NHL playoffs latest bracket, standings, games today and who can clinch

April 02, 2026 Cosmopolite
NHL playoffs latest bracket, standings, games today and who can clinch

An NHL rarity could happen on Thursday, April 2: The Buffalo Sabres could clinch a playoff berth and end a league-record 14-year postseason drought.

USA TODAY Sports

All the Sabres need to do is beat the Ottawa Senators and they're in the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, although there are other ways to clinch.

Buffalo was in last place in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 8 before winning three in a row to get back to .500.

They thenfired general manager Kevyn Adamson Dec. 15 and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen to the position.

The team took off, extending their winning streak to 10 games. They have gone 32-7-4 under the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM heading into Thursday's game.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild also are in position to clinch on Thursday. In the late game, the Nashville Predators visit the Los Angeles Kings, who passed them on Wednesday and moved into the second wild-card spot in the West.

Here's what to know about theNHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, who can clinch today and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

<p style=Feb. 28: Referee Cody Beach stops the fight between the Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael and Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) during the third period at the Bell Centre.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Feb. 28: The Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7) battles along the boards with the Toronto Maple Leafs' Brandon Carlo in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Feb. 28: The Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg hits the boards alongside the Dallas Stars' Nils Lundkvist during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Feb. 5: The Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk (left) and Tampa Bay Lightning's Victor Hedman fight during the second period at Benchmark International Arena. Feb. 4: The St. Louis Blues' Brayden Schenn fights with the Dallas Stars' Justin Hryckowian during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Feb. 1: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman fight during the second period of the 2026 Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium. Jan. 29: St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (left) fights Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer during the second period at Enterprise Center. Jan. 27: Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane (91) fights with San Jose Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren during the second period at Rogers Arena. <p style=Jan. 19: San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (left) fights Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jan. 15: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy (5) fights with Calgary Flames left wing Joel Farabee (86) during the second period at United Center. Jan. 15: Boston Bruins center Alex Steeves (21) and Seattle Kraken center Ryan Winterton (26) fight during the third period at TD Garden. Jan 10: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) checks Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko (84) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Dec. 30: Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) fights with New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Dec. 20: Philadelphia Flyers left wing Nicolas Deslauriers (44) and New York Rangers left wing Brennan Othmann (78) are separated by officials and teammates after a fight during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Dec 8: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua (81) and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier (24) fight during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Dec. 4: Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Bokondji Imama (14) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Curtis Douglas (42) fight in the first period at Benchmark International Arena. Dec. 1: New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler (71) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) fight during the second period at Prudential Center. Nov. 28: New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) and Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) fight during the first period at KeyBank Center. Nov. 28: Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) checks New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) during the second period at UBS Arena. Nov. 28: Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) checks Carolina Hurricanes center Justin Robidas (46) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Nov 24: Members of the New Jersey Devils and the Detroit Red Wings fight at the end of the third period at Prudential Center. Nov. 22: Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) and Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (10) fight during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Utah Mammoth center Jack McBain (22) and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) fight during the third period at Delta Center. Nov. 16: The New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings engage in a major scrum after their game at Madison Square Garden. <p style=Nov. 6: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) fights Minnesota Wild center Tyler Pitlick (19) after his hit injured Carolina's Jalen Chatfield.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nov. 6: Los Angeles Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) and Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) fight during the third period at Crypto.com Arena. Nov. 6: Buffalo Sabres center Josh Dunne (44) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the first period at KeyBank Center. Nov 4: New York Islanders and Boston Bruins players get in a scrum after Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) was roughed by Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the second period. Nov. 1: Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Mathieu Olivier (24) fights St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (75) in the first period at Nationwide Arena. Nov 1: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov (9) hits St. Louis Blues right wing Jordan Kyrou (25) along the boards in the third period at Nationwide Arena. Nov. 1: Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and Buffalo Sabres left wing Jordan Greenway (12) fight during the first period at KeyBank Center. Oct. 24: Calgary Flames right wing Adam Klapka (43) and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley (64) fight in the first period at Canada Life Centre. Oct. 23: Boston Bruins left wing Tanner Jeannot (84) fights with Anaheim Ducks left wing Ross Johnston (44) during the second period at TD Garden. Oct. 21: Anaheim Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano (77) and Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (83) fight during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. <p style=Oct. 18: Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) is held back by a linesman after scuffling with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Marchand is holding Dahlin's helmet and later pulled off the straps in the penalty box.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oct. 18: Tampa Bay Lightning center Curtis Douglas (42) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Mathieu Olivier (24) fight during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Oct. 16: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) checks Boston Bruins center Michael Eyssimont (81) during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Oct 14: Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel (6) checks Minnesota Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Oct. 11: Calgary Flames left wing Ryan Lomberg (70) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker (75) fight during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Oct. 11: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) checks New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Oct. 11: Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Luke Schenn (5) fight during the first period at Canada Life Centre. Oct. 9: Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) checks San Jose Sharks center Philipp Kurashev (96) at center ice during the third period at SAP Center. Oct. 9: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) and Ottawa Senators left wing Kurtis MacDermid (23) fight during the first period at Benchmark International Arena. Oct. 9: Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) checks New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) during the third period at Lenovo Center. Oct. 9: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) checks New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) as he goes after a loose puck during the second period at KeyBank Center. Oct 7: Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) points to Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) after he finished fighting Josh Manson during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Oct. 7: Chicago's Nick Foligno fights with Florida's A.J. Greer during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena.

