NHL Playoff Picture Update – April 16, 2025

NHL Playoff Picture Update – April 16, 2025

Western Conference Wild Cards Set

The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues officially clinched the final two wild-card spots in the Western Conference following Tuesday’s results, eliminating the Calgary Flames from postseason contention.

Blue Jackets Still Alive in the East

Out East, the Columbus Blue Jackets kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 3-0 win over the Flyers. Their fate now depends on the outcome of the Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes game on Wednesday.

Wednesday, April 16 – Key NHL Matchups & Playoff Stakes

Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

• A pivotal clash with playoff implications.
• Canadiens clinch the final Eastern wild-card spot with:
• A win of any kind OR
• An overtime/shootout loss.
• Blue Jackets only stay alive if Montreal loses in regulation.

Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets – 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

• Jets have clinched the Presidents' Trophy and are locked into the No. 1 seed.
• Ducks aim to improve draft position but cannot drop lower than 9th.

Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils – 7:30 PM ET (TNT)

• Red Wings sit 12th in draft lottery, potential to climb to 10th.
• Devils are locked into a first-round matchup with the Hurricanes.

Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

• Stars are set for a Round 1 matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.
• Predators are locked into the No. 3 spot in the draft lottery.

Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks – 10:00 PM ET (TNT)

• No playoff implications; both teams are locked into their postseason or lottery positions.

Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks – 10:30 PM ET (ESPN+)

• Oilers will face the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
• Sharks have clinched the No. 1 draft lottery position.

Tuesday’s Final Scores

• New Jersey Devils 5, Boston Bruins 4 (OT)
• Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 0
• Chicago Blackhawks 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)
• Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 0
• Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 1
• Washington Capitals 3, New York Islanders 1
• St. Louis Blues 6, Utah Hockey Club 1
• Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)
• Calgary Flames 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)
• Los Angeles Kings 6, Seattle Kraken 5

Current NHL Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

• Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Senators (WC1)
• Lightning (A2) vs. Panthers (A3)
• Capitals (M1) vs. Canadiens (WC2)
• Hurricanes (M2) vs. Devils (M3)

Western Conference

• Jets (C1) vs. Blues (WC2)
• Stars (C2) vs. Avalanche (C3)
• Golden Knights (P1) vs. Wild (WC1)
• Kings (P2) vs. Oilers (P3)