With just days left in the NHL regular season, playoff spots remain hotly contested across both conferences.
Category: Sports
The NHL playoff picture is heating up as the regular season approaches its final week, with teams jockeying for position in the race for the Stanley Cup. As of April 9, 2026, the Nashville Predators find themselves holding the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, just a point ahead of the teams chasing them. With three games remaining, the Predators have a precarious hold on their playoff hopes.
Currently, the Predators have accumulated 84 points, but the teams below them, such as the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets, all have a game in hand, adding to the tension as the season winds down. The playoff race is fierce, with the final regular-season games scheduled to conclude on April 16, 2026, before the playoffs kick off on April 18.
In the Eastern Conference, playoff spots are equally contested. The Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators have secured their places, sitting in third in the Metropolitan Division and as the second wild card, respectively. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins are positioned as the No. 2 seed in the Metro Division, needing only a win against the New Jersey Devils to clinch their playoff spot. They hold a magic number of two, meaning any combination of points gained by them or lost by competing teams could secure their postseason berth.
As the playoff picture becomes clearer, the Colorado Avalanche have already clinched a playoff spot and are in contention for the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. With 112 points, the Avalanche are the first team to secure a playoff berth this season, and they are looking to maintain their momentum heading into the postseason.
In the Western Conference, the top teams include the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, who have also clinched their playoff spots with 104 and 102 points, respectively. The Edmonton Oilers, currently leading the Pacific Division with 90 points, have a chance to solidify their playoff position if certain outcomes favor them in the coming days.
"The entire league is on edge as we enter the final stretch of the regular season," said NHL analyst Julia Stumbaugh. "Every game counts, and for teams on the brink of elimination or those fighting for home-ice advantage."
As teams scramble for playoff positioning, the focus is also on individual performances. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers recently made headlines with a hat trick in a decisive victory over the San Jose Sharks, bolstering his team's chances as they vie for the top seed in the Pacific Division.
The playoff format this year will see sixteen teams, eight from each conference, vying for the coveted Stanley Cup. The top three teams from each division will secure playoff spots, with the next two highest-placed finishers earning wild-card berths. This means that, theoretically, one division could send five teams to the playoffs, adding to the competitive nature of the league.
As the regular season draws to a close, several teams are facing elimination. The Seattle Kraken, for example, are on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They must win their remaining games and rely on other teams to falter in order to keep their hopes alive.
The stakes are high for the Predators as they prepare to face the Utah Mammoth, who are also in the wild-card race. A loss for Nashville could significantly diminish their playoff chances, making their upcoming match a must-win scenario.
"Every game from here on out is a playoff game for us," said Predators head coach John Hynes. "We need to focus on our performance and not let the pressure affect our play on the ice."
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins are also in a position to clinch their playoff spot, but they are relying on other teams' losses to secure their place. Their path to the postseason is contingent upon several specific game outcomes, which adds to the tension surrounding the final days of the regular season.
The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 18, and excitement is building as fans eagerly anticipate the thrilling matchups that will define the postseason. The Stanley Cup Finals are scheduled to take place in June, promising nearly two months of intense hockey action.
As the league prepares for the playoffs, the focus shifts to the teams and to the individual players who will look to leave their mark on the postseason. With the potential for upsets and surprise performances, the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs could be one for the history books.
The final regular-season games will be played on April 16, and teams will be looking to finalize their rosters and strategies heading into the playoffs. With every point counting, fans can expect a thrilling finish to the regular season as teams fight for their playoff lives.
As the clock ticks down on the regular season, the intensity of the NHL playoff race is at an all-time high. Teams are not just playing for a spot in the postseason; they are playing for their legacy and the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup. The next few days will determine who will have the opportunity to compete for hockey's most prestigious prize.