Two weeks from Saturday, the opening faceoff of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs will happen on the networks of ESPN. As of now, 9 spots have been clinched — together with the No. 1 total seed within the league and the Metro Division title — however that leaves seven extra up for grabs.
But with 15 games on the schedule at this time, hockey followers are calling it “Supreme Saturday,” with the opportunity of a handful of extra spots being locked in earlier than the ultimate buzzer of the night.
So what’s at stake in every recreation? Here’s a snapshot of every matchup, from the primary puck drop at 12:30 p.m. ET all the best way till the final recreation, which will get underway at 10 p.m. ET. Jump ahead to clinching scenarios.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins
12:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Although the Lightning have clinched a playoff spot, they’ll enhance their place within the Atlantic Division bracket, sitting two factors behind the Canadiens for second and 4 factors behind the Sabres for first. If they win the division title, their first-round matchup could possibly be towards the primary wild card, which could possibly be these exact same Bruins. Boston clinches a playoff spot with a win; a lack of any stripe makes it a bit of extra attention-grabbing all through the remainder of the day.
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Sens are at present in possession of the second wild-card spot, with a three-point edge on the Islanders. A win does not win them the spot — the Red Wings might nonetheless catch them, pending their outcome Saturday — however it will imply the Islanders wouldn’t be those doing so. However, New York does have one other approach into the playoffs: the Metro Division’s No. 3 seed. The Islanders enter Saturday one level again of the Flyers, however with 4 further regulation wins ought to the 2 groups tie in factors by season’s finish.
Washington Capitals at (*15*)
3 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Will this be the final time Alex Ovechkin performs towards the Penguins in Pittsburgh? We will not know that perhaps until the summer. But, there are playoff stakes in play right here, too. The Penguins are locked in to the No. 2 seed within the Metro. (The Flyers can catch up in factors, however lose the RW tiebreaker.) On the opposite facet, the Caps primarily want to win out and get some assist from the opponents of the groups forward of them. They are three factors again of Philly heading into this recreation but additionally have two groups between them and the Flyers.
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
It’s unlikely that these two groups would play each other for a fifth straight first spherical however not solely out of the realm of risk. Edmonton enters this one atop the Pacific Division, with a one-point lead on the Golden Knights and Ducks (and an fringe of three and 6 RW, respectively); they’ll clinch a playoff berth with a win right here and a few assist. The Kings are 5 factors again of the Oilers, and at present in possession of the second Western wild card, one level forward of the Predators and three up on the Jets. Earning factors in each recreation is essential for L.A., because the workforce has simply 20 regulation wins, which might be fewer than every other attainable playoff workforce with which they would want a tiebreaker.
New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
If the Devils have been within the Western Conference, they’d be two again of the Kings for the wild card. As it stands, they’re mathematically eradicated and making an attempt to play spoiler. Simultaneously, they’re eleventh within the draft lottery order, that means they’re within the closing spot that would bounce up to No. 1 ought to they win the draw. The Red Wings are nonetheless battling for the ultimate playoff spot within the East, however alternatives are operating out. They enter this recreation three factors again of the Senators — and 6 again within the RW column, that means they will want to bounce over them outright to earn the ticket.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
At numerous occasions, this traditional Norris Division rivalry would have had main playoff implications come April 11. Instead, this one is all about positioning within the draft lottery. Chicago enters the day in second, with 70 factors and 21 regulation wins. The Blues are mathematically alive for the postseason as play begins however don’t have any room to spare (both themselves or through wins by the groups forward of them). They are certainly one of three groups coming into play with 78 factors, and sit in eighth within the draft lottery order.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Wild are locked in to a first-round matchup towards the Stars because the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds within the Central, however they’re nonetheless preventing for home-ice benefit in that sequence, coming into play 4 factors again of Dallas. The Preds are a degree again of the Kings for the second wild-card spot (and a first-round matchup towards the Avalanche). As famous above, the Preds do have the RW tiebreak benefit over L.A., however they want to begin stringing collectively some W’s for that to matter.
New York Rangers at Dallas Stars
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Stars, they’ll clinch home-ice benefit within the sequence towards the Wild with a win over the Rangers; every other outcome and issues keep attention-grabbing. As for the Rangers, they have been the primary workforce within the East to be mathematically eradicated, however some (comparatively) robust post-elimination play has them fourth within the draft lottery order, two behind the Flames for third and two forward of the Kraken for fifth.
