Bruins, Golden Knights, Oilers on verge of playoff berth

Senators, Ducks can also secure spots; Stars look to nail down home ice in 1st round

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:00am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented hockey game, with the vibrant colors of the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights uniforms overlapping and intersecting in a dynamic, abstract composition.As the NHL regular season reaches its climax, several teams are on the verge of securing their spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Ottawa Today

With six days left in the regular season, several NHL teams are on the verge of clinching playoff spots. The Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights can all clinch berths with wins or other results going their way. The Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks can also secure playoff spots, while the Dallas Stars are looking to lock up the No. 2 seed in the Central Division.

Why it matters

As the regular season winds down, the playoff picture is coming into focus. Teams are jockeying for postseason positions, which will determine matchups and home-ice advantage in the first round. Clinching a playoff spot is a major milestone, especially for teams like the Oilers and Ducks who are looking to return to the playoffs after missing out in recent years.

The details

The Bruins can clinch a playoff berth by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning, or by getting one point against the Lightning and having the New Jersey Devils beat the Detroit Red Wings, plus either the Ottawa Senators beating the New York Islanders or the Winnipeg Jets beating the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers can clinch by getting at least one point against the Los Angeles Kings, or with any result in the Jets-Flyers game other than a Jets regulation win. The Golden Knights can clinch by beating the Colorado Avalanche, or by getting one point against the Avalanche and having the Flyers beat the Jets and the Minnesota Wild beat the Nashville Predators. The Senators and Ducks can also clinch playoff spots with the right combination of results. Meanwhile, the Stars can clinch the No. 2 seed in the Central Division by beating the New York Rangers, or with a variety of other outcomes involving the Predators and Wild.

  • The regular season has six days remaining.
  • The Bruins, Oilers, and Golden Knights can clinch playoff berths on April 11, 2026.

The players

Boston Bruins

An NHL team based in Boston, Massachusetts that plays in the Eastern Conference.

Edmonton Oilers

An NHL team based in Edmonton, Alberta that plays in the Western Conference.

Vegas Golden Knights

An NHL team based in Las Vegas, Nevada that plays in the Western Conference.

Ottawa Senators

An NHL team based in Ottawa, Ontario that plays in the Eastern Conference.

Anaheim Ducks

An NHL team based in Anaheim, California that plays in the Western Conference.

Dallas Stars

An NHL team based in Dallas, Texas that plays in the Central Division of the Western Conference.

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What’s next

The Bruins, Oilers, Golden Knights, Senators, and Ducks will all be looking to clinch their playoff spots on April 11, 2026. The Stars will also be aiming to secure the No. 2 seed in the Central Division.

The takeaway

As the NHL regular season winds down, several teams are on the verge of clinching playoff berths, which will determine matchups and home-ice advantage in the first round. The Bruins, Oilers, and Golden Knights are all close to securing their spots, while the Senators and Ducks can also punch their tickets to the postseason. The Stars, meanwhile, are looking to lock up the No. 2 seed in the Central Division.