As the 2025-26 NHL season barrels into its final fortnight, the race for playoff positioning is reaching a fever pitch. The Colorado Avalanche, sitting atop the league with 110 points, are trying to fend off a surging Carolina Hurricanes squad and lock down the Presidents' Trophy and the Western Conference's top seed.

The Hurricanes have been on a tear, posting a 7-3-0 record in their last ten games to close within six points of Colorado. However, with the Avalanche holding a game in hand, Carolina's path to the league's best record is incredibly narrow. In fact, Colorado could mathematically eliminate that possibility as early as Tuesday night with a win and a Hurricanes loss.

Colorado's grip nearly slipped in a surprising Week 24, where they suffered two unexpected home losses, including a wild 8-6 shootout against the league's last-place Vancouver Canucks. Sandwiched between those defeats was a crucial 2-0 road win over the Dallas Stars, showcasing the Avalanche's Jekyll-and-Hyde week. They can now clinch the Central Division title—and that coveted #1 seed in the West—with a victory in St. Louis on Tuesday.

While Colorado navigated a bumpy week, a few other contenders found their stride. The Minnesota Wild were flawless in three games, and both the Vegas Golden Knights and the new-look Utah Mammoth posted perfect 2-0-0 records to solidify their playoff positions. Out west, the Los Angeles Kings also impressed, grabbing seven of eight possible points to maintain a tenuous hold on a wild card spot.

Not every story was positive, as the playoff bubble created intense pressure. The Anaheim Ducks stumbled with three losses, allowing the Edmonton Oilers to pull even for the Pacific Division lead. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets saw their postseason hopes dim after winless weeks, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change in the season's final stretch.