With Selection Sunday fresh in sports fans' minds, NHL playoff races are heating up as teams vie for postseason positioning. The Boston Bruins hold the East's first wild-card spot, while the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets battle for the second berth. Stathletes projections show Columbus has the highest odds among bubble teams of making a deep run, with 6.0% chances to win the Stanley Cup.

In the West, the Utah Mammoth sit atop the wild-card race, potentially facing a more favorable path through the Pacific Division. The Mammoth's record against Pacific contenders shows promise, with upcoming games against the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken and Los Angeles Kings all remain in contention for wild-card spots, though all have struggled against likely division champion Colorado Avalanche.

The Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres hold a commanding 99.6% playoff probability, while the Carolina Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division at 99.9%. Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are also virtual locks for the postseason. With roughly 15 games remaining before the April 16 regular season finale, positioning battles intensify daily. The Bruins' upcoming matchup against the New Jersey Devils could prove pivotal for Eastern Conference seeding.