The NHL regular season nears its conclusion on April 16, and the playoff picture sharpened significantly after Thursday’s 14-game slate. No games are scheduled for Friday, giving teams a brief respite before a pivotal Saturday lineup. Buffalo Sabres have reclaimed the Atlantic Division lead with 106 points and 41 regulation wins through 80 games, holding tiebreaker advantages over pursuers Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Several key developments emerged, including Pittsburgh Penguins securing a playoff spot, Utah Mammoth earning their first postseason berth in franchise history, and Colorado Avalanche clinching the Presidents’ Trophy. Wild card battles remain heated, particularly in the West, where regulation wins could decide final positioning. With every team having four or fewer games left, the stakes couldn’t be higher. [1] [2]
Eastern conference overview
Buffalo’s dominant 5-0 shutout victory over Columbus Blue Jackets propelled them atop the Atlantic with 106 points. They lead Montreal (104 points, 33 regulation wins in 79 games) and Tampa Bay (102 points, 39 RW in 79 games). The Sabres’ superior regulation wins give them an edge in potential ties.
The division winner draws a wild card opponent, currently the Boston Bruins holding the first wild card at 96 points and 31 RW through 79 games. Bruins are poised to clinch a playoff spot Saturday. Ottawa Senators strengthened their second wild card position with a 5-1 rout of Florida Panthers, sitting at 94 points and 36 RW—also eligible to clinch soon.
In the Metropolitan Division, Carolina Hurricanes have locked the top seed and eye the East’s overall No. 1 with two points ahead of Buffalo. Pittsburgh Penguins punched their playoff ticket Thursday and await their No. 3 seed matchup. Philadelphia Flyers lead that race at 92 points and 25 RW (79 games), but vulnerable tiebreakers loom against New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals—for more on these tight Metro battles, check our recent playoff standings analysis.
Current Eastern matchups:
- 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
These alignments could shift based on Saturday outcomes, underscoring the value of regulation wins in tiebreakers.
Western conference picture
Colorado Avalanche have secured the Presidents’ Trophy at 114 points and 46 RW through 78 games, guaranteeing home-ice throughout the playoffs and capping at 122 points if they win out. Central Division’s top three are set: Dallas Stars (106 points) edge Minnesota Wild (102 points) for No. 2, setting up an intra-division first-round clash. Utah Mammoth clinched fourth with 90 points and 32 RW (78 games), marking a historic debut postseason.
Pacific Division teeters with Edmonton Oilers clinging to first at 90 points and 31 RW (79 games), narrowly ahead of Vegas Golden Knights (89 points, 28 RW) and Anaheim Ducks (89 points, 25 RW)—both in 79 games. Vegas, unbeaten in regulation since their coaching change, and Anaheim have flip-flopped lately. The Pacific winner faces Utah, while second and third meet.
The second wild card is a nail-biter: Los Angeles Kings lead at 85 points but only 20 RW (78 games), losing tiebreakers to challengers. Nashville Predators (84 points, 27 RW in 79), Winnipeg Jets (82 points, 28 RW in 78), and San Jose Sharks (81 points, 25 RW in 78) lurk. For deeper dives into Thursday’s clinchings like Utah’s, see our playoff watch coverage.
Current Western matchups:
- 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
Key results from Thursday
Thursday’s action reshaped the bracket:
- New York Islanders 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
- Buffalo Sabres 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
- Montreal Canadiens 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
- Ottawa Senators 5, Florida Panthers 1
- Detroit Red Wings 6, Philadelphia Flyers 3
- Pittsburgh Penguins 5, New Jersey Devils 2
- Winnipeg Jets 5, St. Louis Blues 2
- Carolina Hurricanes 7, Chicago Blackhawks 2
- Dallas Stars 5, Minnesota Wild 4
- Colorado Avalanche 3, Calgary Flames 1
- Utah Mammoth 4, Nashville Predators 1
- Anaheim Ducks 6, San Jose Sharks 1
- Seattle Kraken 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3 (SO)
- Los Angeles Kings 4, Vancouver Canucks 1
These outcomes boosted clinchers and tightened wild cards, with road wins proving crucial. [2]
Draft lottery implications
Non-playoff teams eye the draft lottery, where only the bottom 11 are eligible for No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna. Parity defines the bottom, with tragic numbers determining eliminations. Toronto Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to Boston unless top-five.
As Saturday looms, fans should track NHL standings and ESPN’s playoff tracker for live updates.
The final stretch promises drama, with regulation wins as the ultimate decider. Expect fireworks as seeds solidify and bubble teams fight for survival—what it means for the playoffs is anyone’s guess, but home ice and matchups will shape championship paths.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.