EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe 2025-26 NHL season is closing in on its final 30 days, and Saturday's slate provides a number of high-intensity matchups.With 14 games on the schedule -- including five starting at 7 p.m. ET (!) -- it's another night where a multi-view option will be a necessity.However, one of the most critical games to the playoff bubble takes place in the middle of the afternoon, as the Boston Bruins visit the Washington Capitals (3 p.m. ET, ABC and the ESPN App).The Bruins enter the game as the second Eastern Conference wild card, having generated 78 standings points through 65 games. The Capitals are part of the logjam of teams trying to chase them down, with 73 points through 67 games.Among the teams battling it out on the wild-card bubble, the Bruins have one of the more favorable remaining schedules -- and they've beaten the Caps twice already this season, including 3-1 this past Saturday.Of course, it's not just the Capitals the Bruins have to worry about: the Columbus Blue Jackets are one point behind, and the Philadelphia Flyers are five points behind; those two clubs square off Saturday as well. The Ottawa Senators -- yet another team with 73 points -- take on the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks at 1 p.m.Whichever of these teams winds up earning the second wild card, a tough task awaits in the first round of the playoffs: a series against either the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning or Buffalo Sabres. Coincidentally, those who want to efficiently scout the Canes and Lightning are in luck: Tampa Bay hosts Carolina at 7 p.m.Every team has fewer than 20 games left before the regular season concludes April 16, and we'll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsToday's scheduleLast night's scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Detroit Red WingsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal CanadiensM1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston BruinsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York IslandersWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles KingsC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton OilersToday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Anaheim Ducks at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m.Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 3 p.m. (ABC)Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets, 4 p.m.New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild, 6 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.Calgary Flames at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers, 7:30 p.m.Detroit Red Wings at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.Last night's scoreboardLos Angeles Kings 3, New York Islanders 2St. Louis Blues 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 86Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 16Points pace: 106.9Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.4%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 18Points pace: 107.6Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 18Points pace: 105.1Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 94%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 33.4%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 78Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 17Points pace: 98.4Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 70.3%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 93.5Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 58.7%Tragic number: 31Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.9%Tragic number: 25Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 21Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 88Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: M1Games left: 17Points pace: 111.0Next game: @ TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 17Points pace: 99.7Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 60.2%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: M3Games left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)Playoff chances: 75.5%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 97.1Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 84.5%Tragic number: 33Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 92.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 10.7%Tragic number: 29Washington CapitalsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 10%Tragic number: 25New Jersey DevilsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 1.5%Tragic number: 22New York RangersPoints: 62Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 78.2Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 18Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 18Points pace: 124.3Next game: @ WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 92Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 17Points pace: 116.1Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 16Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 96.6%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 7.6%Tragic number: 32Winnipeg JetsPoints: 62Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 79.4Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 2.7%Tragic number: 29St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.8%Tragic number: 27Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 77.0Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Tragic number: 26Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 75Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: P1Games left: 17Points pace: 94.6Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.3%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P2Games left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.8%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 89.6%Tragic number: N/ALos Angeles KingsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: WC2Games left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 18.9%Tragic number: N/ASan Jose SharksPoints: 68Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 88.5Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 70.4%Tragic number: 37Seattle KrakenPoints: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 85.8Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 14.9%Tragic number: 34Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 74.4Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 24Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 60.6Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 13Race for the No. 1 pickThe NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.1. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 132. Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 223. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 184. New York RangersPoints: 62Regulation wins: 185. St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 256. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 62Regulation wins: 217. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 218. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 67Regulation wins: 209. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 2210. San Jose SharksPoints: 68Regulation wins: 1911. Seattle KrakenPoints: 67Regulation wins: 2312. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2613. Washington CapitalsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2814. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2616. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 23*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
