NHL's East playoff race shaken up as the Flyers rise, Red Wings fall, Islanders fire coach

The standings in the Eastern Conference look a lot different than they did in late March, with the Philadelphia Flyers crashing the party and the Detroit Red Wings dropping out of a playoff spot.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:21pm

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The Philadelphia Flyers have surged into a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, while the Detroit Red Wings have fallen out of a comfortable lead. The New York Islanders have fired coach Patrick Roy, and the Washington Capitals are running out of time to give Alex Ovechkin one more postseason appearance at age 40.

Why it matters

The shakeup in the Eastern Conference playoff race has major implications for several teams and players. The Flyers' resurgence is a surprise, while the Red Wings' collapse is disappointing. The Islanders' coaching change and the Capitals' struggles put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.

The details

The Flyers have won 14 of their last 21 games to climb into a playoff spot, leapfrogging the Islanders. Meanwhile, the Red Wings have gone 8-9-3 since January 15, when they were tied for the most points in the East. The Islanders have lost seven of their last 10 games, leading to the firing of coach Patrick Roy. The Capitals are three points out of a playoff spot with four games left, and are struggling defensively despite a recent strong stretch.

  • On March 26, only four points separated several teams in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
  • The Flyers beat the Bruins in overtime on Sunday, April 2, to move into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
  • The Red Wings lost 5-4 in regulation to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, April 2, continuing their slide.
  • The Islanders fired coach Patrick Roy on Sunday, April 2, with four games left in the season.
  • The Capitals were blown out 8-1 by the New York Rangers on Saturday, April 1, exposing their defensive issues.

The players

Rick Tocchet

The head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, who have surged into a playoff position in the Eastern Conference.

Cole Caufield

A winger for the Montreal Canadiens, who are on the verge of having their first 50-goal scorer since 1990.

Noah Cates

A forward for the Philadelphia Flyers, who has credited the team's simple and disciplined play for their recent success.

Lucas Raymond

A forward for the Detroit Red Wings, who have struggled to score in the first period this season.

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, who is searching for answers to his team's slow starts.

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What they’re saying

“'They know. They see the standings.'”

— Rick Tocchet, Philadelphia Flyers head coach

“'With where the league's at, our division, there's pressure every night on every team. That's what makes this thing so fun. It's just the guys in this group, in this room that are pushing each other and the staff that we have is unreal. We're just going to keep this thing going.'”

— Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens winger

“'These past 10 or so games, they've been playoff games and we've been playing the right way. It's been the simple things, the little things that just kind of get us over the hump and in the win column.'”

— Noah Cates, Philadelphia Flyers forward

“'Obviously, we would have loved to be in a playoff spot, but that's not the case. We've got a great opportunity here. We've got these games left here to really do something special with this team. The faith is high in here. We have a lot of faith in ourselves, in our team, so it's just about going out there and getting it done.'”

— Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings forward

“'I wish I had the answer. We can get out of the gate quicker: don't dip our toe in the water.'”

— Todd McLellan, Detroit Red Wings head coach

What’s next

The Flyers will look to continue their surge and solidify their playoff position, while the Red Wings, Islanders, and Capitals will fight to keep their postseason hopes alive in the final games of the season.

The takeaway

The shakeup in the Eastern Conference playoff race has created an exciting and unpredictable finish to the NHL season, with several teams battling for the remaining spots. The Flyers' resurgence, the Red Wings' collapse, and the coaching changes in New York and Washington have all contributed to the drama.