Clinch or Collapse: NHL Playoff Race Reaches Boiling Point

With the end of the regular season just two weeks away, the playoff race is entering its most volatile stretch.

Thursday night is an important slate across the NHL. Several teams can officially punch their postseason ticket, while others are staring down elimination scenarios that will ultimately define their season.

Playoff Scenarios Across the League

At the forefront, the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes both have clear paths to clinch a playoff berth.

Buffalo can secure its spot with a win over the Ottawa Senators in any fashion. If the Sabres fall short, they still have the opportunity to clinch with a combination of one point, a Columbus Blue Jackets loss and a Detroit Red Wings loss.

Carolina’s situation is similarly straightforward: a win over Columbus locks them in. Alternatively, the Hurricanes can get there with one point, a Detroit loss and Ottawa losing in regulation.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have one of the more complex paths to clinching. There are two paths to their postseason, the first is a combination of a win versus the Pittsburgh Penguins in any fashion combined with a regulation Columbus loss, a regulation Detroit loss and a regulation Ottawa loss. The second path is a regulation win against Tampa Bay, a regulation Columbus loss, a regulation Detroit loss and an Ottawa loss in any fashion. Two very similar paths to playoffs, but everything has to go just right for them.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild are within reach of clinching as well. Minnesota needs at least one point against the Vancouver Canucks to secure a berth. Failing that, they can still get in if the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights lose in regulation and the San Jose Sharks lose in any fashion, OR the Los Angeles Kings lose in regulation to the Nashville Predators OR the Sharks lose in regulation to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The @BuffaloSabres, @TBLightning, @Canes and @mnwild can all book their ticket to the 2026 #StanleyCup Playoffs tonight, but will they all do it? Three or more teams have clinched a postseason berth on the same day nine times since 2013-14. #NHLStats 👀 pic.twitter.com/nJNy8Dk2Kd
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 2, 2026

Brink of Elimination

On the flip side, several teams are facing elimination with tonight’s slate.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be eliminated with a regulation loss to Edmonton. If the Blackhawks walk away with a win, they can still be eliminated with one point against the Oilers AND at least one point from both the Predators and Sharks OR a regulation win for the Seattle Kraken and a regulation win for the Winnipeg Jets.

The Florida Panthers are also in danger of being knocked out. A regulation loss to Boston and a win from any of the Blue Jackets, Red Wings or Senators would eliminate them.

Another intricate situation belongs to the Maple Leafs, they have two paths to elimination. The first is a regulation loss AND a Columbus, Detroit and Washington Capital loss, an Ottawa point and both Columbus and the Philadelphia Flyers receiving one point. The other scenario is at least one point for Toronto AND a Senators win along with either a Columbus and Detroit win OR a Columbus point and a Detroit win in regulation.

Finally, the race for the draft lottery is also in play. The Canucks could lock in the league’s worst record this season, and the best odds at the first overall pick, with a loss to Minnesota, or if Chicago earns at least one point against Edmonton.

With so many moving parts across both conferences, Thursday’s games carry massive implications. From clinching celebrations to season-ending disappointment, the playoff picture could shift dramatically before the night is over.

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