NHL Clinching Scenarios: Flyers can snag first playoff berth since 2020
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 10-game slate for Monday, April 13?
– The Philadelphia Flyers (41-27-12) can clinch a playoff spot – their first since 2019-20 – and lock in a first-round matchup versus the Pittsburgh Penguins by beating the Carolina Hurricanes tonight.
– The Hurricanes (52-22-6) clinch the No. 1 Eastern Conference seed if they collect at least a point against the Flyers OR if the Buffalo Sabres lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any fashion.
– The idle Washington Capitals (42-30-9) stay alive if the Flyers collect fewer than two points against Carolina. Also idle, the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-29-12) will be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs tonight unless the Flyers lose in regulation.
– The Atlantic Division title is well within reach for the Sabres (49-23-8). They will lock it in tonight if (a) they beat the Blackhawks AND the Tampa Bay Lightning lose to the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion or (b) they win in regulation AND the Lightning collect one point or fewer. If Buffalo clinches, that will cement a Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens matchup in Round 1. The Sabres can also clinch at least home ice – as the No. 1 or 2 seed in the Atlantic – on Monday if they win in regulation OR if they collect at least a point and the Lightning lose in regulation.
– The San Jose Sharks (37-34-8) will be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose to the Nashville Predators in any fashion OR if the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken.
– The Winnipeg Jets (35-32-12) will miss the playoffs if (a) they lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in regulation; (b) the Kings beat the Kraken, (c) they collect one or fewer points AND the Predators beat the Sharks; or they collect one or fewer points AND the Kings collect a point or more.
– The Predators (38-32-10) miss the playoffs if they lose to the Sharks in regulation AND the Kings beat the Kraken.
– The idle Anaheim Ducks (42-32-6) clinch a playoff spot if the Predators lose in any fashion.
– The Los Angeles Kings (34-26-19) clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Kraken in any fashion AND the Sharks beat the Predators in regulation.
– The Golden Knights (37-26-17) can win the Pacific Division title Monday if they beat the Jets AND the Edmonton Oilers lose to to the Colorado Avalanche in regulation. Vegas’ likely Round 1 opponent in that scenario would be the Utah Mammoth, who could clinch the 7 seed in the West as early as tonight.
– The Toronto Maple Leafs (32-34-14) can guarantee a bottom-five finish in the overall standings – and activate pick protection for the 2026 first-rounder they traded to the Boston Bruins – if they lose to the Dallas Stars and the Seattle Kraken pick up one or more points. In that scenario, the pick would only go to Boston if a team leapfrogged Toronto in the Draft Lottery and pushed it to No. 6.
– With one point tonight, the Jets’ Mark Scheifele will become the second Jets/Thrasher player to record 100 points in a season and first since Marian Hossa in 2006-07. Scheifele’s 101st point would give him the single-season franchise record.
– The Red Wings’ Patrick Kane’s next point will be No. 1,400 for his career. He’ll be the 24th player to register that many.
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PRESENTED BY STAKE
