The close of the work week marks the NHL’s trade cutoff for the 2025-26 season, and once these transactions conclude, the postseason competitions truly intensify.
While numerous squads may appear altered from their state on Friday morning, the conclusion of the business week signifies the arrival of a fresh compilation of the ESPN NHL Power Rankings. This week, in addition to a new array of rankings, we’ve pinpointed the most enthralling match on each team’s fixture list for the remainder of March.
Our Ranking Methodology: A collective of ESPN hockey broadcasters, evaluators, correspondents, and editorial staff submits a 1-32 survey, considering contests up to Wednesday.
Note: Prior placement for each team indicates the preceding version, issued Feb. 27. Win percentages are after Thursday’s matches. All betting lines are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, liable to shift.
Prior placement: 1
Win percentage: 75.8%
Crucial game: March 6 against the Stars. The Avalanche and Stars showcased one of the finest postseason encounters in recent history last spring, and are currently vying for both the Central Division title and the prime overall seeding in the NHL. This will be their second-to-last regular-season confrontation of 2025-26, as they are slated to play again on March 18 in Denver.
Upcoming seven days: @ DAL (March 6), vs. MIN (March 8), vs. EDM (March 10), @ SEA (March 12)
Prior placement: 5
Win percentage: 69.7%
Crucial game: March 21 against the Wild. Indeed, the Stars have two matchups against the Avalanche this month. However, if they do not surpass Colorado in the standings, their probable initial playoff adversary will be Minnesota, which suggests the potential for some “statement making” in this confrontation.
Upcoming seven days: vs. COL (March 6), vs. CHI (March 8), vs. VGK (March 10), vs. EDM (March 12)
Prior placement: 3
Win percentage: 68.9%
Crucial game: March 14 against the Lightning. The standings will undergo further developments until the conclusion of the regular season, yet the leading contenders to clash in this spring’s Eastern Conference finals will do so in this mid-March meeting.
Upcoming seven days: @ EDM (March 6), @ CGY (March 7), vs. PIT (March 10), vs. STL (March 12)
Prior placement: 4
Win percentage: 66.1%
Crucial game: March 24 against the Lightning. In one potential scenario, this serves as a Stanley Cup Championship sneak peek, featuring some U.S.-Canada tension as well. Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy of the U.S. Olympic team are on the Minnesota side, while Brandon Hagel, coach Jon Cooper, and original Canadian Olympians Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point are on the Tampa Bay squad.
Upcoming seven days: @ VGK (March 6), COL (March 8), vs. UTA (March 10), vs. PHI (March 12)
Prior placement: 2
Win percentage: 66.7%
Crucial game: March 21 against the Oilers. There isn’t necessarily a great deal of animosity between these two teams presently, but that could shift if the Oilers return to the Stanley Cup Final … only to find another team from Florida impeding their path. This matchup offers our ultimate glimpse of what that series might entail.
Upcoming seven days: @ TOR (March 7), @ BUF (March 8), vs. CBJ (March 10), vs. DET (March 12)
Prior placement: 6
Win percentage: 64.5%
Crucial game: March 8 against the Lightning. Earlier this season, few hockey aficionados would have anticipated that this early March game would have an influence on the Atlantic Division championship contention, and nevertheless, this is the situation.
Upcoming seven days: vs. NSH (March 7), vs. TB (March 8), vs. SJ (March 10), vs. WSH (March 12)
Prior placement: 9
Win percentage: 62.5%
Crucial game: March 31 against the Lightning. This will be the Habs’ third away fixture in the South within a four-day span, and a possible first-round series preview. It also serves as a reminiscence of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, a surreal undertaking where the two Atlantic Division rivals contended for the trophy owing to pandemic-era divisional restructuring.
Upcoming seven days: @ ANA (March 6), @ LA (March 7), vs. TOR (March 10), @ OTT (March 11)
Prior placement: 8
Win percentage: 61.5%
Crucial game: March 16 and 24 against the Avalanche. Of all the conceivable Stanley Cup Final matchups on the agenda as the league schedule concludes, this one would certainly attract substantial viewership in Nova Scotia — with Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon both originating from the province. Crosby is still sidelined due to a leg ailment suffered at the Olympics, but the second of these matchups is near his anticipated comeback date.
Upcoming seven days: vs. PHI (March 7), vs. BOS (March 8), @ CAR (March 10), @ VGK (March 12)
Prior placement: 7
Win percentage: 62.1%
Crucial game: March 27 against the Sabres. The Wings compete in ten of their final twelve March contests against Eastern Conference adversaries, against whom they are vying for a postseason berth. Prominent among these opponents are the Sabres, whom they might encounter in the initial round as the Atlantic Division’s No. 2 and 3 seeds.
