The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are set to begin two weeks from this coming Saturday, with the opening faceoff broadcast across ESPN’s networks. Currently, nine teams have secured their postseason berths, including the league’s top overall seed and the Metropolitan Division champion. This leaves seven coveted playoff spots still undecided.
With a packed schedule of 15 games today, hockey enthusiasts are dubbing it “Supreme Saturday,” anticipating that several more playoff berths could be locked in by the time the final horn sounds tonight.
Wondering what’s on the line in each contest? Here’s a quick overview of every game, from the initial puck drop at 12:30 p.m. ET all the way to the night’s concluding matchup, which starts at 10 p.m. ET. Scroll down for detailed clinching scenarios.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins
12:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Even though the Lightning have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, they are still vying to improve their seeding within the Atlantic Division. They sit two points behind the Canadiens for the second spot and four points shy of the Sabres for first. Should Tampa Bay claim the division title, their initial playoff opponent could be the first wild-card team, potentially these very same Bruins. Boston can secure a playoff spot with a victory; any form of loss would add further intrigue to their playoff picture as the day unfolds.
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Senators currently occupy the second wild-card position, holding a three-point advantage over the Islanders. A win today wouldn’t guarantee them the spot outright — the Red Wings could still overtake them depending on their Saturday result — but it would prevent the Islanders from surpassing them. However, New York has an alternative route to the playoffs: the Metro Division’s No. 3 seed. The Islanders begin Saturday one point behind the Flyers, but possess a crucial four-regulation-win tiebreaker should they finish tied in points.
Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
3 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Could this mark Alex Ovechkin’s final appearance against the Penguins in Pittsburgh? We may not have an answer until the summer. Nevertheless, significant playoff implications are at stake. The Penguins have cemented their position as the No. 2 seed in the Metro Division (the Flyers can match their points but lose the Regulation Wins tiebreaker). On the flip side, the Capitals are in a challenging situation, needing to win their remaining games and receive favorable results from the teams they are chasing. They are currently three points adrift of Philadelphia, with two other teams positioned between them and the Flyers.
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
While it’s highly improbable that these two teams would meet in the first round for a fifth consecutive year, it’s not entirely out of the question. Edmonton leads the Pacific Division by a single point over both the Golden Knights and Ducks (holding a three- and six-Regulation Win tiebreaker edge, respectively); they can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and some external assistance. The Kings trail the Oilers by five points and currently hold the second Western wild-card spot, one point ahead of the Predators and three up on the Jets. Earning points in every game is paramount for Los Angeles, as their 20 regulation wins are fewer than any other potential playoff contender they might face in a tiebreaker situation.
New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
If the Devils were competing in the Western Conference, they would be just two points behind the Kings for a wild-card spot. However, in their current conference, they are mathematically eliminated and now aim to play the role of spoiler. Concurrently, they are positioned 11th in the draft lottery standings, holding the final spot with a chance to leap to the No. 1 pick if they win the draw. The Red Wings are still battling for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but time is running out. They enter this game three points behind the Senators and are at a six-Regulation Win disadvantage, meaning they’ll likely need to outright surpass Ottawa in points to clinch a berth.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Historically, this classic Norris Division rivalry would have carried significant playoff weight on April 11. Instead, today’s game is entirely focused on draft lottery positioning. Chicago starts the day in second place with 70 points and 21 regulation wins. The Blues remain mathematically eligible for the postseason as play begins, but have virtually no margin for error, either from their own results or from those of the teams ahead of them. They are one of three teams entering play with 78 points and currently rank eighth in the draft lottery order.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Wild are locked into a first-round series against the Stars as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Central Division, but they are still battling for home-ice advantage in that matchup, trailing Dallas by four points entering today’s action. The Predators are a single point behind the Kings for the second wild-card spot (which would lead to a first-round clash with the Avalanche). As previously mentioned, Nashville holds the Regulation Wins tiebreaker over Los Angeles, but they need to start securing victories for that advantage to become relevant.
New York Rangers at Dallas Stars
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Stars, they can clinch home-ice advantage in their series against the Wild with a win over the Rangers; any other outcome will keep that race alive. As for the Rangers, they were the first Eastern Conference team to be mathematically eliminated. However, their relatively strong play since elimination has elevated them to fourth in the draft lottery order, two spots behind the Flames for third and two ahead of the Kraken for fifth.
Carolina Hurricanes at Utah Mammoth
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
There’s not much left for the Hurricanes to achieve this season. Carolina currently holds the No. 1 seed in the East, with a slim two-point lead over Buffalo. A win in this game — coupled with a loss by the Sabres on Monday against Chicago — would secure home-ice advantage throughout the entire Eastern Conference bracket. The home team, Utah, has already clinched a playoff spot and can secure the first wild-card position — and a first-round matchup against the Pacific champion — with any type of win and any type of loss by the Kings.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Last season, these two clubs engaged in a memorable second-round battle during the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. This season… well, outcomes haven’t unfolded as anticipated for either squad, despite Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk bringing home Olympic gold with Team USA. The Leafs and Panthers both enter play with 78 points, tied with St. Louis in the draft lottery order, and one point behind fifth-place Seattle. As is well-known, Toronto can keep their first-round pick if it falls within the top five; otherwise, it transfers to Boston as part of last season’s trade for Brandon Carlo.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Following their March 24 win against the Flyers, the Blue Jackets seemed poised to end their playoff drought. Sadly, since then — beginning with a loss to the Canadiens — they’ve posted a 1-6-1 record, and their playoff aspirations are now hanging by a thread. They are four points behind the Senators (and will not win the RW tiebreaker), but still only two points back of the Flyers (against whom they currently hold a two-regulation-win advantage). Unfortunately for Columbus, Montreal is also highly motivated for a win; a victory would bring them level with the Sabres in standings points (106), though they would remain behind due to the RW tiebreaker.
Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Flyers, their resurgence has been remarkable, transitioning from a team widely considered to be rebuilding to now holding the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division. As the adage goes, with three games remaining and a one-point lead over their pursuers, they control their own fate. The Jets are three points behind the Kings for the second Western wild-card position but possess a significant edge in regulation wins should the two teams tie by season’s end. Can Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor achieve both Olympic and Stanley Cup glory?
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Having been eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week, the Flames are now closely monitoring the draft lottery order; they enter play in third place with 73 points and 25 regulation wins, ahead of Chicago’s 70 points and 21 RW. The Kraken are clinging to their playoff hopes by the barest of margins, yet they simultaneously sit fifth in the draft lottery order. As Saturday begins, they are two points behind the Rangers for fourth and four points adrift of the Flames for third.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Between these two teams, the Golden Knights clearly have a more pressing need for a win, facing a one-point deficit in the Pacific Division race and holding only a tiebreaker lead over the Ducks for the 2-seed vs. 3-seed position. However, despite having secured the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket, the Avalanche are aware that this is a team they could potentially face later in the Western Conference Finals. Could this game be an opportunity for a statement performance?
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
For a period this season, it appeared as though the Sharks might achieve an improbable surge from the bottom to the playoffs. However, that prospect is looking increasingly dim, although the door remains slightly ajar with a four-point gap to close on the Kings in the final week. As for the Canucks, it became apparent early on that they would not be a formidable team this season, and Vancouver locked up the league’s worst record over a week ago. The Canucks are guaranteed to draft no lower than third overall in the first round this June as the front office works to assemble a more competitive roster for the next season.
With all teams having four or fewer games left before the regular season concludes on Thursday, we’ll keep you updated on all the developments here on the NHL playoff watch. As we move through the final stretch, we’ll provide detailed coverage of every playoff race — alongside the teams maneuvering for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances provided by 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 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Montreal Canadiens vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
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 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Anaheim Ducks
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).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 1 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC)
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 4 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings, 5 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks, 5 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators, 5 p.m.
New York Rangers at Dallas Stars, 5 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Utah Mammoth, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Clinching scenarios
The Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Lightning in any manner, or:
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If they suffer an overtime/shootout loss to the Lightning, and the Devils defeat the Red Wings in any fashion, and either of the following occurs: the Senators defeat the Isles in any fashion or the Jets defeat the Flyers in any fashion
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If they lose in regulation to the Lightning, and the Devils defeat the Red Wings in regulation, and either of the following takes place: the Sens defeat the Isles in regulation or the Jets defeat the Flyers in regulation
The Senators will secure a playoff ticket if they defeat the Isles in any manner, and the Devils defeat the Red Wings in any manner.
The Oilers will clinch a playoff spot if they win or lose in overtime/shootout to the Kings, or with any result in the Jets-Flyers game other than a regulation win for the Jets.
The Golden Knights will earn their spot in the postseason if they defeat the Avalanche in any manner, or:
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They lose in overtime/shootout to the Avalanche, and both of the following occur: the Flyers defeat the Jets in any fashion, and the Wild defeat the Predators in any fashion.
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The Canucks defeat the Sharks in any fashion, or the Flyers defeat the Jets in regulation, or the Wild defeat the Preds in regulation.
The Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if all of the following occur: The Canucks defeat the Sharks in any fashion, or the Flyers defeat the Jets in regulation, or the Wild defeat the Preds in regulation.
The Stars will secure the No. 2 seed in the Central Division (and home-ice advantage against the Wild in Round 1) if they defeat the Rangers in any manner, or:
Last night’s scoreboard
There were no games played on Friday.
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” next to a team’s name signifies that the club has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” indicates they have clinched their division; a “z” denotes they have secured the best record in their conference; a “p” means they have clinched the top overall seed. An “e” indicates that the club has been mathematically eliminated. Teams earn a playoff spot when their magic number drops to zero, and are mathematically eliminated when their tragic number reaches zero.
Atlantic Division
0:41
Cole Caufield scores 50th goal of the season for Canadiens
Cole Caufield scores 50th goal of the season for Canadiens
Metro Division
0:48
Calum Ritchie gives the Islanders a sizable advantage late
Calum Ritchie is able to boost the Islanders lead with a power-play goal.
Central Division
0:49
Jason Robertson recaptures the lead for the Stars
Jason Robertson recaptures the lead for the Stars
Pacific Division
0:39
Berkly Catton’s shootout goal seals win for Kraken
Berkly Catton helps the Kraken stave off elimination with his winning goal in the shootout against the Golden Knights.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL employs a draft lottery system to determine the order of its first round, meaning the team finishing last is not guaranteed the top selection. As of 2021, a team winning the lottery can move up by a maximum of 10 spots, which means only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick draw. Comprehensive details on this process are available here. At the forefront of draft boards for the upcoming summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward from Penn State.
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ draft pick is held by the Bruins, unless it falls within the top five selections.