During the course of the NHL common season, sure days of the week get loaded up with a heavy schedule of video games. Typically, that is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This Saturday is the primary of the NHL’s last 4 Saturdays in the 2025-26 season, and positive sufficient, there are 11 video games on the docket. The slate begins with Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins at 1 p.m. ET and rolls via Tampa Bay Lightning–Edmonton Oilers, which begins at 10 p.m. ET.
There continues to be time left for groups to make strikes into (or out of) playoff rivalry, and the draft lottery standings are additionally removed from set — apart from the Vancouver Canucks, who seem destined to have the most effective lottery odds.
Here’s what’s at stake in every of the 11 video games on Super Saturday:
Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins
1 p.m. (NHL Network)
These two groups appear to have swapped identities from final season to this one; the Jets gained the Presidents’ Trophy as the highest regular-season crew in 2024-25 however enter Saturday 5 factors again of the second Western wild card. Winnipeg is sixth in the draft lottery standings now. The Penguins, who completed 11 factors out of a wild-card spot final season, are second in the Metro Division, 10 factors again of the Carolina Hurricanes. Aside from chasing the Canes, the Penguins want to carry off the hard-charging Blue Jackets and Islanders, each of whom are some extent behind.
Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators
2 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Golden Knights have a fairly robust maintain on a Pacific Division playoff spot, with a four-point edge on the Kings behind them. But given the parity in that division, they’re additionally simply 4 factors behind the Anaheim Ducks for the Pacific lead. Meanwhile, the Preds are proper in the combo for the second wild card (and a first-round date towards the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars), one level behind the Kings, however holding a regulation wins fringe of 23-18.
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild
4 p.m. (ESPN+)
Last yr’s most dynamic playoff sequence was Stars-Avalanche; as a result of seeding format, it occurred in Round 1. It’s fairly potential we’ll get one other instantaneous basic with the No. 2 vs. No. 3 Central Division pairing, and it might fairly probably be these two groups squaring off in that showdown. This is definitely the penultimate matchup between the golf equipment this common season, as they’re going to play once more April 9 in Dallas.
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Sabres proceed to encourage superlatives with their success in the second half of this season. As play begins Saturday, they’re neck and neck with the Hurricanes for first seed in the Eastern Conference, and it isn’t outlandish to venture them making a run at the Presidents’ Trophy as they purpose to finish a 14-year playoff drought. The Kings haven’t been out of the primary spherical since 2014, however to bust that streak they’re going to must qualify for the playoffs. They maintain the second wild card now, however 4 groups are inside 5 factors of them, and all have extra regulation wins.
Philadelphia Flyers at San Jose Sharks
4 p.m. (ESPN+)
There’s a risk that each these groups — that includes dynamic younger abilities complemented by cagey veterans — make the 2026 playoffs. But the NHL schedule is a zero-sum sport, with solely so many standings factors to go round. Philly begins this sport six factors off the Eastern wild-card tempo, whereas San Jose is 2 factors again in the Western wild-card race.
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets
5 p.m. (ESPN+)
Despite being only one level off the tempo in the wild-card race (and 5 factors again of the Golden Knights for third in the Pacific), the Kraken are usually not precisely a heavy favourite to qualify: Stathletes offers Seattle an 8.2% probability of creating it. On the opposite facet, the Blue Jackets are a part of a logjam of six contenders in the East with 83 or 84 factors; Stathletes tasks them fairly a bit larger, at 90.4%. Either approach, each golf equipment can actually use the 2 factors right here!
New York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The draft-day commerce of defenseman Noah Dobson heading to the Canadiens from the Islanders this previous June appears to be a win-win. Dobson is skating 22:35 per sport, with 45 factors via 68 video games for the third-place Habs. Dobson’s absence created a possibility for Isles rookie Matthew Schaefer — and the 2026 No. 1 choose has made essentially the most of it, working away with the Calder Trophy and main the Isles to the playoff brink. New York begins the day a tiebreaker behind Columbus for third in the Metro, and some extent behind Detroit and Boston for the wild playing cards.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Less than a yr in the past, the Battle of Ontario was a hard-fought first-round playoff sequence. And whereas the Senators proceed to push for one of many last spots in the East, Toronto seems destined for the draft lottery. As has been identified constantly, the Leafs’ first-rounder might be despatched to Boston from the Brandon Carlo commerce final season — except it lands in the highest 5. So, just a few extra losses (or some draft lottery luck) won’t be the worst factor for the Leafs. As for the Sens, they’ve 5 factors to make as much as catch the three groups subsequent forward of them. Games like this one are essential to doing so.
