Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Capitals can tighten Eastern wild-card race

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2026 NHL postseason.

There are 15 days left in the regular season and the races for playoff spots and seeding are heating up. The top three teams in each of the four divisions and the next two highest-place finishers in each conference reach the playoffs.

Here is a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Clinching scenarios

The Buffalo Sabres will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion

OR

if they get at least one point vs. the Senators AND the Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion AND the Carolina Hurricanes defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion

The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they defeat the Blue Jackets in any fashion

OR

if they get at least one point vs. the Blue Jackets AND the Flyers defeat the Red Wings in any fashion AND the Sabres defeat the Senators in regulation

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in regulation AND all of the following occur: The Flyers defeat the Red Wings in regulation; the Hurricanes defeat the Blue Jackets in regulation; and the Sabres defeat the Senators in any fashion

OR

if they defeat the Penguins in overtime or shootout AND all of the following occur: The Flyers defeat the Red Wings in regulation; the Hurricanes defeat the Blue Jackets in regulation; and the Sabres defeat the Senators in regulation

The Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth:

* If they get at least one point against the Vancouver Canucks

OR

if the Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Edmonton Oilers in regulation AND the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the San Jose Sharks in any fashion AND the Calgary Flames defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in regulation

OR

if the Maple Leafs defeat the Sharks in regulation

OR

with any result in the Los Angeles Kings-Nashville Predators game other than a Kings regulation win

On Tap

There are 14 games on the NHL schedule Thursday, all with playoff implications:

Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)

The Capitals (38-28-9) look to continue their pursuit of the Blue Jackets in the race for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Washington, which has won three straight and is 5-1-1 in its past seven, is three points behind Columbus and a point behind Ottawa, Detroit and Philadelphia. Forward Alex Ovechkin keeps traversing milestones; the 40-year-old passed Jaromir Jagr for the most game-winning goals in NHL history (including playoffs) on Tuesday, took fourth fourth place on the all-time hat tricks list March 26 and joined Wayne Gretzky in the 1,000-goal club (including playoffs) March 22. The Devils (38-34-2) will try to keep their wild-card hopes alive; they're 10 points out of the second wild card after a 4-1 loss at the New York Rangers on Tuesday.

Utah Mammoth at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+)

The Kraken (32-30-11) try to inch closer to a playoff spot and avoid a three-game season series sweep by the Kraken. Seattle is three points behind Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card from the West with a game in hand. The Kraken need to right themselves after going 1-4-2 in their past seven games. The Mammoth (38-30-6) continue to climb toward their first playoff appearance in their second NHL season. They hold the first wild card in the West, four points ahead of the Kings, who hold the second wild card.

Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, MSG-B)

The Sabres (46-21-8) can clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2011, ending the longest playoff drought in NHL history. Buffalo reached the 100-point mark for the first time since 2009-10 after a 4-3 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and will try to keep pace atop the Eastern Conference, where it's tied with Carolina. The Sabres can also pad their lead in the Atlantic Division, where they're two points ahead of the Lightning, who have a game in hand. The Senators (38-26-10) can regain the second wild card in the East; they're two points behind the Blue Jackets with a game in hand and tied with Red Wings and Flyers.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; The Spot, SN-PIT)

The Lightning (46-22-6) can clinch a playoff berth for the ninth straight season and look to rebound after having an eight-game point streak (6-0-2) end with a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic, two points behind Buffalo with a game in hand and two points ahead of third-place Montreal. The Lightning are also two points back of the Sabres and Hurricanes for the Eastern Conference lead. The Penguins (38-21-16), who have won three of their past four, can have a chance to solidify their hold on a playoff spot after a 5-1 win against the Red Wings on Tuesday. Pittsburgh is second in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the Islanders with a game in hand, and four points ahead of the Blue Jackets.

Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NESN, SNO, SNE, SN1)

The Bruins (43-24-8) are hot on the trail of the rival Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic; Boston has won four straight and sit two points behind Montreal, which has a game in hand. The Bruins are four points ahead of the Blue Jackets for the first wild card in the East. The Panthers (36-35-3) savored a 6-3 win against the Senators on Tuesday that ended a three-game losing streak, but the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions are 13 points out of the second wild card.

Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN2, RDS)

The Canadiens (43-21-10) seek their seventh straight win and a chance to pull even with the Lightning for second in the Atlantic; Montreal is two points behind Tampa Bay and four behind first-place Buffalo with a game in hand, and lead Boston by two points with a game in hand. The Rangers (31-35-9) have a three-game winning streak but have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Detroit Red Wings at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET: FDSNDETX, NBCSP)

The Red Wings (39-27-8) and Flyers (37-25-12) each look to get back into the playoff bracket; Detroit, Philadelphia and Ottawa each is two points behind Columbus for the second wild card from the East and each has a game in hand on the Senators. Philadelphia is 8-2-1 since March 11. Detroit, 1-4-0 in its past five games, is hoping to get back on track and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, FDSNSO)

The Hurricanes (47-21-6) can clinch a playoff spot with a win in any fashion against the Blue Jackets or if they get at least one point against Columbus and Philadelphia defeats Detroit in any fashion and Buffalo defeats Ottawa in regulation. Carolina holds an eight-point lead over Pittsburgh for the Metropolitan lead and is tied with Buffalo for first in the East with a game in hand. The Blue Jackets (38-25-12) will try to maintain sole possession of the second wild card in the East and end a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). They hold a two-point lead over the Senators, Red Wings and Flyers, having played one more game than each.

