In a fortnight from this Thursday, the NHL will be drawing its standard season to a close. Even with that date fast approaching, many aspects are still undecided concerning the contenders for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Though every club has under ten contests left to play, merely two have guaranteed a postseason slot. Nevertheless, this figure might increase by the conclusion of Thursday’s 14-match schedule.
The Buffalo Sabres endeavor to terminate the most protracted postseason absence in NHL history, spanning 14 years. They seem poised to accomplish this feat, and with a magic number of two, the simplest means to achieve their goal is a triumph against the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Senators are one of the teams contending for a wild-card spot — they commence Thursday sharing standings points with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers, who are, fortuitously, also set to play each other this Thursday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
Within the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes likewise possess a magic number of two, and find themselves, therefore, in a comparable situation to Buffalo’s: Secure a victory and you advance! Considering that either the Flyers or Red Wings will emerge victorious in their match, no outcome involving a defeat (be it in standard time, extra time, or a tie-breaker) secures qualification for the Sabres and Hurricanes.
Out West, the Minnesota Wild’s magic tally stands at one, thus affording them broader avenues to secure their entry into the postseason. The Wild will welcome the Vancouver Canucks (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+), requiring any form of triumph or even a defeat during extra time or a tie-breaking shootout to guarantee their position.
Will an additional three teams have an ‘X’ appended to their designation on the leaderboard by Thursday evening? An exhilarating period lies ahead for devoted hockey enthusiasts.
Each club possesses nine or fewer contests left before the standard season’s culmination on April 16, and we will assist you in monitoring all developments here through the daily NHL playoff monitor. As we navigate this concluding phase, we shall furnish specifics on every postseason pursuit — and also the teams contending for placement in the 2026 NHL entry draft lottery.
Note: Postseason probabilities are sourced from Stathletes.
Navigate to:
Present postseason pairings
This day’s agenda
Previous evening’s results
Detailed rankings
Contest for the top selection
Present postseason pairings
Eastern League
A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western League
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday’s Fixtures
Disclaimer: All timings are Eastern Time. Every contest not broadcast on TNT or NHL Network can be streamed via ESPN+ (subject to regional broadcast limitations).
Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Utah Mammoth at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday Evening’s Results Board
Vancouver Canucks 8, Colorado Avalanche 6
Los Angeles Kings 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 4, Anaheim Ducks 3
Detailed Rankings
Disclaimer: An ‘x’ beside a team’s designation signifies that the squad has secured a postseason position. An ‘e’ indicates that the club is no longer mathematically in contention. Clubs secure a postseason berth once their magic figure drops to zero, and face mathematical elimination when their tragic figure reaches zero.
Atlantic Section
Metropolitan Section
Central Division
Pacific Division
The Quest for the First Overall Pick
The National Hockey League employs a draft lottery system to determine the initial round’s selection order; consequently, the squad finishing at the season’s bottom is not guaranteed the top pick. As of 2021, a team can ascend by a maximum of 10 positions if victorious in the lottery, meaning only 11 clubs are eligible for the drawing for the premier selection. Comprehensive details regarding this procedure can be accessed via this link. Leading the draft prospects for the upcoming summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward from Penn State.
*Important Note: The Maple Leafs’ selection is owned by the Bruins, unless it falls within the first five positions.