The NHL's busy 15-game schedule on Saturday, April 11 could provide more clarity in the playoff race.
Five more NHL teams − the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and idle Anaheim Ducks − can clinch a postseason berth, joining the nine teams that have already made it. The Ducks would end a seven-season playoff drought if they clinch.
The Pacific Division lead is in play with the leading Oilers and second-place Golden Knights in action. The second wild-card seed in the Western Conference could change hands again if the Nashville Predators win and the Los Angeles Kings lose.
In non-playoff news, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin will face each other for the 100th time. That game is being nationally broadcast on ABC.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Saturday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:
April 5: A Toronto Maple Leafs fan attends the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.April 4: Fans of the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche bang on the glass during the second period of the game between the Stars and Avalanche at the American Airlines Center.March 5; Fans in the stands during the first period between the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Saddledome.Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi! stands on seats during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre on Jan. 22, 2026.Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) skates during warmup in front of fans' signs welcoming him back to Toronto.Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) poses for a photo with a fan as he comes off the ice after warmups.A fan cheers during the third period in the 2026 Winter Classic ice hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park.New York Rangers fans cheer after the 2026 Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park.Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty and members of the Dance Team perform before game against the Vancouver Canucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.Young Detroit Red Wings fans make as much noise as they can during the third period at Little Caesars Arena.Carolina Hurricanes and former Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) tosses a puck to a fan in his return to Canada Life Centre.A young fan watches the action during the third period of the game between the Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose.Hockey fans hold up signs before a Global Series ice hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena.Hockey fans hold up signs before a Global Series ice hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena.Minnesota Wild mascot Nordy poses for photos with fans during the first period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Grand Casino Arena.Seattle Kraken mascot Buoy celebrates with goalie Joey Daccord (35) after a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena.Colorado Avalanche fans cheer in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena.A Colorado Avalanche fans holds up a sign for Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena.A young fan sees her reflection in the arena glass during a game between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.Minnesota Wild mascot Nordy poses for photos with fans during the first period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Grand Casino Arena.A San Jose Sharks fan dresses in costume for Halloween during a game against the New Jersey Devils at SAP Center.Tusky, the new Utah Mammoth mascot, is introduced to the fans before the game against the Calgary Flames at Delta Center.A San Jose Sharks fan reacts after her team scores during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes.A Boston Bruins fan cheers for the team during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty performs before a game against the Florida PanthersColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) greets fans on the blue carpet before opening night against the New York Islanders.
Calgary Flames mascot Harvey the Hound before a game against the Winnipeg Jets.
1 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonApril 5: A Toronto Maple Leafs fan attends the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.1 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonApril 5: A Toronto Maple Leafs fan attends the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.2 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonApril 4: Fans of the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche bang on the glass during the second period of the game between the Stars and Avalanche at the American Airlines Center.3 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonMarch 5; Fans in the stands during the first period between the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Saddledome.4 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonMontreal Canadiens mascot Youppi! stands on seats during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre on Jan. 22, 2026.5 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonVegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) skates during warmup in front of fans' signs welcoming him back to Toronto.6 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonAnaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson (91) poses for a photo with a fan as he comes off the ice after warmups.7 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA fan cheers during the third period in the 2026 Winter Classic ice hockey game between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park.8 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonNew York Rangers fans cheer after the 2026 Winter Classic against the Florida Panthers at loanDepot Park.9 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonPhiladelphia Flyers mascot Gritty and members of the Dance Team perform before game against the Vancouver Canucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.10 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonYoung Detroit Red Wings fans make as much noise as they can during the third period at Little Caesars Arena.11 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonCarolina Hurricanes and former Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) tosses a puck to a fan in his return to Canada Life Centre.12 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA young fan watches the action during the third period of the game between the Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose.13 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonHockey fans hold up signs before a Global Series ice hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena.14 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonHockey fans hold up signs before a Global Series ice hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Avicii Arena.15 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonMinnesota Wild mascot Nordy poses for photos with fans during the first period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Grand Casino Arena.16 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonSeattle Kraken mascot Buoy celebrates with goalie Joey Daccord (35) after a victory against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena.17 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonColorado Avalanche fans cheer in the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena.18 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA Colorado Avalanche fans holds up a sign for Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena.19 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA young fan sees her reflection in the arena glass during a game between the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.20 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonMinnesota Wild mascot Nordy poses for photos with fans during the first period of the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Grand Casino Arena.21 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA San Jose Sharks fan dresses in costume for Halloween during a game against the New Jersey Devils at SAP Center.22 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonTusky, the new Utah Mammoth mascot, is introduced to the fans before the game against the Calgary Flames at Delta Center.23 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA San Jose Sharks fan reacts after her team scores during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes.24 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonA Boston Bruins fan cheers for the team during the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.25 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonPhiladelphia Flyers mascot Gritty performs before a game against the Florida Panthers26 / 31NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 seasonColumbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) greets fans on the blue carpet before opening night against the New York Islanders.
Calgary Flames mascot Harvey the Hound before a game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah
The Boston Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Lightning. They'd also clinch if they get one point, the Red Wings lose and the Senators and/or Flyers lose. A third option: The Red Wings lose in regulation and the Islanders or Flyers lose.
The Ottawa Senators will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Islanders and the Red Wings lose.
The Edmonton Oilers will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Kings. They also clinch if the Jets fail to win in regulation.
The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Avalanche. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Jets and Predators lose. Third option: The Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.
The idle Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if the Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.
After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
Sitting out of playoff position: Detroit Red Wings (91), New York Islanders (91), Columbus Blue Jackets (90), Washington Capitals (89), z-New Jersey Devils (83), z-Florida Panthers (78), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)
After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.
y-Colorado Avalanche (114) - Presidents' Trophy winners