Vancouver Canucks at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, SNP)

The Wild (41-21-12) can punch their ticket back to the playoffs and clinch a berth with at least one point against the Canucks (22-44-8) or if the Blackhawks defeat the Oilers in regulation and the Maple Leafs defeat the Sharks in any fashion and the Flames defeat the Golden Knights in regulation, or if the Maple Leafs defeat the Sharks in regulation or with any result in the Kings-Predators game other than a Los Angeles regulation win. Defenseman Quinn Hughes will face his former team for the first time since he was acquired by the Wild in a trade on Dec. 12. Vancouver has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN3)

The Jets (32-30-12), who are 4-1-0 in their past five, can move into the playoff picture; they're two points behind the Kings for the second wild card in the West and one point behind the Sharks and Predators. Winnipeg’s surge has been led by center Mark Scheifele, who has nine points (three goals, six assists) in a four-game point streak. The Stars (44-19-12) have clinched a playoff spot but are 1-4-2 in their past seven after a 6-3 loss at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Dallas is second in the Central Division, eight points behind the Colorado Avalanche, who hold a game in hand.

Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, CHSN)

The Oilers (38-28-9) will try to continue their drive up the Pacific Division standings and go for a season-high five-game winning streak. Edmonton is two points behind the idle first-place Anaheim Ducks and three points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights. Captain Connor McDavid has led the way with a five-game goal and point streak (10 points; six goals, four assists) and leads the League with 125 points (43 goals, 82 assists) in 75 games. The Blackhawks (27-34-14), 0-3-1 in their past four, are 10 points behind the Kings for the second wild card in the West.

Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SNO, SNE, SN1)

The Golden Knights (33-26-16) have an opportunity to move within a point of the second-place Oilers in the Pacific following a 4-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday in John Tortorella’s first game as coach; that ended a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). The Flames (31-35-8) seek to regroup after a 9-2 loss at the Avalanche on Monday that ended a six-game point streak (5-0-1). Calgary is eight points behind Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card in the West.

Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, TSN4)

The Sharks (35-31-7) can gain in the Western race with a win against the Maple Leafs. San Jose is one point behind Los Angeles for the second wild card in the West after a 4-3 win against Anaheim on Wednesday, its third victory in a row. The Sharks have a game in hand on the Kings and Predators, who they are tied with. Toronto (32-30-13) has won three of four but are 11 points out of the second wild card in the East.

Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; FDSNW, FDSNSO)

The Predators (34-31-9) will try to reclaim the second wild card in the West after the Kings jumped into that spot with a 2-1 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. Los Angeles, 2-2-3 in its past seven, is a point ahead of Nashville and four behind Utah, which holds the first wild card. The Predators have lost three straight and are five points behind the Mammoth Utah for the first wild card and a point ahead of the Winnipeg Jets.

If playoffs started Thursday

Western Conference

(1P) Anaheim Ducks vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Vegas Golden Knights
(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings
(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild

Eastern Conference

(1A) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins
(2A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3A) Montreal Canadiens
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets
(2M) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3M) New York Islanders

About last night

There were three games on the NHL schedule Wednesday, all with playoff implications:

Canucks 8, Avalanche 6: Nathan MacKinnon scored his 50th goal of the season, but Vancouver recovered to end a six-game losing streak. MacKinnon’s goal marked the second time he’s reached 50 in his NHL career (51 in 2023-24). He leads the NHL in goals this season and is tied for second in points with Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (121). The Avalanche lead the Western Conference and Central Division, eight points ahead of the Stars.

Kings 2, Blues 1 (OT): Trevor Moore scored 1:56 into overtime at Crypto.com Arena to move Los Angeles into the second wild card in the West. Jordan Binnington made 24 saves for the Blues, who are 0-1-1 after winning four straight; St. Louis is four points behind Los Angeles.

Sharks 4, Ducks 3: Macklin Celebrini had four points (two goals, two assists), and Alexander Wennberg scored the game-winning goal with 31 seconds remaining in the third period for the Sharks, who have won three straight and are a point behind the Kings for the second wild card in the West with a game in hand. Alex Killorn, Troy Terry and Ryan Poehling scored for the Ducks, who remain in first place in the Pacific, two points ahead of the Oilers.