Upcoming seven days: vs. FLA (March 6), @ NJ (March 8), @ FLA (March 10), @ TB (March 12)
Prior placement: 14
Win percentage: 59.5%
Crucial game: March 30 against the Penguins. This represents one of the understated rivalries in the Eastern Conference, with some memorable postseason clashes having transpired in past years. The contention persists this season, as both teams are maneuvering for placement in the Eastern Conference playoff structure.
Upcoming seven days: @ SJ (March 7), @ STL (March 10)
Prior position: 11
Points percentage: 59.8%
Pivotal match: March 17 versus the Canadiens. While it might seem a bit unusual that the Bruins won’t be competing in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day, any Montreal-Boston contest remains noteworthy on the schedule, especially this season as both teams vie for a playoff spot.
Next seven days: vs. WSH (March 7), @ PIT (March 8), vs. LA (March 10), vs. SJ (March 12)
Prior position: 10
Points percentage: 58.1%
Pivotal match: March 8 and 26 facing the Oilers. As of Thursday, no Pacific Division squad had amassed sufficient points in the standings to qualify for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, even as an unseeded entry. Nevertheless, a team will eventually claim this division, and these encounters could notably damage the Oilers’ prospects against Vegas.
Next seven days: vs. MIN (March 6), vs. EDM (March 8), @ DAL (March 10), vs. PIT (March 12)
Prior position: 16
Points percentage: 59%
Pivotal match: March 28 visiting the Oilers. As the season’s conclusion nears, and the Ducks persist in their quest to break their postseason dry spell, any contest against another squad contending for the playoffs becomes crucial.
Next seven days: vs. MTL (March 6), vs. STL (March 8), @ WPG (March 10), @ TOR (March 12)
Prior position: 22
Points percentage: 59%
Pivotal match: March 29 hosting the Bruins. The Blue Jackets barely failed to secure a playoff berth last season, and currently find themselves just beyond the qualification zone. Contests against existing playoff teams gain heightened significance, a category into which this late-March confrontation with the Bruins falls.
Next seven days: vs. UTA (March 7), vs. LA (March 9), @ TB (March 10), @ FLA (March 12)
Prior position: 12
Points percentage: 56.5%
Pivotal match: March 19 visiting the Golden Knights. As of Friday, the Mammoth are poised to bring Stanley Cup postseason NHL action to Utah for the very first time. Their adversaries, based on the current league positions? None other than the Golden Knights, making this contest a potential taster of that prospective series.
Next seven days: @ CBJ (March 7), @ CHI (March 9), @ MIN (March 10), vs. CHI (March 12)
Prior position: 13
Points percentage: 54.8%
Pivotal match: March 8 and 26 visiting the Golden Knights. The Pacific Division title is still very much contested with just over four weeks remaining in the season, and these two contests against Vegas could significantly influence Edmonton’s prospects of securing the premier position.
Next seven days: vs. CAR (March 6), @ VGK (March 8), @ COL (March 10), @ DAL (March 12)
Prior position: 21
Points percentage: 56.6%
Pivotal match: March 11 hosting the Canadiens. A postseason comeback in 2025 was envisioned as the initial entry in a series of participations for Brady Tkachuk & Co.; while that remains a possibility, the squad must commence winning more matches against opponents higher in the standings, such as the Habs.
Next seven days: @ SEA (March 7), @ VAN (March 9), vs. MTL (March 11)
Prior position: 23
Points percentage: 54.8%
Pivotal match: March 11 and 31 facing the Flyers. Throughout Alex Ovechkin’s illustrious career marked by records, the three squads he has netted the highest number of goals versus are the Jets/Thrashers (58), Hurricanes (53), and Flyers (52). The Caps will not face the Jets or Canes further this season, yet they do have a couple of matchups with Philly.
Next seven days: @ BOS (March 7), vs. CGY (March 9), @ PHI (March 11), @ BUF (March 12)
Prior position: 19
Points percentage: 54.9%
Pivotal match: March 14 visiting the Canucks. The Kraken and Canucks could eventually rise to become one of the NHL’s fiercest antagonisms, given their close regional location. Regarding the present situation, Seattle requires every possible point it can acquire, including the two it should readily secure in this encounter.
Next seven days: vs. OTT (March 7), vs. NSH (March 10), vs. COL (March 12)
Prior position: 20
Points percentage: 54.9%
Pivotal match: March 7 visiting the Penguins. A playoff berth for the Flyers remains a distinct possibility, and securing a victory against their Keystone State adversary could productively propel them towards that goal.
Next seven days: @ PIT (March 7), vs. NYR (March 9), vs. WSH (March 11), @ MIN (March 12)
Prior position: 18
Points percentage: 54.2%
Pivotal match: March 12 visiting the Bruins. Macklin Celebrini stands as one of hockey’s most promising young talents, ranking among the top five in NHL scoring and producing numerous memorable moments at the Olympics. He also skated for Boston University, thus this contest will serve as a form of return to familiar ground for the 19-year-old.
