The 2025-26 NHL season is winding down to its final 30 days, and Saturday’s slate offers several high-intensity matchups.
With 14 games on the schedule — including five starting at 7 p.m. ET (!) — this is another night where multi-viewing options will be a necessity.
However, one of the most important games for the playoff bubble occurs in the mid-afternoon boston bruins to visit washington capitals (3 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN app).
The Bruins enter the game as the second Eastern Conference wild card, having accumulated 78 standings points through 65 games. The Capitals, with 73 points through 67 games, are part of a stalemate of teams trying to chase them.
between teams Battling it out on the wild-card bubbleThe Bruins have one of the more favorable remaining schedules — and they’ve beaten the Caps twice already this season, including 3-1 last Saturday.
Of course, it’s not just the Capitals that the Bruins are worried about: columbus blue jackets are one point behind, and philadelphia flyers Five points behind; Both of those clubs will also finish on Saturday. ottawa senators – Another team with 73 points – will face the leading team of the Pacific Division anaheim ducks at 1 pm
Whichever team earns the second wild card, a tough challenge awaits in the first round of the playoffs: a series against either of the two carolina storm, tampa bay lightning Or buffalo saber. Incidentally, those looking to square off with the Canes and the Lightning are in luck: Tampa Bay hosts Carolina at 7 p.m.
Each team has less than 20 games left before the regular season ends on April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all every day on NHL Playoff Watch. We’ll provide details on all of the playoff races as we cross the final stretch – as well as the teams vying for a spot in the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: Playoff odds are through statelets.
Proceed:
Current playoff matchups
today’s program
last night’s score
extended position
race for the number 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
eastern conference
A1 buffalo saber vs wc1 detroit red wings
A2 tampa bay lightning vs a3 montreal canadiens
M1 carolina storm vs wc2 boston bruins
m2 pittsburgh penguins vs m3 New York Islanders
western conference
C1 colorado avalanche vs wc2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 dallas stars vs c3 minnesota wild
P1 anaheim ducks vs wc1 utah mammoth
P2 vegas golden knights vs p3 edmonton oilers
today’s games
Note: All times are ET. Not all games are on TNT or NHL Network Available to stream on ESPN+ (Local blackout restrictions apply).
anaheim ducks But ottawa senators1 pm
boston bruins But washington capitals3pm (ABC)
colorado avalanche But winnipeg jets4 pm
New York Rangers But minnesota wildat 6 pm
Toronto Maple Leafs But buffalo saber7 p.m. (NHL Network)
san jose sharks But montreal canadiensat 7 pm
carolina storm But tampa bay lightningat 7 pm
Los Angeles Kings But New Jersey Devilsat 7 pm
calgary flames But New York Islandersat 7 pm
columbus blue jackets But philadelphia flyers7:30 pm
detroit red wings But dallas stars8 pm
pittsburgh penguins But utah mammoth9 pm
seattle kraken But vancouver canucks10 pm
chicago blackhawks But vegas golden knights10 pm
last night’s scoreboard
Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Islanders 2
st louis blues 3, edmonton oilers 2 (OT)
extended position
Atlantic Division
score: 86
Regulation Wins: 34
Playoff Position: A1
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 106.9
Next game: vs TOR (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.4%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 84
Regulation Wins: 31
Playoff Position: A2
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 107.6
Next game: vs car (saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 82
Regulation Wins: 25
Playoff Position: A3
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 105.1
Next game: vs sj (saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 94%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 79
Regulation Wins: 25
Playoff Position: WC1
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 98.2
Next game: @DAL (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 33.4%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 78
Regulation Wins: 27
Playoff Position: WC2
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 98.4
Next game: @WSH (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 70.3%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 26
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 93.5
Next game: vs ANA (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 58.7%
Sad numbers: 31
score: 69
Regulation Wins: 26
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 87.1
Next game: @SEA (Sunday)
Playoff Possibilities: 1.9%
Sad numbers: 25
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 20
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 83.2
Next game: @BUF (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 0.1%
Sad numbers: 21
metro division
score: 88
Regulation Wins: 30
Playoff Position: m1
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 111.0
Next game: @TB (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 79
Regulation Wins: 27
Playoff Position: m2
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 99.7
