The 2025-26 NHL common season is approaching its ultimate day, and for lots of the groups taking part in on Monday, their destiny vis-a-vis the postseason has been sealed — whether or not with a playoff spot, or a assured entry into the 2026 NHL draft lottery going down on May 5.
But, there are various seeds which have but to be locked in forward of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs starting on ESPN this Saturday, and the draft lottery order has but to be finalized as nicely.
So with none additional preamble, let’s get to what’s at stake in each of Monday’s 10 video games:
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Lightning stay in the thick of the battle for the highest seed in the Atlantic Division, which might earn a matchup with the Bruins or Senators in Round 1. If they end second or third, they will tackle the Sabres or Canadiens. All three groups have both 104 or 106 factors, and the Sabres have an edge by one in the regulation wins column. Detroit was eradicated from postseason prospects with a loss to the Devils on Saturday, and their first-round choose belongs to the Blues. Currently that choose is 14th total, however these final two video games (and the draft lottery) will decide the place it in the end lands.
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Speaking of the draft lottery, the Rangers moved up into third with the Flames’ win on Sunday (primarily based on tiebreakers). However, that’s as excessive as they will get, because the Blackhawks have 70 factors (to the Rangers’ 75) with two video games left. The Panthers are seventh in the draft lottery order with two video games to go, one again of the Kraken and two again of the Maple Leafs in fifth.
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Unsurprisingly, the Hurricanes have locked in one more Metro Division title, and are closing in on clinching the highest seed in the Eastern Conference. A win of any form or an extra time/shootout loss will get it accomplished. The Flyers, surprisingly, charged their approach right into a playoff spot in latest weeks. A win for them of any selection clinches their spot in the playoffs, and a first-round collection in opposition to the Penguins. An OT/shootout loss knocks out the Blue Jackets. A regulation loss for Philly makes the Capitals-Blue Jackets recreation on Tuesday very attention-grabbing, and makes the Flyers’ recreation in opposition to the Canadiens a must-win.
Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs
7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Dallas is locked in because the No. 2 seed in the Central Division, with home-ice benefit in opposition to the Wild in Round 1; primarily based on what we noticed in the 2 groups’ matchup final week, that is going to be an excellent collection! The Maple Leafs are in a fascinating spot; their 2026 first-round choose might be transport as much as Boston… except it lands in the Top 5. They are at the moment fifth in the draft lottery order, so if nothing modifications (and no groups bounce into the primary 5 picks as a result of lottery), they preserve it. If they earn some factors with wins or OT/shootout losses down the stretch, they may lose it. (And Maple Leafs followers may “lose it,” too.)
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues
8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Wild are locked in because the No. 3 seed, skating in opposition to the Stars in Round 1, and haven’t got a shot to interrupt their franchise document in factors, both; the present title holder there’s the 2021-22 workforce that racked up 113. The Blues are proper in the center of the draft lottery order proper now, in eighth place with 80 factors and 30 regulation wins; primarily based on their ultimate three video games — and people of the groups close to them — they will end as excessive in the lottery order as fifth, or as little as eleventh.
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Sharks have little or no wiggle room to make a brave run into the playoffs. In order to land forward of the Kings and Predators, they both want 5 factors in their ultimate three video games with L.A. and Nashville getting none in its ultimate slate; or, three wins in three video games if Nashville or L.A. subsequently loses certainly one of its ultimate two video games in OT/shootout. They’ll management their very own destiny right here in opposition to the Preds, however the Kings play the three worst groups in the Pacific in their ultimate three. With 86 factors banked, the Predators have a barely higher shot to earn the wild card, however once more… L.A. faces Seattle, Calgary and Vancouver.
Buffalo Sabres at Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Sabres are at the moment high canine in the Atlantic, and management their very own future in staying there. On the opposite aspect, the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 place in the draft lottery order, which means they’ll choose no worse than No. 4 total in June’s first spherical.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers
9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Avs clinched the Presidents’ Trophy — and home-ice benefit so long as they continue to be in the playoffs — final week, and can skate in opposition to the Western Conference’s second wild card (L.A., Nashville, San Jose or Winnipeg). The Oilers dropped out of the highest spot in the Pacific over the weekend, however can get again on high in the event that they make up one level on the Golden Knights, as they maintain the regulation wins tiebreaker.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken
9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Despite some shakiness earlier this season, the Kings have put the pedal to the steel in latest play, going 6-1-3 in their final 10 to take management of the second wild card in the West. A win right here eliminates each the Jets and the Sharks — what a West Side story that can be — and if Nashville loses to San Jose, the wild-card spot can be clinched for L.A. If not, the Kings get one other probability to clinch on Tuesday, in opposition to the Canucks.
Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
The Jets are in the same spot to the Sharks in the case of making a run into the playoffs; they should win right here after which quite a bit of assist elsewhere to tug it off. The Golden Knights are heating up at the precise time, and are undefeated in regulation since hiring John Tortorella to exchange Bruce Cassidy. A win right here mixed with an Oilers’ loss to the Avalanche would clinch the Pacific; if each of these issues do not occur, we’ll have to attend till Wednesday (and possibly Thursday) to be taught the identification of the division champ.
Every workforce has three or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes on Thursday, and we’ll assist you to preserve monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch. 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 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 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Anaheim Ducks
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).
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Last evening’s scoreboard
Washington Capitals 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 0
Montreal Canadiens 4, New York Islanders 1
Boston Bruins 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
New Jersey Devils 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 4, Anaheim Ducks 3 (OT)
Calgary Flames 4, Utah Mammoth 1
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a workforce’s title means the membership has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” implies that they’ve clinched the division; a “z” signifies that they’ve clinched the very best document in the convention; a “p” means they’ve clinched the highest total seed. 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 choose
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out 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 time is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ choose belongs to the Bruins, except it lands in the highest 5. The Red Wings’ choose belongs to the Blues, unconditionally.
