Alex Ovechkin tallies a hat trick as the Capitals beat the Mammoth (1:01)
The Buffalo Sabres have the NHL's longest postseason drought, with the club last appearing in a postseason game in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs.
It appears that Buffalo will not only make the playoffs this season -- the Sabres might go in as one of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The NHL's second-longest postseason drought belongs to the Detroit Red Wings, whose last appearance was in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. Will their playoff-less streak also end in 2026?
Coincidentally, the two teams meet Friday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network) for the final time this season. Given the current standings, one of the two teams needs a win a bit more than the other.
The Red Wings enter the game with 84 points and 27 regulation wins through 71 games. That puts them one point and five RW behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild card, as well as four points and two RW behind the Boston Bruins for the first.
Detroit does not have any games remaining against Ottawa or Boston, so the Red Wings can't directly beat the teams they are chasing.
Of the Red Wings' final 10 games, just four are against teams currently in the playoffs; oddly, three of the remaining 10 are against the Philadelphia Flyers, who are also on the playoff bubble.
How does that compare with the teams Detroit is chasing? Ottawa has 10 games remaining, including five against current playoff teams, while Boston's final 10 games include seven games against teams in playoff position.
Stathletes gives the Red Wings a 34.7% chance of qualifying for a playoff spot, which trails the Senators (79.7%) and Bruins (66.9%).
Every team has around 10 games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we'll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Today's schedule Last night's scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 New York Islanders M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Columbus Blue Jackets
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville Predators C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. (NHLN) Chicago Blackhawks at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (SO) Seattle Kraken 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (OT) Minnesota Wild 3, Florida Panthers 2 New York Islanders 2, Dallas Stars 1 Philadelphia Flyers 5, Chicago Blackhawks 1 St. Louis Blues 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT) New Jersey Devils 4, Nashville Predators 2 Colorado Avalanche 3, Winnipeg Jets 2 Washington Capitals 7, Utah Mammoth 4 Anaheim Ducks 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT) Edmonton Oilers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 3 (OT) Los Angeles Kings 4, Vancouver Canucks 0
Points: 96 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 109.3 Next game: vs. DET (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Magic number: 10 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 108.6 Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Magic number: 12 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 103.9 Next game: @ NSH (Saturday) Playoff chances: 93% Magic number: 16 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 100.2 Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday) Playoff chances: 66.9% Magic number: 18 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 97.9 Next game: @ TB (Saturday) Playoff chances: 79.7% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 19
Points: 84 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 97.0 Next game: @ BUF (Friday) Playoff chances: 34.7% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 19
Points: 75 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 84.3 Next game: @ STL (Saturday) Playoff chances: ~0% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 6
Points: 73 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 84.3 Next game: @ NYI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 8
Points: 96 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 110.9 Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Magic number: 10 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 100.2 Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 80% Magic number: 18 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 10 Points pace: 99.1 Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 91.7% Magic number: 19 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 97.7 Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 43.7% Magic number: 19 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 94.7 Next game: @ DET (Saturday) Playoff chances: 7.1% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 17
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 91.0 Next game: @ VGK (Saturday) Playoff chances: 3% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 12
Points: 76 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 87.8 Next game: @ CAR (Saturday Playoff chances: 0.3% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 11
Points: 65 Regulation wins: 19 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 74.0 Next game: vs. CHI (Friday) Playoff chances: 0% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: OUT
Points: 106 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 122.4 Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Magic number: IN Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 110.5 Next game: @ PIT (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Magic number: IN Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 105.6 Next game: @ BOS (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Magic number: 2 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 89.9 Next game: @ LA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 98% Magic number: 16 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 88.0 Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 46.9% Magic number: 19 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 82.0 Next game: @ COL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 5.1% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 15
Points: 71 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 82.0 Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday) Playoff chances: 7.8% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 16
Points: 67 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 76.3 Next game: @ NYR (Friday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 10
Points: 86 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 97.9 Next game: @ EDM (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Magic number: 10 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 91.0 Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 88.4% Magic number: 15 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 88.7 Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday) Playoff chances: 97.9% Magic number: 17 Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76 Regulation wins: 19 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 86.6 Next game: vs. UTA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 36.7% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 19
Points: 74 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 85.5 Next game: @ BUF (Saturday) Playoff chances: 2.3% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 19
Points: 71 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 83.2 Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 16.9% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 18
Points: 68 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 77.4 Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: 11
Points: 50 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 57.8 Next game: @ CGY (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Magic number: N/A Tragic number: OUT
Note: An "x" with a team's name means the club has clinched a playoff spot. An "e" means that the club has been mathematically eliminated.
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.
Points: 50 Regulation wins: 14
Points: 65 Regulation wins: 19
Points: 67 Regulation wins: 20
Points: 68 Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71 Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71 Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72 Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73 Regulation wins: 27
Points: 74 Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75 Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76 Regulation wins: 19
Points: 76 Regulation wins: 25
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 31
Points: 82 Regulation wins: 22
Points: 84 Regulation wins: 27
Points: 86 Regulation wins: 32
*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
DW Deutsch 
