The 2025-26 NHL regular season has merely 10 days remaining. A total of seven teams have secured a spot in the playoffs, while five others have been mathematically removed from contention.
For the other 20 organizations, their prospects for the postseason hang in the balance – and the ultimate playoff seeding still requires resolution.
Tuesday presents another rather busy day on the NHL schedule, with 11 matches slated. Here are the six contests expected to have the most significant influence on the playoff landscape:
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
This encounter isn’t precisely a “loser leaves town” scenario, but it’s approaching that critical juncture for both teams. (And to consider, both appeared like sure bets at various moments this season.) Each squad trails the Senators by just two points for the final Eastern Conference wild card position, yet both are behind Ottawa in regulation victories (the initial tiebreaker) by more games than they have left to play. Therefore, they will need to accumulate more points, which is a formidable task given their recent performances. A loss in regulation for either side would represent a significant shift in their fortunes.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Predators have been vying with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks for the Western Conference’s second wild card spot. Following Monday’s games, the Preds sit one point behind the Kings with 82 points and 26 regulation wins through 77 contests, with the Sharks (81 points, 25 RW through 76 games) hot on their heels.
Conversely, the Ducks are no longer considered the “unexpected Ducks,” and they still possess a chance to secure the Pacific Division title. They head into Tuesday’s game level with the Oilers in standings points, but with six fewer regulation victories (and fewer than six games remaining); they will need to accumulate more points than Edmonton to claim the championship.
Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth
9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Regarding the Oilers, they do possess the regulation wins tiebreaker advantage over the Ducks but would prefer to solidify the division championship based purely on points if feasible. What’s at stake for the division victor? A first-round encounter against these very same Utah Mammoth, who are poised to bring playoff hockey to the Beehive State for the first time in its 130-year existence.
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils
7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Much like an RKO, the Flyers’ playoff charge emerged “from out of nowhere,” and they commence play on Tuesday holding the Metro Division’s No. 3 position. However, they are far from secure in that spot with three teams within three points of them – all of whom boast higher regulation win totals. And although they are tied with the Senators in the prospective wild-card competition, they trail Ottawa by 10 regulation wins. In essence, Philadelphia desperately needs every standings point it can acquire.
As for the Devils, they have already achieved 40 victories this season, but are teetering on the brink of mathematical elimination due to an excessive number of regulation defeats. Nevertheless, they would undoubtedly relish the opportunity to undermine the playoff aspirations of their I-95 adversaries.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
It has been a tumultuous season for the Senators due to various on- and off-ice factors. Yet, as of Tuesday, they occupy a playoff berth thanks to a recent 6-3-1 stretch, and they hold the advantage in the regulation wins tiebreaker, with 34. Earning points here (through a victory or an overtime/shootout loss) would be an added benefit, considering their subsequent four games are against teams currently outside of playoff contention (Panthers, Islanders, Devils, Maple Leafs).
The Lightning are level with the Buffalo Sabres in standings points and two points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens at the top of the Atlantic Division; they are also two behind the Hurricanes for first in the East.
Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Should the Atlantic Division champion surpass the Hurricanes – or if the Bruins fall to the second wild card position – this contest would foreshadow a first-round playoff series. However, even without that underlying context, these are crucial points for both organizations, as the Bruins can still theoretically catch the teams ahead of them in their division, and the Canes aim to preserve their home-ice advantage for as long as feasible this postseason; only the Colorado Avalanche currently outrank them.
Each team has six or fewer games remaining before the regular season concludes on April 16, and we will assist you in monitoring all developments here on the NHL playoff watch daily. As we navigate the final stretch, we will furnish details on all the playoff pursuits – alongside the teams vying for advantageous positions in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff probabilities are provided by Stathletes.
Advance to:
Current playoff pairings
Today’s fixture list
Results from last night
Detailed standings
Contest for the No. 1 selection
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
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 broadcast on TNT or NHL Network are available for streaming on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
(ESPN)
Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Utah Mammoth, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Results from the previous evening’s games
Buffalo Sabres 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Winnipeg Jets 6, Seattle Kraken 2
San Jose Sharks 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3, Nashville Predators 2 (SO)
Detailed league rankings
Please observe: An “x” next to a team’s designation signifies that the squad has secured a postseason berth. An “e” indicates that the club has been statistically ousted from contention. Teams clinch a playoff position once their magic number reaches zero, and they face statistical elimination when their tragic number hits zero.
Atlantic Conference
Metropolitan Conference
Central Conference
Pacific Conference
Contest for the top draft selection
The National Hockey League employs a draft lottery system to establish the sequence of selections in the initial round. Consequently, the squad concluding the season at the bottom of the standings is not assured the premier overall pick. Effective 2021, a club has the potential to ascend by up to ten positions should it emerge victorious in the lottery, therefore, merely eleven clubs qualify for the opportunity to secure the top pick. Comprehensive information regarding this procedure is accessible via this link. Leading the prospective draftees for the forthcoming summer is Gavin McKenna, an attacker hailing from Penn State.
*Please be aware: The selection owned by the Maple Leafs is currently held by the Bruins, provided it does not fall within the top five positions.