As of Saturday, April 11, 2026, the Colorado Avalanche have officially clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators are both in “win-and-in” scenarios today to secure their postseason berths. Meanwhile, the Utah Mammoth have officially locked into a Central Division playoff spot, while the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are confirmed for a first-round heavyweight matchup.
Last updated: April 11th, 2026
NHL Playoff Clinching Scenarios 2026
Here are the NHL playoff clinching scenarios for 2026 for you. Of note, the 2 x defending champion, Florida Panthers, did not make the playoffs this postseason.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
The East is becoming a battle of attrition, with the Atlantic and Metropolitan leaders already looking toward their first-round opponents.
Clinched Division: Buffalo Sabres (Atlantic), Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan).
Clinched Playoff Berth: Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins.
On the Verge (Can Clinch Today): Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators both have “win-and-in” scenarios on the ice right now.
On the Bubble:
- Philadelphia Flyers: Currently holding the third spot in the Metropolitan but only by a single point.
- New York Islanders & Detroit Red Wings: Both teams are 3 points behind Ottawa for the final wild-card spot. The Islanders hold the tiebreaker over Detroit, but both need a collapse from the Senators to jump in.Eliminated: New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs.
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Clinched Division/Conference: Colorado Avalanche (Central Division & Western Conference). The Avalanche officially clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team.
Clinched Playoff Berth: Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth.
On the Verge (Can Clinch Today): Edmonton Oilers (need 1 point vs. LA) and Vegas Golden Knights (with a win over Colorado).
On the Bubble:
- Anaheim Ducks & LA Kings: The Ducks are currently in the driver’s seat for the final Pacific spot, while the Kings are fighting to hold onto the second wild-card position.
- Nashville Predators: Chasing the Kings for the final spot; they likely need to win out and get help from the Flyers or Wild.Eliminated: St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks.
Current Projected Round 1 Matchups
These matchups are based on standings as of April 10 and are subject to change as the final wild-card seeds are locked in.
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
| (1A) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins | (1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings |
| (2A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3A) Montreal Canadiens | (2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild |
| (1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators | (1P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth |
| (2M) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3M) Philadelphia Flyers | (2P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3P) Anaheim Ducks |
NHL Tiebreaker Rules (2026)
If teams are tied in total points at the end of the 82-game season, the NHL uses the following tiebreaker sequence:
- RW (Regulation Wins): The most critical stat; wins earned in 60 minutes.
- ROW (Regulation plus Overtime Wins): Excludes shootout wins.
- Total Wins: All victories, including shootouts.
- Head-to-Head: Points earned in games played between the tied clubs.
- Goal Differential: Total goals for minus total goals against.
Hockey Resource Hub
- Printable 2026 NHL Playoff Bracket (PDF) – Download our high-res bracket once the full field and seeds are finalized.
- 2026 Frozen Four Championship: Wisconsin vs. Denver – Follow the NCAA finale in Las Vegas.
- When is the 2026-27 NHL Schedule Released? – Looking ahead to next season.
NHL Playoff Clinching FAQ
Question: When do the 2026 NHL Playoffs start? Answer: The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026, just two days after the regular season concludes on April 16.
Question: How many teams make the NHL playoffs in 2026? Answer: A total of 16 teams qualify for the NHL playoffs. Eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference. This includes the top three teams from each of the four divisions plus two wild-card teams per conference.
Question: What is the current magic number for NHL playoff clinching? Answer: Magic numbers vary by team, but the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators are currently in the strongest position to clinch the final Eastern spots. In the West, the Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of locking up the Pacific Division.
Question: Who has home-ice advantage in the 2026 NHL Playoffs? Answer: The Colorado Avalanche have officially clinched the Presidents’ Trophy, guaranteeing them home-ice advantage throughout the entire 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Finals.
