Two weeks from Saturday, the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs will start. As play begins, nonetheless, simply 4 groups have punched their ticket to the postseason bracket.
The NHL schedule makers have blessed us with 15 video games all through the course of the day, an occasion that has been dubbed Statement Saturday.
There are playoff or draft lottery implications in every sport, so this is a guide on what to watch in every contest:
Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers
12:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
A win Thursday saved the Wings even with the Senators in standings factors — although they continue to be 4 again within the regulation wins column. So Detroit is on the lookout for a victory at Madison Square Garden, after which can be rooting for the Wild. The Rangers enter play Saturday within the No. 4 place within the draft lottery, a degree again of the Flames for third and three again of the Blackhawks for second.
Minnesota Wild at Ottawa Senators
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Wild clinched their spot within the dance Thursday evening, however they’re nonetheless battling to earn home-ice benefit of their seemingly collection towards the Stars — they start play six factors again. The Senators denied the Sabres a clinching celebration Thursday, and concurrently took over because the second wild card. They are tied in factors with the Red Wings and Blue Jackets, however maintain the sting in regulation wins if all three stay locked at season’s finish.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars
3 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
These two golf equipment authored the very best first-round collection of the 2025 playoffs, and although they in all probability will not meet in that spherical this season, there could possibly be a rematch in Round 2. The Avs’ magic quantity to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy and prime general seed within the playoffs is 4, so they may earn it with a win right here and a regulation loss by the Hurricanes. As for Dallas, its seemingly opening-round matchup towards Minnesota nonetheless wants a prime seed, so its outcome right here helps decide that final result.
Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
If the standings stay ordered as they do Saturday, this is able to be a first-round matchup, with the Lightning as Atlantic champs and Bruins as the primary wild card. Tampa Bay is tied in standings factors and regulation wins with the Sabres, however has gotten to that time in a single fewer sport so it holds the sting proper now; that race may nicely go down into the ultimate contest for each groups. As for the Bruins, they start play 4 factors and one RW again of the Canadiens for the No. 3 spot within the Atlantic, with a six-point edge on the Sens, Wings and Blue Jackets within the wild-card race.
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
With six video games left, it seems fairly seemingly that the Penguins can be returning to the playoffs, with Stathletes placing their possibilities at 97.3%. They won’t be catching the Hurricanes for the highest seed within the Metro however maintain a three-point edge on the Isles for the No. 2 seed and home-ice benefit in that potential matchup. On the opposite finish of the spectrum are the Panthers, who won’t be making a fourth straight journey to the Stanley Cup Final (or profitable a 3rd straight Cup). They start the day in ninth within the draft lottery order, on the low finish of a batch of groups between 75 and 77 factors.
Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey Devils
7 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
With one other few wins earlier this season by New Jersey, this sport would’ve had fairly the playoff implications for each groups — because the Devils have gone 7-3-0 of their previous 10 whereas the Habs have gone 8-2-0. As it stands, Montreal is 2 factors behind Buffalo and Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic, and 4 factors forward of Boston; any factors the Canadiens can get right here will assist. New Jersey is presently twelfth within the draft lottery standings, a degree behind each the Kings and Predators to transfer into the all-important prime 11 (groups can transfer up a most of 10 spots in the event that they win the draft lottery).
Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Sabres missed an opportunity to clinch their first playoff spot since 2011 on Thursday evening, so their magic quantity stays two heading into Saturday. By the time of opening puck drop, they could have certified. But if not, they’ll earn a spot with a win towards the Capitals. Washington’s hopes are dwindling, however a spot stays attainable both because the wild card (the Caps are three again of the Senators, Red Wings and Blue Jackets), or because the No. 3 seed within the Metro — the Isles are 4 factors up on Washington.
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Carolina joined the ranks of clinchers Thursday and is closing in on one other Metro Division title; its magic quantity for doing so is 2. The Isles, in the meantime, are within the thick of the battle for playoff positioning. They enter the day within the third spot within the Metro however have Columbus and Philadelphia one level behind, and Washington 4 factors behind.
Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Blue Jackets, a latest chilly spell has lessened their wagon tendencies; can they snap a five-game dropping streak towards the Jets? Winnipeg has battled again from a tough early-season patch to be inside three factors of the second Western wild card. On the opposite ledger, they’re within the No. 6 spot within the draft lottery, one level again of the Kraken.
Utah Mammoth at Vancouver Canucks
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Unlike the three groups forward of them within the Central Division, the Mammoth’s playoff future will not be assured. But it’s trending in that course, and one other two factors right here pushes their magic quantity down to seven. The Canucks’ playoff future was clinched way back; they are going to be watching them on TV, they usually clinched the worst report within the league this week. Now, it is simply up to the draft lottery balls.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
It’s a rematch of the 1993 Western Conference finals! Yes, Toronto was as soon as within the Western Conference, and if it was nonetheless there, a playoff berth would nonetheless be in play; the Maple Leafs’ 77 factors are simply two again of the Sharks for the second wild card. Instead, Toronto is wanting like a lottery decide staff … sadly, their decide belongs to the Bruins except they land within the prime 5 (by which case they maintain it, and ship a future first to Boston). As for the Kings, their 79 factors are tied with San Jose and Nashville, however their regulation win complete (19) places them at a major drawback if the groups stay tied by season’s finish.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The prime three seeds within the Pacific Division very a lot stay in play, and there’s a state of affairs the place these two golf equipment meet once more in Round 1. However, because the standings sit heading into Saturday, the Oilers have the No. 1 seed by way of tiebreakers over the Ducks. The Golden Knights are third, three again within the factors column, and 4 again of Edmonton within the regulation wins tiebreaker.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Ducks, video games towards non-playoff rivals just like the Flames are important alternatives to financial institution some factors. As famous above, Anaheim wants all of the factors it may possibly get, particularly as a result of its regulation win complete (24) is behind each Edmonton’s (30) and Vegas’ (26). Calgary stays in a battle throughout the prime 5 of the draft lottery order; the Flames’ 70 factors are two behind the Blackhawks for No. 2 general, and one forward of the Rangers at No. 4.
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
A primary-round matchup towards the juggernaut Avalanche awaits the staff that earns the second Western wild card. This sport — between two of the groups vying for the consideration — can be a vaunted “four-point swing” (offered it is determined in regulation). Both golf equipment have 79 standings factors, Nashville is one regulation win forward (25 to 24), however San Jose has performed one fewer sport. Looking forward, the Sharks went 1-2-0 towards the Avs this season, whereas the Preds went 2-2-0.
Chicago Blackhawks at Seattle Kraken
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Seattle’s playoff chances are high dwindling; with 75 factors by way of 74 video games, it’s 4 off the tempo of the Predators, Sharks and Kings, so getting a W over a lottery-bound Blackhawks staff is essential. Chicago enters the competition second within the draft lottery order, two factors forward of Calgary. Notably, the Blackhawks have 4 fewer regulation wins than the Flames, and two fewer than the Rangers (in fourth place), if it comes down to that tiebreaker.
Every staff has eight or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll provide help to preserve observe of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch daily. As we traverse the ultimate stretch, we’ll present particulars on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are high by way of Stathletes.
Jump forward:
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 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 San Jose Sharks
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Edmonton Oilers vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Anaheim Ducks vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Saturday’s video games
Note: All occasions ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)
Minnesota Wild at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 3 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)
Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 5 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Utah Mammoth at Vancouver Canucks, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Friday evening’s scoreboard
Philadelphia Flyers 4, New York Islanders 1
St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Ducks 2
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a staff’s title means the membership has clinched a playoff spot. An “e” implies that the membership has been mathematically eradicated. Teams clinch a playoff spot when their magic quantity reaches zero, and are mathematically eradicated when their tragic quantity reaches zero.
Atlantic Division
Metro Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
Race for the No. 1 decide
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to decide the order of the primary spherical, so the staff that finishes in final place will not be assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer season is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ decide belongs to the Bruins, except it lands within the prime 5.
