With the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs fast approaching, teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences are fighting to maintain their standings and secure a Wild Card spot.
Of course, the regular season has already shattered several predictions made by analysts and fans alike. Below, we look at the teams that defied the odds to clinch their spots and the giants that came crashing down.
The longest playoff streak in the NHL comes to an end
While the running joke in the NHL has always been Toronto’s inability to get past the first round, few actually expected them to miss the postseason entirely. After the match against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Arena, it became official—the Toronto Maple Leafs has broke their playoff streak and will be missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
The Maple Leafs actually started strong before the 2026 Winter Olympics break but after that? It all went downhill for the team and slowly but surely, shrunk their chances of making it to the playoffs. The team held an 8-game losing streak until they faced the Anaheim Ducks on March 12th—a whole month after the break.
Bad luck just followed the Maple Leafs, as after the match against the Ducks, it was announced that Maple Leafs' Captain Auston Matthews sustained a grade 3 MCL tear and a quad contusion that led him to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
With a record of 32-31-14 and 78 points Toronto’s season is effectively over. However, their struggles have bought them a lottery ticket: a roughly 7.5% chance at the No. 1 overall pick. It’s a small silver lining, but adding a rising star could be exactly what this roster needs to reset.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the "Jurassic Park" or the Maple Leaf Square will be empty. Instead of lights and thousands of fans proudly wearing the blue maple leaf on their chest, the square will remain empty—a reminder of a 9 year streak, over.
The downfall of the back-to-back champions
Before the season even began, the Florida Panthers were automatically included in almost every playoff prediction. It was hard to bet against them, especially after their historic run of back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.
Following a 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was a surprise to everyone to see the 'E' next to the Panthers' name on the standings. It confirms that the back-to-back champions will not be returning to the postseason to battle for the Stanley Cup.
Similar to the Maple Leafs' situation, Captain Aleksander Barkov remains under Long-Term Injured Reserve after he underwent knee surgery and was given a recovery time of seven-to-nine months, forcing him to not only miss the entire season but also the Winter Olympics.
As of today, injuries still haunt the reigning Champions, as half of the roster are injured, including critical players like Sam Reinhart (OUT - Foot), Brad Marchand (IR-LT - Lower Body) and Aaron Ekblad (OUT - Finger). For a team trying to defend a title, losing this much veteran leadership proved to be a dead end.
They currently hold a record of 37-36-3 with 77 points, sitting behind the Maple Leafs. They have a 5% chance of winning the lottery draft, and if the lottery balls fall in their favor and Florida’s pick stays in the top 10, they keep it. However, if they slip to 11th or lower, the pick transfers immediately to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Buffalo ends the longest playoff drought in NHL history
After missing the playoffs for 14 years, you can't blame fans and analysts for not including the Buffalo Sabres in their 2026 Playoffs Predictions. Oh, but the team proved all wrong, as playoffs hockey officially returns to Buffalo, as they ended the 14-year drought after a 5-2 loss against the Detroit Red Wings
Following decades of hardship including two Stanley Cup Final defeats, the Sabres' struggles were further underscored by the departure of star players like Jack Eichel (VGK) and Ryan O'Reilly (then STL, now NSH) who both hoisted the cup in their hands, who found success elsewhere.
After a hefty game against the Tampa Bay Lightning last March 8, winning with less than 5 minutes on the clock, Buffalo officially moved into first place in the Atlantic. For a fanbase that hadn't seen the top of the standings in over a decade, that goal felt like the start of a new era.
The Sabres stand at 3rd for the Atlantic Division with a record of 46-23-8 and 100 points. Despite the success, there's still doubt from people on how the Buffalo Sabres' season will end, but for now, the team's focus shifts onto the playoffs and fans can finally celebrate.
As the regular season comes to an end, teams like Toronto and Florida are heading home early to face a summer of 'what-ifs,' while holding on to their lottery chances, hoping to land a top 10 draft pick this coming. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, a fourteen-year shadow has finally lifted and the future is bright.
Clinching a spot doesn't mean the hard part is over—it's just getting started! With the standings nearly set, the path to the championship is slowly opening. Mark your calendars: the Stanley Cup Playoffs officially begin on April 18.