The NHL Run-Down: Who Can Still Clinch a Playoff Spot

NHL Playoff Picture: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Who’s Fighting for Everything as the Race Hits the Finish Line (April 13, 2026)

With the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs just around the corner, the NHL landscape is starting to harden — some teams are already locked in, some are officially done, and a handful are still battling for the final spots and seeding chaos that will define the first round.

The tension is highest where it always is: the wild cards.

🔒 Teams already in (clinched playoff spots)

A clearer picture is emerging in both conferences, with several contenders already securing their postseason fate.

In the Eastern Conference, the top-tier structure is largely set around heavyweights:

Carolina Hurricanes have already clinched the Metropolitan Division and are tracking toward the East’s No. 1 seed battle.
Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Tampa Bay Lightning have locked in Atlantic playoff positions.
Pittsburgh Penguins are also safely in from the Metro.
Wild card spots are already secured or effectively clinched by teams like the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.

In the West, the hierarchy is even more top-heavy:

Colorado Avalanche have clinched the Central Division and are positioned as the Western Conference standard-bearer.
Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are safely in from the Central.
Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are locked in from the Pacific.
The final Western wild card picture has been shaped by teams like the Utah Mammoth and Los Angeles Kings holding position in the race.

❌ Teams already eliminated

While the playoff race has been tight at the top, the bottom has already fallen out for several clubs.

In the East, the postseason math has finally caught up to teams like:

Detroit Red Wings — officially eliminated in recent standings updates.
New York Islanders — eliminated after a late-season collapse.
New Jersey Devils — also out of contention.

In the West, several fringe teams never climbed far enough out of the gap to stay alive as the cutoff line hardened.

🔥 The real race: wild cards and seeding chaos

This is where the season is still alive — and where every shift in the standings matters.

Eastern Conference: absolute war for positioning

The East is effectively a three-tier battle:

Top seed chase
- The Carolina Hurricanes are in control of the conference picture, but still technically fending off pressure for East supremacy.
Atlantic positioning chaos
- The Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Tampa Bay Lightning are locked into playoff spots, but seeding remains volatile.
Wild card tension
- The Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins are in position, but teams like the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets are still breathing down their necks in a tight points cluster.

This is where playoff identities are being formed — not just who gets in, but who survives the first round.

Western Conference: Avalanche lead, chaos behind

The West is top-heavy at the top, but unpredictable underneath.

The Colorado Avalanche have separated themselves as the conference benchmark and Presidents’ Trophy-level favorite.
The Stars and Wild closely follow.
Behind them, seeding battles involving the Vegas Golden Knights, and Edmonton Oilers remain critical.
The final wild card position is still fluid, with teams like the Utah Mammoth just clinching and the Los Angeles Kings, Ducks and Predators fighting to avoid slipping out entirely.

This is the “playoff line” every night — one loss can change everything.