The race to the Stanley Cup is officially on, as all 16 playoff berths are now spoken for with just a handful of days remaining in the NHL regular season. The 2025-26 campaign has been nothing short of dramatic, and as of April 14, 2026, the playoff bracket is locked in—at least for the teams. The final seeding and home-ice advantages, however, are still up for grabs, promising a thrilling finish to the regular season before the puck drops on the postseason April 18.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins delivered a statement 4-0 win to clinch the first wild-card seed, thereby setting the entire slate of first-round matchups. The Carolina Hurricanes, who finished atop the Metropolitan Division with 113 points, will take on the Ottawa Senators. The Buffalo Sabres, Atlantic Division champions with 108 points, are set to face the surging Bruins. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens are locked into a rivalry series, with home-ice still a point of contention. Rounding out the East, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will renew hostilities in what’s sure to be a Battle of Pennsylvania for the ages.
Speaking of drama, the Flyers’ playoff berth is a story all its own. Philadelphia clinched their first postseason appearance in six years with a nail-biting shootout win over the Hurricanes. According to CBS Sports, “the Philadelphia Flyers clinched the playoffs for the first time in six years with a shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes.” Their resurgence adds extra spice to their first-round clash with the Penguins, a matchup that’s always packed with emotion and intensity.
Over in the Atlantic, the Sabres’ consistency throughout the season paid off as they locked up first place, while the Lightning and Canadiens are still battling for home-ice advantage in their head-to-head first round series. Montreal’s 4-2 loss to the Flyers on April 14 means they’re locked into third place, so the opening games will be played in Tampa Bay. The Lightning, with 106 points, matched the Canadiens in the standings but edged them out in tiebreakers, ensuring a crucial home-ice edge.
The wild-card race in the East was fierce until the final buzzer. Boston’s win over the Devils not only secured their playoff spot but also set up a tantalizing showdown with Buffalo. Ottawa, who clinched the second wild-card spot, will need to bring their best against the Hurricanes, who have home-ice advantage through the conference playoffs unless they meet the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.
Out West, the Utah Mammoth made headlines by clinching the top wild-card seed on April 14, but the Pacific Division’s final standings are still in flux. The Mammoth’s 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, coupled with the Los Angeles Kings’ overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks, was enough to guarantee Utah a playoff spot. However, the Kings, Ducks, and Mammoth are all trying to avoid the dreaded second wild-card position, which would mean a first-round date with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.
Let’s talk about the Avalanche for a second. Colorado has been the class of the league, racking up 119 points (according to USA TODAY) and clinching the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular season team. The Avalanche will face whichever team lands in the second wild-card spot, a daunting challenge for any opponent. Dallas and Minnesota, meanwhile, are locked into a Central Division showdown, with Dallas holding a slim edge at 110 points to Minnesota’s 104.
The Pacific Division is still a battlefield. The Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, and Anaheim Ducks are all in, but their final positions will be determined by the last games of the regular season. Vegas, with 93 points, currently sits atop the division, while Edmonton (91) and Anaheim (90) are hot on their heels. The Ducks’ recent 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild means they remain at 90 points, leaving the door open for the Kings and Mammoth to leapfrog them depending on the outcomes of their season finales.
For the Kings, the overtime loss to Vancouver kept them in the second wild-card spot, but they can still move up if they outpace Anaheim in the final games. As things stand, Los Angeles would face the Avalanche in the first round—a daunting task, but not impossible. The Kings, Ducks, and Mammoth have all shown flashes of brilliance and could shake up the bracket if they catch fire at the right time.
Amid all the playoff chaos, one of the most poignant moments came in Washington, where Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin played what might be his final NHL game. The 40-year-old superstar notched an assist in a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, the very team he debuted against back in 2005. Ovechkin, who finished the season with 32 goals and 64 points while playing all 82 games, has not yet decided if he’ll return for another campaign. “I hope it’s not my last game,” he told reporters. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see.” He leaves the ice with a staggering 929 goals, 758 assists, and 1,687 points in 1,753 career games—a legacy that will echo through NHL history, no matter what he decides.
For the record-keepers and stat-heads, the NHL’s tiebreaker procedures are front and center this season. Regulation wins serve as the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation plus overtime wins, then total wins, and finally head-to-head points if necessary. With teams like Tampa Bay and Montreal finishing level on points, these nuances are more important than ever in determining crucial home-ice advantages and matchups.
Looking at the full playoff bracket as of April 14, the Eastern Conference first round features: Carolina vs. Ottawa, Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Buffalo vs. Boston, and Tampa Bay vs. Montreal. In the West, it’s Colorado vs. Los Angeles (or possibly another wild card depending on final games), Dallas vs. Minnesota, Vegas vs. Utah, and Edmonton vs. Anaheim. Every series has the potential for fireworks, upsets, and unforgettable moments.
The regular season will officially conclude on April 16, with six games on tap, before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on April 18. With so much still to play for in terms of seeding and pride, fans can expect a wild finish to what’s already been a memorable season.
As the dust settles and the postseason beckons, all eyes will turn to the chase for hockey’s ultimate prize. The storylines are set, the heroes are ready, and the drama is only just beginning. Let the games begin!