin for error is razor-thin. Let’s dive into how each Pacific squad fared this past week and what lies ahead as the playoff picture starts to take shape.
Anaheim Ducks: Streaking, Then Stopped
The Ducks came into the week flying high, riding a five-game win streak - and they kept it rolling with two more impressive road victories. First, they took down the Kraken 4-2 on Friday, then outlasted the Flames in a 4-3 overtime thriller. That made it seven straight wins, but the streak came to a halt in Edmonton, where the Oilers handed them a 7-4 loss in a high-octane affair.
Still, Anaheim’s surge has them trending in the right direction. They’ve got three more games before the Olympic pause: they’ll wrap up their road trip in Vancouver on Thursday, then return home to host the Golden Knights on Sunday and the Kraken on Tuesday. With momentum still largely on their side, the Ducks could play spoiler - or even sneak into the playoff conversation themselves if they keep banking points.
Calgary Flames: Searching for a Spark
It’s been a rough stretch for the Flames, who’ve now dropped four straight. Their week started with a 3-1 home loss to the Capitals, followed by that overtime heartbreaker against Anaheim. The effort is there, but the results just aren’t lining up.
Calgary’s got a chance to flip the script with four games before the break. They’ll head to Minnesota on Thursday for their final road game of this stretch, then return home for a three-game homestand: San Jose on Saturday, Toronto on Monday, and a rivalry showdown with Edmonton on Wednesday. If the Flames are going to stay in the hunt, this upcoming stretch is critical.
Edmonton Oilers: Rebounding in Style
After taking a 6-2 thumping from Pittsburgh to start the week, the Oilers bounced back in dramatic fashion. First, they won a 6-5 overtime thriller - one of the most entertaining games of the season - then followed it up with a 7-4 victory over the Ducks. That’s the kind of offensive firepower that makes Edmonton so dangerous when they’re clicking.
Now in the middle of an eight-game homestand, the Oilers will look to keep the good vibes going. They’ll host the Sharks on Thursday, the Wild on Saturday, and the Maple Leafs on Tuesday before a quick trip down to Calgary next Wednesday. With the offense heating up, the Oilers could be poised to climb the standings fast.
Los Angeles Kings: Back on Track
The Kings look like they’ve turned a corner. They’re riding a three-game win streak and have picked up points in six straight.
This past week, they edged the Blues 5-4 in a shootout and followed that up with a solid 3-1 win over the Red Wings. It’s been a much-needed bounce back for a team that had struggled to find consistency earlier this season.
But there’s no time to exhale - L.A. has a five-game slate coming up. They’ll hit the road for games against Buffalo (Thursday), Philadelphia (Saturday), and Carolina (Sunday), then return home to host Seattle next Wednesday before heading back out to face Vegas the following night. It’s a grueling stretch, but if the Kings keep banking points, they could solidify their playoff position.
San Jose Sharks: Holding On - For Now
The Sharks are clinging to that final wild card spot, thanks to a tiebreaker, and they earned it with a strong week. They knocked off the Rangers 3-1 and followed that with a 5-2 win over the Canucks. Four points in the standings, and they’re very much alive in the playoff race.
San Jose’s next four games are all on the road, and they’ll be tested. The trip starts in Edmonton on Thursday, then moves to Calgary on Saturday, Chicago on Monday, and Colorado on Wednesday. If the Sharks can weather that storm and come away with a few wins, they’ll be in a strong spot heading into the break.
Seattle Kraken: Still in the Fight
Seattle stumbled out of the gate this week with a 4-2 loss to the Ducks but responded with authority. They bounced back to beat the Devils 4-2 on Sunday and followed that up with a dominant 5-1 win over the Capitals on Tuesday. That’s the kind of response you want to see from a team in the thick of a playoff race.
The Kraken wrap up their six-game homestand with a tough one against the Maple Leafs on Thursday. After that, it’s a road-heavy stretch: they’ll visit Vegas on Saturday, then play back-to-back games against Anaheim (Tuesday) and Los Angeles (Wednesday). With three games against direct Pacific rivals, this upcoming week could be a make-or-break stretch for Seattle.
Vancouver Canucks: Small Bright Spot in a Tough Season
It’s been a brutal year for the Canucks, who sit at the bottom of the NHL standings with just 39 points through 53 games. That’s eight points behind the next-worst team.
They did manage to snap an 11-game losing streak with a 4-3 win last Wednesday, but the relief was short-lived. Losses to the Devils (5-4), Penguins (3-2), and Sharks (5-2) followed.
Vancouver is in the middle of an eight-game homestand, and they’ll host the Ducks on Thursday and the Maple Leafs on Saturday. After that, it’s back on the road to face Utah on Monday and Vegas on Wednesday. At this point, the Canucks are playing for pride - and maybe to play spoiler down the stretch.
Vegas Golden Knights: Still Leading, But Vulnerable
The Golden Knights remain atop the Pacific Division with 63 points, but it wasn’t a banner week for the defending champs. They started strong with a 6-3 win over Toronto on Friday but were hammered 7-1 by Ottawa on Sunday and dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Montreal.
Now comes a busy stretch for Vegas. They’ll host the Stars on Thursday and the Kraken on Saturday, then head to Anaheim for a quick road tilt on Sunday.
After that, they’ll be back home for a back-to-back against the Canucks (Wednesday) and Kings (Thursday). With the division tightening up, the Knights will need to find their form quickly to keep their spot at the top.
The Bottom Line
Three teams tied for the final wild card spot. A division leader showing cracks.
A couple of red-hot squads making noise. The Pacific Division is chaos right now - the kind of chaos that makes for great hockey.
With the Olympic break just around the corner, every point matters, every game has stakes, and every team’s margin for error is shrinking by the day. Buckle up.
This playoff race is just getting started.