NYT Maps Out The NHL Playoff Board For 2025-26

The New York Times is taking a fresh run at the 2025-26 playoff picture, and that means the standings math is already getting loud. This is the part of the season where every point starts carrying two lives, one in the standings and one in the tiebreaker column. Analysts can draw the brackets all they want, but everyone in the room knows the picture can flip fast once injuries, slumps, and hot streaks start doing their thing.