NHL playoff standings: The clinching scenarios for Sunday
Heading into Saturday, there was a lot anticipation that a number of groups would clinch playoff spots (and others can be mathematically eradicated) — to place it mildly, that anticipation was met.
The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins clinched the Eastern wild playing cards after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings in regulation, thus eliminating the Red Wings as effectively.
Out West, the Vegas Golden Knights clinched their spot — and took over first place within the Pacific Division — with an extra time win over the Colorado Avalanchewhereas the Edmonton Oilers earned a playoff ticket regardless of dropping to the Los Angeles Kings. In the method, the St. Louis Blues and Seattle Kraken they have been knocked out.
There is one spot left within the East (the No. 3 seed within the Metro), and two spots open within the West — with the added chance of fairly a little bit of seeding motion within the Pacific. Here’s what we’re watching Sunday:
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals
3 pm ET (TNT)
The first recreation of the day is the Penguins on the Capitals, a matchup that the Caps received in Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Caps keep alive within the playoff race with a win of any variety, or an extra time/shootout loss; a regulation loss eliminates them. The Penguins are locked in to the No. 2 seed within the Metro.
Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders
6 pm ET (ESPN+)
Like the Caps, the Islanders want a win of any selection or an OT/shootout loss to remain alive within the race for the No. 3 Metro spot; a regulation loss eliminates them. The Canadiens will end no worse than third within the Atlantic, and might nonetheless end first — however should have extra standing factors than the Sabers and Lightning, since their regulation wins whole (33) is so low comparatively.
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets
6 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
The Blue Jackets have a bit of extra wiggle room than the Caps and Isles — however not a lot. A loss does not remove them, however time is working out to catch the Flyers in third. Due to tiebreakers, Boston fell behind Ottawa with its losses on Saturday; If the 2 groups end tied in factors, the Sens would be the highest of the 2 wild playing cards. Why does that matter? The first wild card will (most probably) tackle the Atlantic Division champ, whereas the second wild card will (once more, most probably) face off towards the Hurricanes in Round 1.
Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils
7 pm ET (ESPN+)
With their spot within the postseason safe (albeit with the above seeding scenario to resolve), will the Senators take their foot off the gasoline? And can the Devils knock off one other workforce forward of them within the standings for a second straight day?
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks
8 pm ET (ESPN+)
The Ducks narrowly missed out on clinching a playoff spot based mostly on Saturday’s outcomes, however can proper that unsuitable with a win of any variety or an OT/shootout loss to the Canucks. Like Montreal, Anaheim can also be nonetheless alive for a division title; but additionally just like the Canadiens, the Ducks will lose the RW tiebreaker to both workforce forward of them, in order that they want all of the factors they’ll get. The Canucks have been locked in because the No. 1 seed within the draft lottery order for fairly a while now, so they may haven’t any decrease than the No. 3 general decide in June’s draft.
Utah Mammoth at Calgary Flames
9 pm ET (ESPN+)
The Mammoth has a little extra work to do to lock within the first wild-card place; a win right here places them two factors nearer. Why is that vital? The first wild card will face off towards the Pacific Division champ within the first spherical, whereas the second wild card earns a matchup with the mighty Colorado Avalanche. On the opposite facet, the Flames may end second general within the draft lottery order — or out of the highest 5 — based mostly on how their last three video games go, together with what their fellow lottery groups do.
Every workforce has three or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes on Thursday, and we’ll aid you 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 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 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
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).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals3 pm (TNT)
Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders6 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets6 p.m. (NHLN)
Ottawa Senators at New Jersey Devils7 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks8 p.m.
Utah Mammoth at Calgary Flames9 p.m.
Last night time’s scoreboard
Tampa Bay Lightning 2, Boston Bruins 1
Ottawa Senators 3, New York Islanders 0
Washington Capitals 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
Los Angeles Kings 1, Edmonton Oilers 0
New Jersey Devils 5, Detroit Red Wings 3
St. Louis Blues 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Nashville Predators 2, Minnesota Wild 1
Dallas Stars 2, New York Rangers 0
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Utah Mammoth 1
Florida Panthers 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
Philadelphia Flyers 7, Winnipeg Jets 1
Seattle Kraken 4, Calgary Flames 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 4, San Jose Sharks 3 (SO)
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a workforce’s title means the membership has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” signifies that they’ve clinched the division; a “z” signifies that they’ve clinched the very best document within the convention; a “p” means they’ve clinched the highest general seed. An “e” signifies 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 decide
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 will not be 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 decide. 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’ decide belongs to the Bruins, except it lands within the prime 5. The Red Wings’ decide belongs to the Blues, unconditionally.
