NHL playoff watch: Clinching day for the Sabres, Hurricanes, Wild?

NHL playoff watch: Clinching day for the Sabres, Hurricanes, Wild?

Two weeks from Thursday, the NHL will be concluding its regular season. Despite the proximity of that date, much remains to be determined as it pertains to the field for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. While each club has fewer than 10 games remaining to play, just two have clinched a playoff berth. However, that…

Two weeks from Thursday, the NHL will be concluding its regular season. Despite the proximity of that date, much remains to be determined as it pertains to the field for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

While each club has fewer than 10 games remaining to play, just two have clinched a playoff berth. However, that number could grow by the end of Thursday’s 14-game slate.

The Buffalo Sabres are trying to end the longest playoff drought in NHL history at 14 years. It appears they’re well on the way to doing so, and with a magic number of two, the easiest path to getting the job done is a victory over the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Senators are one of the teams battling for a wild-card position — they enter Thursday tied in standings points with the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers, who are, coincidentally, facing off on Thursday as well (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

Over in the Metro Division, the Carolina Hurricanes also have a magic number of two, and are thus in a similar scenario as Buffalo: Win and you’re in! Given that one of the Flyers or Red Wings will win that game, there’s no scenario in which a loss (either in regulation, overtime or shootout) gets it done for the Sabres and Canes.

There is also a very specific set of scenarios where the Tampa Bay Lightning can clinch on Thursday night, too:

  • If they defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation, and all of the following occur: the Flyers beat the Red Wings in regulation, and the Hurricanes defeat the Blue Jackets in regulation, and the Sabres defeat the Senators in any fashion.

  • If they beat the Penguins in overtime/shootout, and all of the following occur: the Flyers, Hurricanes and Sabres all win in regulation.

In the West, the Minnesota Wild‘s magic number is one, so they have more options to punch their ticket to the dance. The Wild host the Vancouver Canucks (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+), needing a win of any kind or a loss in overtime/shootout to secure their spot.

Will there be three more teams with an X next to their name in the standings Thursday night? It’s going to be an exciting upcoming stretch for hockey fans.

Every team has nine or fewer games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position 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

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Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

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 Conference

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 games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

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 night’s scoreboard

Vancouver Canucks 8, Colorado Avalanche 6
Los Angeles Kings 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (OT)
San Jose Sharks 4, Anaheim Ducks 3

Expanded standings

Note: An “x” with a team’s name means the club has clinched a playoff spot. An “e” means that the club has been mathematically eliminated. Teams clinch a playoff spot when their magic number reaches zero, and are mathematically eliminated when their tragic number reaches zero.

Atlantic Division

Metro Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.

*Note: The Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.

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