Since before the 2025-26 season even began, the mandate from GM Pat Verbeek was for the Ducks to make the playoffs. For the first time in years, the Ducks are playing meaningful games well into the regular season's final weeks. The Ducks should be in a better position to qualify for the postseason, but a recent five-game losing streak, has cast some doubt on that proposition. The defense has been horrible, the powerplay has been abysmal, and injuries have mounted, which have backed the Ducks into a corner. With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Ducks have to approach the rest of the schedule as playoff games and take control of their destiny.
Playoff race as of today
Before puck drop against the Nashville Predators tonight, the Ducks sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 87 points. The Edmonton Oilers also have 87 points, with same number of games played, but own the tiebreaker with 30 regulation wins, compared to the Ducks 24. The Vegas Golden Knights are just behind with 86 points and also have a better tiebreaker with 27 regulation wins.
The Utah Mammoth are all but guaranteed to finish in the first wildcard spot, as they have 86 points and 31 regulation wins, but not enough runway left to catch up to the top three teams in the Central Division. The Mammoth probably won't slide back in the standings either, so they're pretty much locked into their current spot.
The Los Angeles Kings are in the second wild spot with 83 points but have a horrible tiebreaker of 19 regulation wins. The aforementioned Predators are just on the outside looking in with 82 points and 26 regulation wins. The never-say-die San Jose Sharks are also just on the outside of the playoff bubble with 81 points and 25 regulation wins.
What is the magic number?
The Ducks magic number to punch their ticket for the postseason should be 93 points. If the Kings were to win out, they would be at 93 points but would lose based on regulation wins. If the Predators were to win out, they would be at 92 points and just short of catching the Ducks. The real problem though, are the Sharks. If they win out, they would also be at 93 points and would own the tiebreaker of regulation wins over the Ducks.
Best of five
Three of five, that's all the Ducks need. Three wins in their remaining five games, would get them to that 93-point mark and almost assuredly into the postseason. With two games against the Predators and one against the Sharks, the Ducks cannot only make up lost ground but put the competition further behind them. The postseason has started early for the Ducks; let's see if they can win a five-game series.