Next seven days: vs. STL (March 6), vs, NYI (March 7), @ BUF (March 10), @ BOS (March 12)
Prior position: 24
Points percentage: 51.6%
Pivotal match: March 21 visiting the Senators. While both the Leafs and Sens are presently beyond the postseason consideration, the ferocity invariably escalates for a Saturday night Battle of Ontario showdown.
Next seven days: vs. TB (March 7), @ MTL (March 10), vs. ANA (March 12)
Prior position: 17
Points percentage: 52.5%
Pivotal match: March 22 and 28 facing the Mammoth. Postseason berths are scarce, and the Kings aspire to provide Anze Kopitar with a fitting send-off through a concluding playoff showing. Currently, they lack an entry, while the Mammoth possess one.
Next seven days: vs. MTL (March 7), @ CBJ (March 9), @ BOS (March 10)
Prior position: 15
Percentage of points accumulated: 50.8%
Crucial match: March 6 and 10 against the Red Wings. Having secured two consecutive Stanley Cups (along with a prior Cup Final showing), the Panthers’ absence from the postseason for a single year is understandable. Yet, for them to launch a decisive push this campaign, it needs to commence with this pair of contests, one home and one away, versus the Red Wings, a team currently positioned higher than them in the league table.
Next seven days: @ DET (March 6), vs. DET (March 10), vs. CBJ (March 12)
Prior standing: 25
Accumulated points ratio: 51.6%
Pivotal match: March 7 vs. the Rangers. The importance isn’t quite as elevated as certain past encounters within the Hudson River Rivalry; however, a distinct fervor invariably emerges whenever these two squads compete on the rink.
Next seven days: vs. NYR (March 7), vs. DET (March 8), vs. CGY (March 12)
Former position: 26
Percentage of total points: 51.6%
Decisive fixture: March 10 and 19 against the Kraken. Similar to other teams on the postseason cusp, the Predators must seize every available point from teams presently holding playoff berths. The Kraken align with this description as of Friday.
Next seven days: @ BUF (March 7), @ SEA (March 10), @ VAN (March 12)
Prior spot: 27
Points accumulation rate: 49.2%
Significant encounter: March 19 at the Bruins. Having secured the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s premier regular-season squad in 2024-25, the Jets are not expected to replicate that accomplishment this campaign. Nevertheless, this contest versus Boston promises an enjoyable reunion for U.S. Olympic comrades Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor, alongside the Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman.
Next seven days: vs. VAN (March 7), vs. ANA (March 10), vs. NYR (March 12)
Former standing: 28
Point accumulation ratio: 45.9%
Crucial contest: March 24 at the Islanders. A unique event invariably unfolds when ice hockey enthusiasts get to observe two recent first-overall selections face off, and such will be the scenario here as Connor Bedard (2023) leads his Blackhawks to Long Island to confront Matthew Schaefer (2025) and the Isles.
Next seven days: vs. VAN (March 6), @ DAL (March 8), vs. UTA (March 9), @ UTA (March 12)
Earlier position: 30
Percentage of collected points: 45.1%
Momentous fixture: March 28 vs. the Canucks. For both the Flames and Canucks, each point within the standings holds significance — albeit in the opposite direction compared to teams vying for a postseason spot.
Next seven days: vs. CAR (March 7), @ WSH (March 9), @ NYR (March 10), @ NJ (March 12)
Former spot: 29
Rate of points accumulated: 45.9%
Important contest: March 10 vs. the Flames. Given the presence of transformative talents in the current year’s draft pool, supporters of teams near the league’s lower echelons will be monitoring matchups such as this one with considerable scrutiny as the regular season concludes.
Next seven days: @ NJ (March 7), @ PHI (March 9), vs. CGY (March 10), @ WPG (March 12)
Preceding rank: 31
Percentage of total possible points: 45.1%
Crucial fixture: March 18 at the Flames. Concurrently with the postseason races entering their concluding phase, the competition for placement in the NHL draft lottery likewise intensifies. Vancouver currently holds a significant ‘lead’ over the others; however, St. Louis’ forthcoming contests against clubs like Calgary will play a role in determining which team secures the subsequent position.
Next seven days: @ SJ (March 6), @ ANA (March 8), vs. NYI (March 10), @ CAR (March 12)
Past position: 32
Total points ratio: 35.2%
Pivotal match: March 26 vs. the Kings. During a campaign that has deviated from expectations in numerous respects, one fact remains undeniable: this marks the ultimate occasion for Canucks enthusiasts to observe Anze Kopitar on the Rogers Arena rink prior to his retirement at the conclusion of the current season. The prospective Hall of Famer has amassed 62 points across 71 career appearances against Vancouver.
Next seven days: @ CHI (March 6), @ WPG (March 7), vs. OTT (March 9), vs. NSH (March 12)