NHL physicality: Players fight, deliver big hits

Feb. 28: Referee Cody Beach stops the fight between the Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael and Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) during the third period at the Bell Centre.

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference:None

Western Conference:Colorado, Dallas

Who can clinch today?

  • The Buffalo Sabres will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Ottawa Senators. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Red Wings and Blue Jackets lose.

  • The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch if they beat the Blue Jackets. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Red Wings lose, plus the Senators lose in regulation.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch if they beat the Penguins in regulation and all of the following occur: the Senators lose and the Red Wings and Blue Jackets lose in regulation. They would also clinch if they beat the Penguins in overtime or a shootout and the Red Wings, Blue Jackets and Senators lose in regulation.

  • The Minnesota Wild will clinch if they get at least one point against the Canucks. They would also clinch if they get one point and 1) the Sharks lose and the Oilers and Golden Knights lose in regulation or 2) the Sharks lose in regulation or 3) the Kings fail to win in regulation.

NHL games today (Thursday, April 2)

All times p.m. Eastern

  • Buffalo at Ottawa, 7

  • Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 7

  • Boston at Florida, 7

  • Montreal at N.Y. Rangers, 7

  • Detroit at Philadelphia, 7

  • Columbus at Carolina, 7

  • Washington at New Jersey, 7:30

  • Winnipeg at Dallas, 8

  • Vancouver at Minnesota, 8

  • Chicago at Edmonton, 9

  • Calgary at Vegas, 10

  • Toronto at San Jose, 10

  • Utah at Seattle, 10

  • Nashville at Los Angeles, 10:30

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 1 games.x-clinched playoff spot.z-eliminated

Metropolitan Division

  • Carolina Hurricanes (100)

  • Pittsburgh Penguins (92)

  • New York Islanders (89)

Atlantic Division

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  • Buffalo Sabres (100)

  • Tampa Bay Lightning (98)

  • Montreal Canadiens (96)

  • Boston Bruins (94)

  • Columbus Blue Jackets (88)

Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (86), Washington Capitals (85), New Jersey Devils (78), Toronto Maple Leafs (77), Florida Panthers (75),z-New York Rangers (71)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 1 games. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Central Division

  • x-Colorado Avalanche (108)

  • x-Dallas Stars (100)

  • Minnesota Wild (94)

Pacific Division

  • Anaheim Ducks (87)

  • Edmonton Oilers (85)

  • Vegas Golden Knights (82)

  • Utah Mammoth (82)

  • Los Angeles Kings (78)

Sitting out of playoff position:San Jose Sharks (77), Nashville Predators (77), Winnipeg Jets (76), Seattle Kraken (75), St. Louis Blues (74), Calgary Flames (70), Chicago Blackhawks (68),z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 1:

  • Carolina (M1) vs. Columbus (WC2)

  • Pittsburgh (M2) vs. N.Y. Islanders (M3)

  • Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)

  • Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (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

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 31.

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

  • Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)

  • Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)

  • Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (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 DivisionP -Pacific Division.WC -wild card

More:Vegas Golden Knights fire coach Bruce Cassidy, hire John Tortorella

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:

  1. Regulation wins

  2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)

  3. Total wins

  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.

  5. Goal differential

  6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

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

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, latest standings and clinching scenarios

 

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