NHL playoff watch: Information to all 15 video games on Supreme Saturday

Two weeks from Saturday, the opening faceoff of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs will happen on the networks of ESPN. As of now, 9 spots have been clinched — together with the No. 1 total seed within the league and the Metro Division title — however that leaves seven extra up for grabs.

But with 15 video games on the schedule at present, hockey followers are calling it “Supreme Saturday,” with the opportunity of a handful of extra spots being locked in earlier than the ultimate buzzer of the night.

So what’s at stake in every sport? Here’s a snapshot of every matchup, from the primary puck drop at 12:30 p.m. ET all the best way till the final sport, which will get underway at 10 p.m. ET.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins
12:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)

Although the Lightning have clinched a playoff spot, they will enhance their place within the Atlantic Division bracket, sitting two factors behind the Canadiens for second and 4 factors behind the Sabres for first. If they win the division title, their first-round matchup may very well be towards the primary wild card, which may very well be these exact same Bruins. Boston clinches a playoff spot with a win; a lack of any stripe makes it just a little extra fascinating all through the remainder of the day.

Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders
1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

The Sens are at present in possession of the second wild-card spot, with a three-point edge on the Islanders. A win would not win them the spot — the Red Wings might nonetheless catch them, pending their outcome Saturday — however it could imply the Islanders wouldn’t be those doing so. However, New York does have one other method into the playoffs: the Metro Division’s No. 3 seed. The Islanders enter Saturday one level again of the Flyers, however with 4 further regulation wins ought to the 2 groups tie in factors by season’s finish.

Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
3 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)

Will this be the final time Alex Ovechkin performs towards the Penguins in Pittsburgh? We will not know that maybe till the summer season. But, there are playoff stakes in play right here, too. The Penguins are locked in to the No. 2 seed within the Metro. (The Flyers can catch up in factors, however lose the RW tiebreaker.) On the opposite aspect, the Caps basically must win out and get some assist from the opponents of the groups forward of them. They are three factors again of Philly heading into this sport but additionally have two groups between them and the Flyers.

Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

It’s unlikely that these two groups would play each other for a fifth straight first spherical however not totally out of the realm of chance. Edmonton enters this one atop the Pacific Division, with a one-point lead on the Golden Knights and Ducks (and an fringe of three and 6 RW, respectively); they will clinch a playoff berth with a win right here and a few assist. The Kings are 5 factors again of the Oilers, and at present in possession of the second Western wild card, one level forward of the Predators and three up on the Jets. Earning factors in each sport is essential for L.A., because the crew has simply 20 regulation wins, which will probably be fewer than another attainable playoff crew with which they would want a tiebreaker.

New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

If the Devils have been within the Western Conference, they’d be two again of the Kings for the wild card. As it stands, they’re mathematically eradicated and making an attempt to play spoiler. Simultaneously, they’re eleventh within the draft lottery order, that means they’re within the closing spot that might leap as much as No. 1 ought to they win the draw. The Red Wings are nonetheless battling for the ultimate playoff spot within the East, however alternatives are operating out. They enter this sport three factors again of the Senators — and 6 again within the RW column, that means they will want to leap over them outright to earn the ticket.

St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

At varied instances, this basic Norris Division rivalry would have had main playoff implications come April 11. Instead, this one is all about positioning within the draft lottery. Chicago enters the day in second, with 70 factors and 21 regulation wins. The Blues are mathematically alive for the postseason as play begins however haven’t any room to spare (both themselves or through wins by the groups forward of them). They are one in every of three groups getting into play with 78 factors, and sit in eighth within the draft lottery order.

Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

The Wild are locked in to a first-round matchup towards the Stars because the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds within the Central, however they’re nonetheless preventing for home-ice benefit in that collection, getting into play 4 factors again of Dallas. The Preds are a degree again of the Kings for the second wild-card spot (and a first-round matchup towards the Avalanche). As famous above, the Preds do have the RW tiebreak benefit over L.A., however they should begin stringing collectively some W’s for that to matter.

New York Rangers at Dallas Stars
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Speaking of the Stars, they will clinch home-ice benefit within the collection towards the Wild with a win over the Rangers; another outcome and issues keep fascinating. As for the Rangers, they have been the primary crew within the East to be mathematically eradicated, however some (comparatively) robust post-elimination play has them fourth within the draft lottery order, two behind the Flames for third and two forward of the Kraken for fifth.

