Who's in NHL playoffs? Latest 2026 bracket, standings, clinching scenarios

[ASFN Admin]

Sunday's NHL schedule is full of playoff permutations but the biggest question is whether this will be Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin's final home game.

Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, has said he won't make a decision on his future until he talks with his family and team management during the offseason. But the Capitals don't have any more home games after the Sunday, April 12 matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, barring a longshot chance to make the playoffs. They need one point in this game to stay alive.

The Capitals captain, who broke Wayne Gretzky's record last season, is in the final year of his contract and will turn 41 in September. He scored his 929th career goal on Saturday, April 11 in Pittsburgh.

Also on Sunday, the Anaheim Ducks can end their seven-year playoff drought and move into second place in the Pacific Division. The Montreal Canadiens could reclaim second place in the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins (tied in points as Eastern Conference wild cards) are in action, and the Columbus Blue Jackets could tie for third place in the Metropolitan Division, although the Philadelphia Flyers would have a game in hand.


Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Sunday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?​

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah, Edmonton, Vegas

Who could clinch an NHL playoff berth today?​

The Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL games today (Sunday, April 12)​

• Pittsburgh at Washington, 3, TNT, tru
• Montreal at N.Y. Islanders
• Boston at Columbus, 6, NHL Network
• Ottawa at New Jersey, 7
• Vancouver at Anaheim, 8
• Utah at Calgary, 9

NHL playoff standings​

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26​

After April 11 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

• y-Carolina Hurricanes (110)
• x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)
• Philadelphia Flyers (94)

Atlantic Division

• x-Buffalo Sabres (106)
• x-Tampa Bay Lightning (104)
• x-Montreal Canadiens (104)

Wild card

• x-Ottawa Senators (96)
• x-Boston Bruins (96)

Sitting out of playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (92), Washington Capitals (91), z-Detroit Red Wings (91), New York Islanders (91), z-New Jersey Devils (85), z-Florida Panthers (80), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26​

After April 11 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

• y-Colorado Avalanche (115) - Presidents' Trophy winner
• x-Dallas Stars (108)
• x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

• x-Vegas Golden Knights (91)
• x-Edmonton Oilers (90)
• Anaheim Ducks (89)

Wild card

• x-Utah Mammoth (90)
• Los Angeles Kings (87)

Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (86), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (82), z-St. Louis Blues (80), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (54)

NHL playoffs if they started today​

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket​

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 11:

• Carolina (M1) vs. Boston (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
• Buffalo (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket​

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 11.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3). This series is set
• Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?​

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?​

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?​

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket, latest 2026 standings and clinching scenarios

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