When do NHL playoffs start? 2026 standings, bracket and tiebreaker scenarios

Six of the NHL's eight playoff series are set, and the last two will be determined on the final day of the 2025-26 regular season. The Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, who are playing other opponents, can finish in either the second or third seed in the Pacific Division or the second wild card spot in the West. The second-place team would host the third place team in the first two games of the first round, while the second wild team would visit the No.

1 overall Colorado Avalanche. There's a possibility that the Oilers and Kings would face each other for the fifth year in a row in the first round. Here's what to know about the NHL standings , including the latest playoff bracket, Wednesday's clinching scenario and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season before the postseason begins on April 18: Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Boston, Ottawa Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, Utah, Los Angeles Who can clinch an NHL playoff seed today? Here are some of the permutations for determining the final Pacific Division seedings: The Edmonton Oilers would clinch second in the Pacific if they beat the Vancouver Canucks or if they get one point and the Ducks and Kings lose. They would finish third if they lose in regulation, the Ducks win and the Kings lose.

They would finish in the second wild card if they lose in regulation and the Ducks and Kings win. The Anaheim Ducks would clinch second place if they beat the Nashville Predators and the Oilers lose in regulation. They would finish third if the Oilers get at least one point and Anaheim gains one more point than the Kings during the night.