NHL playoff watch: What’s on the line in Wednesday’s games
April 15 is tax day in the United States, so this is one other reminder to get these accomplished (if the hundreds of adverts throughout the previous few weeks did not do the trick).
But April 15 can also be the penultimate day of the 2025-26 NHL common season. Ten groups have accomplished their seasons already — together with seven of eight in the Metro Division — whereas another groups have two games left.
Although we all know the id of the 16 postseason groups, not each spot has been clinched for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs — or the NHL draft lottery, which can happen on May 5.
Here’s what’s on the line in Wednesday’s six games:
Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabers
7 pm ET (TNT)
There was a doable world the place this rematch of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final would have had penalties for each groups. In the model of actuality that has come to move; However, the outcomes won’t impression both group’s postseason standing. The Stars are locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Central Division, and the Sabers clinched the Atlantic Division title.
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning
7 pm ET (ESPN+)
With the Canadiens’ loss on Tuesday, this recreation means rather a lot much less to the Lightning, who at the moment are locked in as the greater seed in their opening-round sequence with Montreal. On the Rangers’ aspect, their draft lottery place is just not but safe. Currently they’re No. 3, however a win right here strikes them all the way down to No. 4 (pending the Flames’ end result Thursday).
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers
7 pm ET (ESPN+)
The Panthers’ are taking a one-year break from the postseason — they’ve earned it, with three straight journeys to the Cup Final and two Cups. The Red Wings are persevering with what’s now the NHL’s longest postseason drought, with their final look in 2016.
Florida is in a pack of groups with 82 or 84 factors, at present sitting eighth in the draft lottery order. Why does this matter? Their first-round choose will head to the Blackhawks if it is not in the high 10. Detroit’s first-rounder is headed to St. Louis unconditionally, and they’re at present fifteenth in the draft lotto order.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
7:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Prior to the Bruins’ season-ending win Tuesday, the Senators had an opportunity to leap over them with a win, turning into the first wild card as an alternative of the second. As it stands, they’re locked in as WC2, with an opening-round matchup with the Hurricanes on faucet.
Like the Panthers, the Leafs are paying strict consideration to their last spot in the draft order for commerce condition-related causes; Their first-rounder shall be shipped as much as Boston until it lands in the high 5. They’re at present fifth in the lottery order, and would transfer into sixth with a win right here (pending the Kraken’s last two games). Finishing fifth would not assure something, nonetheless, as the risk stays that groups may soar forward of them on May 5. Tense occasions in Toronto.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 pm ET (ESPN+)
Well, if nothing else, this recreation shall be a showcase of two of the high younger abilities in the NHL, each of whom had been current No. 1 general picks.
San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini grew to become the uncommon NHL teenager to attain 100 factors, he appeared proper at residence taking part in a key position for the superstar-laden Team Canada the Olympics, and he is drawn consideration for the Hart Trophy as league MVP — all in simply his second professional marketing campaign. Chicago’s Connor Bedard bought off to a very good begin, however an damage derailed his third season for a bit. However, he’ll simply end with the highest level complete of his profession.
As it pertains to the standings, each groups are lottery-bound; the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 spot behind the Canucks, whereas the Sharks are members of the group of 82- to 84-point groups talked about above, though with two games remaining, they might drop as little as twelfth in the event that they win each.
Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights
10 pm ET (ESPN+)
And in the last recreation of the night time, there are some present playoff seeding considerations on the line! Vegas is at present first in the Pacific, with 93 factors and 29 regulation wins. A win or a loss in additional time/shootout in this recreation clinches the division for them, and a matchup with the first wild-card Mammoth in Round 1. A regulation loss implies that the Oilers can move them with a win in opposition to the Canucks on Thursday.
The Kraken mentioned goodbye to playoff probabilities final week, and at present sit sixth in the draft lottery order. They can transfer as much as fifth — with a Maple Leafs win tonight and by shedding their last two — or may drop all the way down to eighth with two wins (pending outcomes elsewhere).
The common season concludes Thursday, and we’ll assist you to preserve monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the last 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 likelihood is 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
Note: Teams in daring are locked in to that place.
Eastern Conference
A1 Buffalo Sabers vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
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
Wednesday’s games
Note: All occasions ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabers7 pm (TNT)
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators7:30 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks8:30 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights10 p.m.
Tuesday night time’s scoreboard
Boston Bruins 4, New Jersey Devils 0
Carolina Hurricanes 2, New York Islanders 1
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
Washington Capitals 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2
Utah Mammoth 5, Winnipeg Jets 3
Colorado Avalanche 3, Calgary Flames 1
St. Louis Blues 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 5
Vancouver Canucks 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a group’s identify 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 greatest document in the convention; a “p” means they’ve clinched the high general 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 first spherical, so the group that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a group 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 in the high 5. The Panthers’ choose belongs to the Flames, until it lands in the high 10. The Red Wings’ choose belongs to the Blues, unconditionally.
