NHL Playoff Standings and Scenarios After April 7, 2025-26 Season Games

The National Hockey League's 2025-26 regular season is nearing its end, with several teams vying for playoff positions. After games on April 7, eight teams have clinched playoff spots: Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference; Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference.

No additional teams can clinch a playoff berth on April 8.

In the Eastern Conference, the Metropolitan Division is led by the Carolina Hurricanes with 106 points, who have clinched the division title. The Atlantic Division features a three-way tie at 102 points among the Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens, all of whom have clinched playoff spots.

The wild-card race includes the Boston Bruins at 96 points and Ottawa Senators at 92 points.

Teams outside playoff positions in the East include the Columbus Blue Jackets with 90 points, Detroit Red Wings with 89 points, New York Islanders with 89 points, and Washington Capitals with 87 points. Eliminated teams are the New Jersey Devils with 83 points, Toronto Maple Leafs with 78 points, Florida Panthers with 77 points, and New York Rangers with 75 points.

The Central Division is topped by the Colorado Avalanche with 112 points, who have clinched the division.

The Dallas Stars have 104 points and Minnesota Wild 102 points, both with playoff spots secured. In the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights are tied at 88 points, followed by the Anaheim Ducks at 87 points. The Western wild-card spots are held by the Utah Mammoth at 88 points and Nashville Predators at 84 points.

Teams out of playoff contention include the Los Angeles Kings with 83 points, San Jose Sharks with 81 points, Winnipeg Jets with 80 points, St. Louis Blues with 78 points, and Seattle Kraken with 75 points. Eliminated teams are the Calgary Flames with 73 points, Chicago Blackhawks with 70 points, and Vancouver Canucks with 52 points.

8 Games The Buffalo Sabres can break their three-way tie in the Atlantic Division if they earn at least one point against the New York Rangers on April 8.

A regulation loss would drop them to third based on points percentage. In the Pacific, the Edmonton Oilers can take the outright lead over the Vegas Golden Knights with at least one point against the San Jose Sharks; a regulation loss would place them second.

The San Jose Sharks, trailing the Nashville Predators by three points for the second wild-card spot, play the Edmonton Oilers on April 8, one of their two games in hand.

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the playoffs began after April 7, the Eastern Conference bracket would match the Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan 1) against the Ottawa Senators (wild card 2), Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan 2) against Philadelphia Flyers (Metropolitan 3), Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic 1) against Boston Bruins (wild card 1), and Buffalo Sabres (Atlantic 2) against Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic 3).

Winners of the first two series would advance to face each other in the second round, as would winners of the latter two. In the Western Conference, matchups would include Colorado Avalanche (Central 1) versus Nashville Predators (wild card 2), Dallas Stars (Central 2) versus Minnesota Wild (Central 3), Edmonton Oilers (Pacific 1) versus Utah Mammoth (wild card 1), and Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific 2) versus Anaheim Ducks (Pacific 3).

Similar advancement rules apply for the second round.

NHL tiebreakers for teams tied in points at season's end begin with regulation wins, followed by regulation and overtime wins, total wins, and other criteria. The Buffalo Sabres' return to the playoffs marks their first appearance since 2011.