NHL playoff watch: Bruins-Capitals highlights 14-game slate

The 2025-26 NHL season is closing in on its remaining 30 days, and Saturday’s slate gives various high-intensity matchups.

With 14 video games on the schedule — together with 5 beginning at 7 pm ET (!) — it is one other evening the place a multi-view possibility might be a necessity.

However, some of the vital video games to the playoff bubble takes place in the course of the afternoon, because the Boston Bruins go to the Washington Capitals (3 p.m. ET, ABC and the ESPN App).

The Bruins enter the sport because the second Eastern Conference wild card, having generated 78 standings factors by 65 video games. The Capitals are a part of the logjam of groups attempting to chase them down, with 73 factors by 67 video games.

Among the groups battling it out on the wild-card bubblethe Bruins have some of the favorable remaining schedules — and so they’ve overwhelmed the Caps twice already this season, together with 3-1 this previous Saturday.

Of course, it is not simply the Capitals the Bruins have to fret about: the Columbus Blue Jackets are one level behind, and the Philadelphia Flyers are 5 factors behind; Those two golf equipment sq. off Saturday as effectively. The Ottawa Senators — one more staff with 73 factors — tackle the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks at 1 pm

Whichever of those groups winds up incomes the second wild card, a troublesome job awaits within the first spherical of the playoffs: a collection in opposition to both the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning or Buffalo Sabers. Coincidentally, those that wish to effectively scout the Canes and Lightning are in luck: Tampa Bay hosts Carolina at 7 pm

Every staff has fewer than 20 video games left earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll provide help to preserve monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch day by day. As we traverse the ultimate stretch, we’ll present particulars on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within 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

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabers vs. WC1 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders

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 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Saturday’s video games

Note: All occasions ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).

Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators1 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals3 p.m. (ABC)
Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets4 p.m.
New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild6 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabers7 p.m. (NHL Network)
San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning7 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils7 p.m.
Calgary Flames at New York Islanders7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers7:30 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars8 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Utah Mammoth9 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks10 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights10 p.m.

Friday evening’s scoreboard

Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Islanders 2
St. Louis Blues 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 106.9
Next sport: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 107.6
Next sport: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 105.1
Next sport: vs. SJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 94%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 98.2
Next sport: @DAL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 33.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 98.4
Next sport: @WSH (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 70.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 93.5
Next sport: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 58.7%
Tragic quantity: 31

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 87.1
Next sport: @SEA (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 1.9%
Tragic quantity: 25

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 83.2
Next sport: @BUF (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 21

Metro Division

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 111.0
Next sport: @TB (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 99.7
Next sport: @UTA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 60.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 98.2
Next sport: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 75.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 97.1
Next sport: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 84.5%
Tragic quantity: 33

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 92.1
Next sport: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 10.7%
Tragic quantity: 29

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 89.3
Next sport: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 10%
Tragic quantity: 25

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 83.3
Next sport: vs. LA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 1.5%
Tragic quantity: 22

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 78.2
Next sport: @MIN (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 18

Central Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 124.3
Next sport: @WPG (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 116.1
Next sport: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 109.3
Next sport: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 91.9
Next sport: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 96.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 84.5
Next sport: @EDM (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 7.6%
Tragic quantity: 32

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 79.4
Next sport: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 2.7%
Tragic quantity: 29

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 79.5
Next sport: @WPG (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 1.8%
Tragic quantity: 27

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 77.0
Next sport: @VGK (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.3%
Tragic quantity: 26

Pacific Division

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 94.6
Next sport: @OTT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 98.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 91.9
Next sport: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 98.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 89.3
Next sport: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 89.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 87.1
Next sport: @NJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 18.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 88.5
Next sport: @MTL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 70.4%
Tragic quantity: 37

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 85.8
Next sport: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 14.9%
Tragic quantity: 34

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 74.4
Next sport: @NYI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 24

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 60.6
Next sport: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 13

Race for the No. 1 decide

The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the staff that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff 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 decide. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer time is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23

*Note: The Maple Leafs’ decide belongs to the Bruins, except it lands within the prime 5.