Hurricanes, Blue Jackets battle for seeding in the Metro Division playoff race

The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets are both firmly in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff picture, but their final seeds hang in the balance with just 10 or fewer games remaining before the regular season ends on April 16.[1] The Hurricanes currently hold the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, positioning them to face a wild-card team in the first round, while the Blue Jackets occupy the second wild-card slot and are pushing for a division berth. Tonight’s matchup in Columbus at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ could shift the landscape dramatically for both Metro Division rivals.

Stathletes projections give the Hurricanes a slight edge over the Tampa Bay Lightning for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, forecasting 109.9 points to Tampa’s 109.7. Columbus, at 97.4 projected points, is expected to fall just short of a division spot, with the New York Islanders taking third in the Metro at 97.7 and Ottawa snagging the top wild card at 98.0.[1]

Current Eastern Conference playoff matchups

The playoff bracket is taking shape, with the Hurricanes slotted as M1 against WC1 Boston Bruins and the Blue Jackets as WC2 facing A1 Tampa Bay Lightning if standings hold.[1] Other key pairings include A2 Buffalo Sabres versus A3 Montreal Canadiens, and M2 Pittsburgh Penguins against M3 New York Islanders.

• Atlantic Division leaders: Tampa Bay (A1) and Buffalo (A2) hold strong positions, but surging wild-card contenders could disrupt this.
• Metro Division contenders: Carolina leads, but Pittsburgh and the Islanders are close behind, with Columbus nipping at their heels.
• Wild-card fight: Boston clings to WC1, but Columbus trails by four points, the Islanders by one for Metro third, and Pittsburgh by two for second. Ottawa, Detroit, and Philadelphia lurk two points back of Columbus.

This setup means every point is gold, especially in divisional games. The Penguins’ explosive 8-3 win over the Islanders last night—highlighted by five second-period goals—tightened the race further.[1]

Recent form adds intrigue. Columbus stunned Carolina 5-1 on March 17, with Charlie Coyle notching a goal and three assists to extend their point streak to 10 games at the time.[2] The Hurricanes, however, have been resilient, holding a 46-21-6 record with 98 points and nine games left as of recent updates.[3]

Projections from Stathletes suggest razor-thin margins, underscoring why tonight’s clash is pivotal. A Blue Jackets win could vault them toward Metro third, while Carolina aims to solidify their division lead and conference positioning.

Tonight’s marquee matchup: Carolina at Columbus

The Hurricanes visit Nationwide Arena for a 7:30 p.m. ET showdown on ESPN+, a game that could define both teams’ postseason paths.Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus coach Pascal Vincent emphasized lessons from recent games ahead of this tilt, hoping to build on their surge into playoff contention.[4]

Carolina’s tiebreaker edge over Tampa for potential East No. 1 status makes home-ice advantage crucial. The Canes have thrived against wild-card hopefuls, but Columbus’s recent form—including a chance to leapfrog into Metro second—poses a threat.[5]

For the Blue Jackets (38-24-12, 88 points per some trackers), four points separate them from Boston’s WC1 and chasers like Ottawa two points back.[6] A victory not only boosts their points percentage (.595) but avoids nightmare first-round foes like Tampa.

This rivalry game echoes their March 17 encounter, where Columbus dominated. Expect high intensity, with Carolina’s power play facing Columbus’s improved defense.

Broader context includes last night’s Penguins explosion, which hurt the Islanders and indirectly aids Columbus’s climb. Stream all non-national games on ESPN+ (local blackouts apply).

Full slate of games and last night’s results

Tuesday’s schedule is packed with playoff implications across both conferences:

• Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
• New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
• Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
• Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
• New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
• Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
• Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
• Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m.
• Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
• Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m.[1]

Last night’s highlights included Pittsburgh’s 8-3 rout of the Islanders, Colorado’s 9-2 thrashing of Calgary, Vegas’s 4-2 win over Vancouver, Toronto’s OT victory against Anaheim, and San Jose edging St. Louis 5-4. These results reshuffled the wild cards and division races overnight.

In the West, Colorado leads Central, Dallas second, Anaheim tops Pacific, with wild cards to Utah and Nashville. Eastern races remain fluid, with no team yet clinched beyond projections.

For more on the Blue Jackets’ surge, see our coverage of their path to the 2026 playoffs. The Penguins’ chase adds pressure, detailed in their pursuit of the Metro top spot.

Every remaining game against Eastern foes carries outsized weight, from Columbus’s home-and-home potential with Carolina to chasers like Detroit and Philly.

What it means for the playoffs and draft

With magic numbers ticking down—clinches or eliminations imminent—the Hurricanes can lock in a top-three seed with consistency, potentially drawing Boston or Ottawa first. Columbus eyes avoiding a tough Tampa matchup, aiming for home ice via a Metro spot.[7]

Stathletes sees Columbus qualifying as Metro No. 3 in some models (99.5 points), edging Ottawa.[8] Tiebreakers like regulation wins will decide close calls.

Outside playoffs, bottom feeders eye the draft lottery for prospects like Gavin McKenna, with only 11 teams eligible for No. 1 (max 10-spot jump).

As the stretch run intensifies, tonight’s result could cement trajectories. Fans should watch how these Metro battles influence the entire Eastern bracket—expect fireworks through April 16.