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Speaking of the draft lottery, listed below are two of the highest contenders for the No. 1 choose. Vancouver is 11 factors away from the following lowest crew (the idle Calgary Flames). It’s potential they might go on a heater right here in the ultimate month of the season and fall out of the pole place in the lotto, however this appears unlikely. The Blues enter Saturday in the No. 5 slot in the draft lottery, some extent “behind” the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings
8 p.m. (ABC)
Matchups like this one are what all of us hope to see because the season winds down. The Bruins and Red Wings are tied in standings factors (84) in the identical variety of video games (69), and Boston has a one-regulation win edge (28-27). Given how robust all of the bubble groups are taking part in the East, contests towards different such golf equipment tackle double the significance. A crew that wins this one in regulation will get the vaunted “four-point swing” because of their very own fortunes in addition to denying the opponent any factors.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Oilers have fallen brief in two straight Stanley Cup Finals to the Lightning’s Battle of Florida combatants. Might this pairing be a preview of this June’s last playoff sequence? After main the Atlantic for a lot of the season, the Lightning are actually 4 factors behind Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Oilers start play Saturday one level behind the Ducks for first place in the Pacific.
Every crew has 15 or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll allow you to hold monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch on daily basis. As we traverse the ultimate stretch, we’ll present particulars on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place in 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 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Columbus Blue Jackets
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
Today’s video games
Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 1 p.m. (NHLN)
Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators, 2 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 4 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Los Angeles Kings, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at San Jose Sharks, 4 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Columbus Blue Jackets, 5 p.m.
New York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Last night time’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
Washington Capitals 2, New Jersey Devils 1
Colorado Avalanche 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Calgary Flames 4, Florida Panthers 1
Anaheim Ducks 4, Utah Mammoth 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 109.3
Next sport: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 107.7
Next sport: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 101.3
Next sport: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 79.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 99.8
Next sport: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 60.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 99.8
Next sport: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 53.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 95.3
Next sport: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 60.9%
Tragic quantity: 23
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 84.4
Next sport: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.4%
Tragic quantity: 13
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 12
Points tempo: 83.2
Next sport: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 11
Metro Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 111.7
Next sport: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 101.3
Next sport: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 83.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 100.1
Next sport: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 90.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 98.6
Next sport: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 58.7%
Tragic quantity: 25
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 94.1
Next sport: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 7%
Tragic quantity: 22
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 12
Points tempo: 91.4
Next sport: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 4.8%
Tragic quantity: 18
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 85.6
Next sport: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.9%
Tragic quantity: 14
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 76.6
Next sport: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 6
Central Division
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 120.6
Next sport: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 115.8
Next sport: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 12
Points tempo: 105.4
Next sport: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 12
Points tempo: 91.4
Next sport: vs. LA (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 85.6
Next sport: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 13.8%
Tragic quantity: 27
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 80.8
Next sport: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 2.0%
Tragic quantity: 23
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 78.4
Next sport: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 3.7%
Tragic quantity: 21
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 76.1
Next sport: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 1.0%
Tragic quantity: 18
Pacific Division
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 95.1
Next sport: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 12
Points tempo: 90.2
Next sport: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 84.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 90.3
Next sport: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 98.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 86.8
Next sport: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 48.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 85.6
Next sport: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 8.2%
Tragic quantity: 27
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 85.7
Next sport: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 40.6%
Tragic quantity: 28
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 74.9
Next sport: vs. TB (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 17
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 60.3
Next sport: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 6
Note: An “x” with a crew’s title means the membership has clinched a playoff spot.
Race for the No. 1 choose
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the crew that finishes in final place isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a crew 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.
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ choose belongs to the Bruins, except it lands in the highest 5.
