NHL Super Saturday: What's at Stake in the Playoff Race? (2026)

The NHL's Super Saturday is a pivotal day in the league, with 11 games on the schedule and playoff positions hanging in the balance. As the regular season nears its end, teams are jostling for position, and the draft lottery standings are far from set. The Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins are locked in a battle for the final Western wild card spot, with the Jets just five points behind. The Vegas Golden Knights, meanwhile, have a strong hold on a Pacific Division playoff spot, but are just four points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the lead. The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are also in the mix for the Central Division, with the Stars holding the No. 2 seed and the Wild in third. The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes are neck and neck for first seed in the Eastern Conference, with the Sabres aiming to end a 14-year playoff drought. The Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks are both in the mix for the Eastern wild card, with the Flyers six points off the pace and the Sharks two points back. The Seattle Kraken and Columbus Blue Jackets are in a logjam of six contenders in the East with 83 or 84 points, with the Kraken just one point off the pace. The New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens are in a tiebreaker for third in the Metro, with the Islanders a point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Toronto Maple Leafs are destined for the draft lottery, with their first-rounder going to the Boston Bruins, unless it lands in the top five. The St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks are in the mix for the No. 1 pick, with the Canucks 11 points clear of the next lowest team. The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings are tied in standings points, with the Bruins holding a one-regulation win edge. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers are in a battle for first place in the Pacific, with the Oilers one point behind the Ducks. Every team has 15 or fewer games remaining before the regular season concludes on April 16, and the NHL playoff watch will provide details on all the playoff races and the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.

NHL Super Saturday: What's at Stake in the Playoff Race? (2026)

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