Carolina Hurricanes at Utah Mammoth
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
There’s not a lot left on the road for the Hurricanes. Carolina is at present the No. 1 seed within the East however holds only a two-point edge over Buffalo. A win right here — and a loss by the Sabres on Monday towards Chicago — clinches residence ice by way of the East bracket. The residence facet has clinched a playoff spot, and desires a win of any form and a Kings lack of any form to clinch the primary wild-card place — and a first-round matchup towards the Pacific champ.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Last season, these two golf equipment staged an epic showdown within the second spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. This season … nicely, issues did not precisely go as deliberate for both facet — though Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk gained Olympic gold with Team USA. The Leafs and Panthers enter play with 78 factors, tied with St. Louis within the draft lottery order, and one behind fifth-place Seattle. As we all know, if Toronto lands within the prime 5, they’ll retain their choose; if they do not, it goes to Boston thanks to the commerce for Brandon Carlo final season.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
As of their March 24 win over the Flyers, the Blue Jackets appeared to be a positive factor to finish their playoff drought; alas, within the time since — beginning with a loss to the Canadiens — they’ve gone 1-6-1, and their playoff hopes are actually on the brink. They are 4 factors again of the Senators (and won’t win the RW tiebreaker) however nonetheless simply two again of the Flyers (towards whom they at present have a two-regulation win edge). Unfortunately, Montreal actually desires this W, too; a win pulls them even with the Sabres in standings factors (106), although they might nonetheless be behind due to the RW tiebreaker.
Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Flyers, their turnaround has been remarkable, from a workforce some thought was nonetheless rebuilding to at present the No. 3 workforce within the Metro. As the saying goes, they management their very own future with three games remaining and a one-point margin over the peloton chasing them. The Jets are three factors again of the Kings for the second Western wild card however do maintain a considerable edge in regulation wins ought to they tie by season’s finish. Can Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor pull off the Olympic-Stanley Cup double?
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Having been eradicated this week, the Flames are retaining shut tabs on the draft lottery order; they enter play in third, with 73 factors and 25 regulation wins behind Chicago’s 70 factors and 21 RW. The Kraken are hanging on to playoff hopes by only a sea troll hair, however are concurrently fifth within the draft lotto order. They start play Saturday two behind the Rangers for fourth, and 4 again of the Flames for third.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)
Of the 2 groups, the Golden Knights clearly want a win right here extra, with a one-point deficit within the Pacific Division race and only a tiebreaker lead over the Ducks within the 2-vs.-3 seeding. But regardless of having clinched the No. 1 total seed within the bracket, the Avs know that it is a workforce they might see down the street within the Western Conference finals. Might there be some message sending on this one?
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
For some time there, it regarded just like the Sharks have been going to pull off a wild, basement-to-playoffs run this season. That’s wanting extra unlikely by the day, though the door stays barely ajar, with a four-point deficit to make up on the Kings within the closing week. As for the Canucks, it turned clear early on that this workforce was not going to be too harmful this season, and Vancouver clinched the worst document within the league over every week in the past. The Canucks will draft no worse than third total within the first spherical this June because the entrance workplace works to put a extra aggressive workforce on the ice subsequent season.
Every workforce has 4 or fewer games remaining earlier than the common season concludes on Thursday, and we’ll enable you preserve monitor of it all right here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the ultimate stretch, we’ll present particulars on all the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff likelihood is through 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 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Montreal Canadiens vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 (*15*) 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 occasions ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native 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 (*15*), 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 eventualities
The Bruins will clinch a playoff berth in the event that they beat the Lightning in any vogue, or:
If they lose in additional time/shootout to the Lightning and the Devils beat the Red Wings in any vogue and both of the next happens: the Senators beat the Isles in any vogue or the Jets defeat the Flyers in any vogue
If they lose in regulation to the Lightning and the Devils beat the Red Wings in regulation, and both of the next takes place: the Sens defeat the Isles in regulation or the Jets defeat the Flyers in regulation
The Senators earn a playoff ticket in the event that they beat the Isles in any vogue and the Devils beat the Red Wings in any vogue
The Oilers clinch a playoff spot in the event that they win or lose in OT/shootout to the Kings, or with any outcome within the Jets-Flyers recreation apart from a Jets regulation win.
The Golden Knights earn their spot within the postseason in the event that they beat the Avs in any vogue, or:
They lose in OT/shootout to the Avs and each of the next happen: the Flyers beat the Jets in any vogue and the Wild beat the Predators in any vogue
The Canucks beat the Sharks in any vogue, or the Flyers beat the Jets in regulation, or the Wild defeat the Preds in regulation
The Ducks clinch a playoff berth if all of the next happen: The Canucks beat the Sharks in any vogue, or the Flyers beat the Jets in regulation, or the Wild defeat the Preds in regulation
The Stars lock within the No. 2 seed within the Central (and home-ice benefit towards the Wild in Round 1) in the event that they beat the Rangers in any vogue, or:
Last night time’s scoreboard
There have been no games on Friday.
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a workforce’s title means the membership has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” signifies that they’ve clinched the division; a “z” signifies that they’ve clinched the most effective document within the convention; a “p” means they’ve clinched the highest total seed. An “e” signifies 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 choose
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to decide the order of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place just isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce 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 choose. 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’ choose belongs to the Bruins, until it lands within the prime 5.
