Given that 30 NHL teams competed on Saturday, shifts in the rankings were unavoidable as the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff picture began to materialize.
Although two additional teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, secured their spots, the adjustments in the standings weren’t particularly drastic.
The most significant change occurred in the Western Conference wild-card competition, with the Nashville Predators regaining the last postseason berth after a 6-3 triumph against the San Jose Sharks. This is an overview of that competition presently:
The Predators, currently enjoying a 7-3-0 run, occupy the second wild-card spot, having accumulated 81 points and 26 regulation victories over 76 matches. They trail the Utah Mammoth by five points for the first wild card.
The Los Angeles Kings are level on points, also with 81 from 76 games, yet they are significantly adrift in the regulation wins count, possessing only 19. With insufficient games remaining for the Kings to surpass the Predators in regulation wins, they must establish an outright lead over Nashville in total points.
The Sharks currently sit two points behind the Predators’ and Kings’ standing but possess an additional match to play. They boast 24 regulation wins; should they be tied with Nashville in RW, the subsequent tiebreaker is regulation and overtime wins, in which they hold a 34-31 advantage.
Finally, the Winnipeg Jets stay in contention, trailing the Kings and Wild by three points, and matching Nashville’s count of 26 regulation wins.
The Eastern Conference presents a more complex scenario, partly because the New York Islanders, occupying third place in the Metro Division, are merely a single point ahead of the four squads vying for the second wild-card position.
Here is the current situation entering Sunday’s contests:
The Ottawa Senators occupy the WC1 slot, having amassed 88 points and 29 regulation wins over 76 games. They welcome the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+), who would become their initial playoff adversary if the rankings remain static until April 16.
Following them are the Detroit Red Wings, also with 88 points from 76 games, but four behind in regulation wins. They will host the Minnesota Wild in Detroit on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, TNT).
The Philadelphia Flyers are the most in-form club in the competition, having compiled a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 outings, and also boast 88 points from 76 games. Nevertheless, they are nine points adrift in regulation victories, meaning they will need to unambiguously lead in total points to secure the position. The Flyers will host the Boston Bruins (currently holding the first wild-card spot) on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
The Columbus Blue Jackets presented one of the most compelling narratives of the season’s latter half but have encountered a difficult period, achieving a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 contests. They hold 88 points from 77 games, with 27 regulation wins, and are off-duty on Sunday.
Some speculated that the Washington Capitals were conceding defeat on the season by dealing veteran defenseman John Carlson. Regardless, they have surged back into contention with a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 matches, drawing to within a single point of the four teams holding 88 points. The Capitals’ advantage lies in their existing 33 regulation wins (a tie with the Senators), should tiebreaking procedures become necessary. Washington will visit the New York Rangers on Sunday (7 p.m., ESPN).
Who will prevail from these groups? Time is dwindling for clubs to make their decisive push.
Each team has seven or less matches remaining before the regular season ends on April 16, and we will assist you in monitoring the developments daily via the NHL playoff watch. As we navigate the homestretch, we will offer specifics on all playoff competitions, as well as the clubs competing for placement in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Montreal Canadiens vs. A3 Buffalo Sabres
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Edmonton Oilers vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Anaheim Ducks vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Today’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Minnesota Wild at Detroit Red Wings, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Last night’s scoreboard
New York Rangers 4, Detroit Red Wings 1
Minnesota Wild 4, Ottawa Senators 1
Colorado Avalanche 2, Dallas Stars 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Boston Bruins 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 9, Florida Panthers 4
Montreal Canadiens 4, New Jersey Devils 3 (SO)
Washington Capitals 6, Buffalo Sabres 2
Carolina Hurricanes 4, New York Islanders 3
Winnipeg Jets 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Utah Mammoth 7, Vancouver Canucks 4
Los Angeles Kings 7, Toronto Maple Leafs 6 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Edmonton Oilers 1
Calgary Flames 5, Anaheim Ducks 3
Nashville Predators 6, San Jose Sharks 3
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Seattle Kraken 2
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” alongside a team’s name signifies that the team has secured a postseason berth. An “e” indicates that the team has been mathematically eliminated. Teams secure a playoff spot when their magic number hits zero, and are mathematically eliminated when their tragic number hits zero.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Group
Central Conference
Pacific Sector
Contest for the Top Selection
The National Hockey League employs a draft lottery system to establish the sequence of selections in the opening round, meaning the squad concluding the season at the bottom of the standings does not automatically secure the premier pick. Since 2021, a franchise may advance by up to ten positions if victorious in the lottery draw, consequently, only eleven clubs qualify for the opportunity to claim the top choice. Comprehensive information regarding this procedure is accessible here. Leading the prospect rankings for the upcoming summer’s draft is Gavin McKenna, an attacker representing Penn State.
*Observation: The selection belonging to the Maple Leafs is currently held by the Bruins, provided it does not fall within the initial five positions.