Next game: @UTA (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 60.2%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 79
Regulation Wins: 23
Playoff Position: M3
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 98.2
Next game: vs CGY (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 75.5%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 77
Regulation Wins: 23
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 97.1
Next game: @PHI (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 84.5%
Sad numbers: 33
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 20
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 92.1
Next game: vs CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 10.7%
Sad numbers: 29
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 28
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 15
Digit Speed: 89.3
Next game: vs BOS (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 10%
Sad numbers: 25
score: 66
Regulation Wins: 21
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 83.3
Next game: vs LA (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 1.5%
Sad numbers: 22
score: 62
Regulation Wins: 18
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 78.2
Next game: @minimum (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: ~0%
Sad numbers: 18
Central Division
score: 97
Regulation Wins: 39
Playoff Position: C1
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 124.3
Next game: @WPG (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 92
Regulation Wins: 33
Playoff Position: C2
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 116.1
Next game: vs det(saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 88
Regulation Wins: 25
Playoff Position: C3
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 109.3
Next game: vs NYR (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 74
Regulation Wins: 26
Playoff Position: WC1
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 91.9
Next game: vs PIT (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 96.6%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 22
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 84.5
Next game: @EDM (Sunday)
Playoff Possibilities: 7.6%
Sad numbers: 32
score: 62
Regulation Wins: 21
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 79.4
Next game: vs COL (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 2.7%
Sad numbers: 29
score: 64
Regulation Wins: 25
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 79.5
Next game: @WPG (Sunday)
Playoff Possibilities: 1.8%
Sad numbers: 27
score: 61
Regulation Wins: 18
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 77.0
Next game: @VGK (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 0.3%
Sad numbers: 26
Pacific Division
score: 75
Regulation Wins: 21
Playoff Position: P1
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 94.6
Next game: @OTT (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 98.3%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 74
Regulation Wins: 22
Playoff Position: P2
Games left: 16
Digit Speed: 91.9
Next game: vs CHI (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 98.8%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 24
Playoff Position: P3
Games left: 15
Digit Speed: 89.3
Next game: vs NSH (Sunday)
Playoff Possibilities: 89.6%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 69
Regulation Wins: 17
Playoff Position: WC2
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 87.1
Next game: @NJ (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 18.9%
Sad numbers: N/A
score: 68
Regulation Wins: 19
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 19
Digit Speed: 88.5
Next game: @MTL (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 70.4%
Sad numbers: 37
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 23
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 18
Digit Speed: 85.8
Next game: @van(saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 14.9%
Sad numbers: 34
score: 59
Regulation Wins: 22
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 74.4
Next game: @NYI (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: 0.1%
Sad numbers: 24
score: 48
Regulation Wins: 13
Playoff Position: N/A
Games left: 17
Digit Speed: 60.6
Next game: vs SEA (Saturday)
Playoff Possibilities: ~0%
Sad numbers: 13
Race for number 1 selection
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes last 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 drawing for the No. 1 pick. Full details of the process can be found here. Topping the draft boards this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward from Penn State.
score: 48
Regulation Wins: 13
score: 59
Regulation Wins: 22
score: 61
Regulation Wins: 18
score: 62
Regulation Wins: 18
score: 64
Regulation Wins: 25
score: 62
Regulation Wins: 21
score: 66
Regulation Wins: 21
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 20
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 22
score: 68
Regulation Wins: 19
score: 67
Regulation Wins: 23
score: 69
Regulation Wins: 26
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 28
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 20
score: 73
Regulation Wins: 26
score: 77
Regulation Wins: 23
*Note: The Maple Leafs have a favorite over the Bruins unless they finish in the top five.
