Who's in the NHL playoffs? 2026 bracket, standings, tiebreakers

Editor's note: Playoff scenarios for Wednesday, April 8, can be found here.

The Colorado Avalanche, who have dominated most of the NHL season, clinched the Central Division and Western Conference titles on Tuesday, April 7, but they will have to wait on the Presidents' Trophy.

The Carolina Hurricanes stayed alive in the race for the best regular-season record by beating the Boston Bruins. They clinched the Metropolitan Division title in the process.

The other divisions tightened after Tuesday's results. There's a three-way tie atop the Atlantic Division with Tampa Bay Lightning, Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens at 102 points each. The Lightning lead because they hold the second tiebreaker over the Sabres (see tiebreakers below).

Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights tied the Edmonton Oilers atop the Pacific Division with 88 points (Edmonton holds the first tiebreaker) and the Anaheim Ducks sit one point back after their loss.

The Ottawa Senators won to hold onto the second wild-card spot in the East. The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout to remain two points back while Detroit fell three points behind Ottawa.

The Nashville Predators won and reclaimed the second wild-card spot in the West.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Montreal

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

• The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch the Metropolitan Division title if they get at least one point vs. the Bruins. Update: The Hurricanes won and clinched the division.
• The Colorado Avalanche will clinch the Central Division and Western Conference titles if they defeat the Blues. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Flames beat the Stars. Another option: the Flames beat the Stars in regulation. Update: The Avalanche won and clinched both titles.
• The Avalanche will clinch the Presidents' Trophy if they win in regulation and the Hurricanes lose in regulation. Another option: Colorado wins in overtime or a shootout, the Hurricanes lose in regulation and the Lightning fail to win in regulation. Update: The Hurricanes' win means the Avalanche will have to wait to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.

NHL games today (Tuesday, April 7)

All times p.m. Eastern.

• Canadiens 4, Panthers 3 (SO)
• Senators 6, Lightning 2
• Blue Jackets 4, Red Wings 3 (SO)
• Flyers 5, Devils 1
• Hurricanes 6, Bruins 5 (OT)
• Avalanche 3, Blues 1
• Stars 4, Flames 3 (OT)
• Wild 5, Kraken 2
• Mammoth 6, Oilers 5 (OT)
• Golden Knights 2, Canucks 1
• Predators 5, Ducks 0

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 7 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

• y-Carolina Hurricanes (106)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (96)
• Philadelphia Flyers (92)

Atlantic Division

• x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)
• x-Buffalo Sabres (102)
• x-Montreal Canadiens (102)

Wild card

• Boston Bruins (96)
• Ottawa Senators (92)

Sitting out of playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (90), Detroit Red Wings (89), New York Islanders (89), Washington Capitals (87), z-New Jersey Devils (83), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-Florida Panthers (77), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 7 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

• y-Colorado Avalanche (112)
• x-Dallas Stars (104)
• x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

• Edmonton Oilers (88)
• Vegas Golden Knights (88)
• Anaheim Ducks (87)

Wild card

• Utah Mammoth (88)
• Nashville Predators (84)

Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (83), San Jose Sharks (81), Winnipeg Jets (80), St. Louis Blues (78), Seattle Kraken (75), z-Calgary Flames (73), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

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 on April 7:

• Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)
• Tampa Bay (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
• Buffalo (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 7.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
• Edmonton (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
• Vegas (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.