Just a month remains in the 2025-26 season. As slow as it may seem to go at times, we are at least 80% through the campaign with a substantial portion of the teams fighting for a playoff berth. Never has that been more apparent than in the Western Division with the top six teams separated by just eight points and the first three sqauds all within two points.

Anaheim (78 points, 14 games remaining), Edmonton (77, 12), Vegas (76, 13), Los Angeles (72, 14), Seattle (71, 14) and San Jose (70, 15) remain bunched together as we come down the stretch. The Oilers, Knights and Kings all are veterans at the game recently, the Ducks and Sharks are neophytes recently with the Kraken sitting somewhere in between. While the first three teams look to be in "good" shape, one slump, especially this late in the year, could drop you out of a spot, as the Islanders' have found out. Same with a key injury, with Edmonton trying to stay alive without Leon Draisaitl.

I am going out on a limb to say the Ducks will find a way to hold on to the Division. Vegas is my second choice, though their goaltending issues could cause them to miss the playoffs.

What do you think?