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Who’s in 2026 NHL playoffs? Latest bracket, standings, clinching scenarios

StaffBy No Comments10 Mins Read

The NHL’s busy 15-game schedule on Saturday, April 11 could provide more clarity in the playoff race.

Five more NHL teams − the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights and idle Anaheim Ducks − can clinch a postseason berth, joining the nine teams that have already made it. The Ducks would end a seven-season playoff drought if they clinch.

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The Pacific Division lead is in play with the leading Oilers and second-place Golden Knights in action. The second wild-card seed in the Western Conference could change hands again if the Nashville Predators win and the Los Angeles Kings lose.

In non-playoff news, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin will face each other for the 100th time. That game is being nationally broadcast on ABC.

Here’s what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Saturday’s clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

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NHL fans and mascots cheer on their teams in 2025-26 season

April 5: A Toronto Maple Leafs fan attends the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre.

Who’s in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh

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Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

  • The Boston Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Lightning. They’d also clinch if they get one point, the Red Wings lose and the Senators and/or Flyers lose. A third option: The Red Wings lose in regulation and the Islanders or Flyers lose.

  • The Ottawa Senators will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Islanders and the Red Wings lose.

  • The Edmonton Oilers will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Kings. They also clinch if the Jets fail to win in regulation.

  • The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Avalanche. They’d also clinch if they get one point and the Jets and Predators lose. Third option: The Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.

  • The idle Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff berth if the Sharks lose and the Jets and Predators lose in regulation.

NHL games today (Saturday, April 11)

All times p.m. ET

  • Tampa Bay at Boston, 12:30, ABC

  • Ottawa at N.Y. Islanders, 1

  • Washington at Pittsburgh, 3, ABC

  • Edmonton at Los Angeles, 4

  • Minnesota at Nashville, 5

  • N.Y. Rangers at Dallas, 5

  • Philadelphia at Winnipeg, 7

  • Vancouver at San Jose, 10

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

  • y-Carolina Hurricanes (108)

  • x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)

Atlantic Division

  • x-Montreal Canadiens (104)

  • x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)

Wild card

Sitting out of playoff position: Detroit Red Wings (91), New York Islanders (91), Columbus Blue Jackets (90), Washington Capitals (89), z-New Jersey Devils (83), z-Florida Panthers (78), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)

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NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 9 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

  • y-Colorado Avalanche (114) – Presidents’ Trophy winners

Pacific Division

  • Vegas Golden Knights (89)

Wild card

Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (84), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (81), St. Louis Blues (78), Seattle Kraken (77), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 9:

  • Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)

  • Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)

  • Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)

  • Montreal (A2) vs. Tampa Bay (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card

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NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 9.

  • Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)

  • Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)

  • Edmonton (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)

  • Vegas (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

  2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)

  4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

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When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket, clinching scenarios and 2026 standings

Read the full article here

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