NHL Clinching Scenarios: Will Capitals’ Ovechkin be denied possible final playoff run?
Welcome to the home stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. This deep into the schedule, something significant is on the line virtually every day, whether it’s a playoff spot, division title to clinch or a major individual milestone. At Daily Faceoff, we’re breaking down what you need to know every day between now and the end of the season April 16.
So what’s at stake across the crucial 15-game slate for Saturday, April 11?
– The Boston Bruins (43-26-10) control their destiny Saturday. They can clinch a playoff spot in the first game of the day, a 12:30 p.m. ET home matinee vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, with a win of any kind. There are actually seven permutations of results that clinch Boston a berth, which you can see here. PlayoffStatus.com is a very handy tool.
– The Ottawa Senators’ (42-27-10) clinching scenario is pretty clean; they’re in if they beat the New York Islanders AND the Detroit Red Wings lose to the New Jersey Devils Saturday.
– The Detroit Red Wings’ (41-29-9) season ends in the bitter disappointment of a 10th consecutive playoff miss if (a) they lose to the Devils in regulation AND the Senators beat the Islanders; (b) they lose in regulation and the Isles beat the Sens in overtime or a shootout; (c) they get one or fewer points, the Senators win AND the Bruins get one or more points.
– The Washington Capitals’ (40-30-9) will miss the playoffs – and Alex Ovechkin may or may not miss his final chance at postseason games – if they lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation AND the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Winnipeg Jets.
– The Edmonton Oilers (40-29-10) clinch a playoff berth if they collect a single point vs. the Los Angeles Kings OR the Jets do anything but win against the Flyers.
– The Toronto Maple Leafs (32-33-14) and Florida Panthers (37-38-4) play a contest with far different stakes than their Game 7 of Round 2 in last year’s playoffs. This time, it’s the loser who gets the spoils. The Leafs are one point up on the Seattle Kraken for fifth-worst in the NHL; if the Leafs can drop into the bottom five by season’s end, they trigger the protection on the 2026 first-round pick they traded to Boston last year. The Panthers will do the same with the 2026 first-rounder they dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks if they can secure a bottom-10 spot; a loss and a single point from Winnipeg will guarantee Florida a top-10 draft pick this June.
– The Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-17) clinch a playoff berth if (a) they beat the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion; (b) they collect a point, the Nashville Predators lose to the Minnesota Wild AND the Jets lose to the Flyers; or (c) the San Jose Sharks lose to the Vancouver Canucks, the Predators lose in regulation, AND the Jets lose in regulation.
– We know the Dallas Stars (47-20-12) and Minnesota Wild (45-22-12) face each other in Round 1 of the playoffs, but home ice hasn’t yet been decided. The Stars can clinch it Saturday if (a) they beat the New York Rangers, (b) the Wild lose in regulation or (c) they collect at least a point and the Wild get one point or fewer.
– The St. Louis Blues (33-33-12) will be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation OR the Kings beat the Oilers, but there are four additional outcomes that finish off St. Louis on Saturday.
– The Seattle Kraken (33-34-11)’s elimination is a formality at this point. It happens if they lose to the Calgary Flames, and there are seven total outcomes that can knock Seattle out on Saturday.
– Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defensemen in NHL history two days ago. Schaefer’s next goal this season will be his 24th and give him the standalone record.
– Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki needs two points to become the franchise’s first 100-point scorer since Mats Naslund in 1985-86, 40 years ago.
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PRESENTED BY STAKE
