The Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues didn’t clinch playoff berths on Monday because they lost their games and the Calgary Flames won theirs.
They will try again Wednesday night but only one can clinch because the two teams are playing each other. Depending on the outcome of their game, it’s possible neither clinches. Regardless of the result, they will need help from the Flames (see below).
The idle New Jersey Devils also can clinch a playoff berth and the idle Washington Capitals can clinch the top record in the Eastern Conference. They clinched the Metropolitan Division title Tuesday, also on their day off. They resume play Thursday, when they’ll honor Alex Ovechkin for his goal-scoring record.
Also Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Lightning would move into the Atlantic Division lead if they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation.
Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture through games of Tuesday, April 8:
Who’s in the NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators
Western Conference: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings
Who can clinch today?
The Oilers will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Blues and the Flames lose to the Ducks in regulation.
The Blues will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Oilers in regulation and the Flames lose in regulation.
The idle Devils will clinch a playoff berth if the Rangers lose to the Flyers or beat them in a shootout.
The idle Capitals will clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference if the Maple Leafs lose to the Lightning in regulation.
NHL games today (Tuesday, April 8)
Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7
Philadelphia at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
San Jose at Minnesota, 8
St. Louis at Edmonton, 10 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
Calgary at Anaheim, 10
Watch select NHL games on Sling
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2024-25
(as of April 9; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Metropolitan Division
y-Washington Capitals (107 points)
x-Carolina Hurricanes (96)
New Jersey Devils (89)
Atlantic Division
x-Toronto Maple Leafs (98)
x-Tampa Bay Lightning (96)
x-Florida Panthers (94)
Wild card
x-Ottawa Senators (90)
Montreal Canadiens (87)
Sitting outside playoff position:New York Rangers (79), Detroit Red Wings (79), New York Islanders (79), Columbus Blue Jackets (79), z-Buffalo Sabres (76), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (76), z-Boston Bruins (73), z-Philadelphia Flyers (71)
NHL Western Conference standings 2024-25
(as of April 7; x-clinched playoff berth; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Central Division
x-Winnipeg Jets (110)
x-Dallas Stars (106)
x-Colorado Avalanche (100)
Pacific Division
x-Vegas Golden Knights (103)
x-Los Angeles Kings (97)
Edmonton Oilers (93)
Wild card
St. Louis Blues (93)
Minnesota Wild (91)
Sitting outside playoff spot: Calgary Flames (87), Vancouver Canucks (85), Utah Hockey Club (84), z-Anaheim Ducks (76), z-Seattle Kraken (74), z-Nashville Predators (64), z-Chicago Blackhawks (54), z-San Jose Sharks (50)
NHL playoffs if they started today
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended April 7:
Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card
Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)
Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)
Toronto (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Florida (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended April 7:
Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card
Winnipeg (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)
Vegas (P1) vs. St. Louis (WC1)
Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19.