Carolina Hurricanes at Utah Mammoth
5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

There’s not a lot left on the road for the Hurricanes. Carolina is at present the No. 1 seed within the East however holds only a two-point edge over Buffalo. A win right here — and a loss by the Sabres on Monday towards Chicago — clinches house ice by the East bracket. The house aspect has clinched a playoff spot, and desires a win of any variety and a Kings lack of any variety to clinch the primary wild-card place — and a first-round matchup towards the Pacific champ.

Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Last season, these two golf equipment staged an epic showdown within the second spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. This season … nicely, issues did not precisely go as deliberate for both aspect — though Toronto’s Auston Matthews and Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk received Olympic gold with Team USA. The Leafs and Panthers enter play with 78 factors, tied with St. Louis within the draft lottery order, and one behind fifth-place Seattle. As we all know, if Toronto lands within the high 5, they will retain their decide; if they do not, it goes to Boston due to the commerce for Brandon Carlo final season.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

As of their March 24 win over the Flyers, the Blue Jackets gave the impression to be a certain factor to finish their playoff drought; alas, within the time since — beginning with a loss to the Canadiens — they’ve gone 1-6-1, and their playoff hopes are actually on the brink. They are 4 factors again of the Senators (and won’t win the RW tiebreaker) however nonetheless simply two again of the Flyers (towards whom they at present have a two-regulation win edge). Unfortunately, Montreal actually needs this W, too; a win pulls them even with the Sabres in standings factors (106), although they’d nonetheless be behind because of the RW tiebreaker.

Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Speaking of the Flyers, their turnaround has been outstanding, from a crew some thought was nonetheless rebuilding to at present the No. 3 crew within the Metro. As the saying goes, they management their very own future with three video games remaining and a one-point margin over the peloton chasing them. The Jets are three factors again of the Kings for the second Western wild card however do maintain a considerable edge in regulation wins ought to they tie by season’s finish. Can Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor pull off the Olympic-Stanley Cup double?

Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Having been eradicated this week, the Flames are maintaining shut tabs on the draft lottery order; they enter play in third, with 73 factors and 25 regulation wins behind Chicago’s 70 factors and 21 RW. The Kraken are hanging on to playoff hopes by only a sea troll hair, however are concurrently fifth within the draft lotto order. They start play Saturday two behind the Rangers for fourth, and 4 again of the Flames for third.

Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
8 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN+)

Of the 2 groups, the Golden Knights clearly want a win right here extra, with a one-point deficit within the Pacific Division race and only a tiebreaker lead over the Ducks within the 2-vs.-3 seeding. But regardless of having clinched the No. 1 total seed within the bracket, the Avs know that it is a crew they may see down the street within the Western Conference finals. Might there be some message sending on this one?

Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

For some time there, it appeared just like the Sharks have been going to drag off a wild, basement-to-playoffs run this season. That’s trying extra unlikely by the day, though the door stays barely ajar, with a four-point deficit to make up on the Kings within the closing week. As for the Canucks, it turned clear early on that this crew was not going to be too harmful this season, and Vancouver clinched the worst document within the league over per week in the past. The Canucks will draft no worse than third total within the first spherical this June because the entrance workplace works to place a extra aggressive crew on the ice subsequent season.

Every crew has 4 or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes on Thursday, and we’ll show you how to hold observe 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 chances are high through Stathletes.

Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night time’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 decide

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Montreal Canadiens vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
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 Edmonton Oilers vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Anaheim Ducks

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Today’s video games

Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network can be found to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 1 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC)
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 4 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Detroit Red Wings, 5 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks, 5 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators, 5 p.m.
New York Rangers at Dallas Stars, 5 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Utah Mammoth, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 8 p.m. (ABC)
Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.

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Last night time’s scoreboard

There have been no video games on Friday.

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Expanded standings

Note: An “x” with a crew’s identify means the membership has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” signifies that they’ve clinched the division; a “z” signifies that they’ve clinched one of the best document within the convention; a “p” means they’ve clinched the highest total 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

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Metro Division

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Central Division

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Pacific Division

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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 crew that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a crew 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, until it lands within the high 5.