Wild Can Clinch Playoff Spot on April 1

Blues-Kings, Ducks-Sharks matchups hold key to Minnesota's postseason berth

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:37pm

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The Minnesota Wild can clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 1 if either the St. Louis Blues defeat the Los Angeles Kings or the Anaheim Ducks beat the San Jose Sharks in regulation. The Wild will be idle on the night but their playoff fate rests on the outcomes of those two Western Conference matchups.

Why it matters

The Wild are looking to return to the playoffs after missing out last season, and clinching a berth on April 1 would give them a chance to rest players and prepare for the postseason. The Blues and Kings are both fighting for playoff positioning, while the Ducks and Sharks are playing out the string in non-contending seasons.

The details

The Wild will clinch a playoff spot if the Blues defeat the Kings in any fashion, or if the Ducks beat the Sharks in regulation. Both games are scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET start on April 1, with the Blues-Kings matchup airing on FDSNMW and FDSNW, and the Ducks-Sharks game being broadcast on HBO MAX, truTV, and TNT.

  • The Wild will be idle on April 1.
  • The Blues-Kings game is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on April 1.
  • The Ducks-Sharks game is also scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on April 1.

The players

Minnesota Wild

An NHL team based in St. Paul, Minnesota that is looking to clinch a playoff berth on April 1.

St. Louis Blues

An NHL team based in St. Louis, Missouri that is fighting for playoff positioning in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles Kings

An NHL team based in Los Angeles, California that is also battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Anaheim Ducks

An NHL team based in Anaheim, California that is playing out the string in a non-contending season.

San Jose Sharks

An NHL team based in San Jose, California that is also in a non-contending season.

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What’s next

The Wild will await the results of the Blues-Kings and Ducks-Sharks games on April 1 to see if they have clinched a playoff berth.

The takeaway

The Wild are in a good position to return to the playoffs, with their fate resting on the outcomes of two key Western Conference matchups on April 1. Clinching a berth on that date would give them time to rest and prepare for the postseason.