* After 188 days and 1,291 regular-season games contested, the teams competing in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially set after the Flyers, Kings and Ducks clinched the final three berths. It’s a postseason that features the second-highest total for year-over-year playoff turnover in NHL history.
* The Hurricanes clinched their first-ever conference title, while the Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division, marking their seventh division title in franchise history.
* Two more matchups were secured on Monday with the Penguins and Flyers as well as the Lightning and Canadiens. Pittsburgh has secured the second seed in the Metropolitan and will have home ice advantage, yet the seeding between the second and third spots in the Atlantic is still to be determined.
* Five matchups and one division title still need to be determined as the regular season enters its third-last day – Tuesday will see nine games contested and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy on display with Nathan MacKinnon (52) and Cole Caufield (51) both in action.
ALL SIXTEEN TEAMS SET FOR THE 2026 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
It was an all-out sprint for postseason berths as we witnessed seven teams secure their spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs over the past three days – a postseason that will feature six teams who did not qualify last year, seven clubs with new head coaches and four teams who occupied the final four positions in their conference 365 days ago.
* The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs saw a six-team turnover with the Sabres, Penguins, Bruins, Flyers, Mammoth and Ducks all qualifying after missing the postseason last year – that is the second-highest total in NHL history behind 2020-21, 2017-18, 2016-17 and 2014-15 (all w/ 7).
* Seven head coaches in their first season with a club guided their team into a playoff spot: Glen Gulutzan (DAL), Marco Sturm (BOS), Dan Muse (PIT), Rick Tocchet (PHI), Joel Quenneville (ANA), D.J. Smith (LAK) and John Tortorella (VGK). Only one campaign over the past 25 years (excluding 2019-20, when 24 teams qualified for the postseason) featured more: 2002-03 (8; WSH, DET, DAL, PHI, ANA, BOS, NJD & COL).
* The Penguins (13th), Sabres (14th), Bruins (15th) and Flyers (16th) all clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs after finishing in the bottom four spots in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25. This marks the first time since 1993-94 that the last four teams in a conference each qualified for the postseason in the following campaign. Of note, 1993-94 was the season the League adopted the Eastern-Western conference format.
FLYERS CLINCH FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT IN EAST, WILL FACE PENGUINS IN FIRST ROUND
The Flyers erased a two-goal deficit before defeating the Hurricanes to clinch their first playoff spot since 2020 and set up the “Battle of Pennsylvania” in the First Round. Philadelphia’s run to qualify for the postseason saw it overcome a nine-point deficit as late as March 10. They became the first team in NHL history to make the playoffs after facing that large of a point deficit through 60 or more games played in a season. Click here for more #NHLStats on Philadelphia’s clinch.
* Porter Martone factored on Trevor Zegras’ tying goal during the comeback win and became the fifth Flyers teenager in the past 30 years to record a point in five consecutive games, following Sean Couturier (6 GP in 2011-12), Matvei Michkov (5 GP in 2024-25), Joel Farabee (5 GP in 2019-20) and Nolan Patrick (5 GP in 2017-18).
* The Flyers will meet the Penguins for the eighth time in the postseason once the First Round commences. The “Battle of Pennsylvania” will tie the “Battle of New York” (NYR & NYI) for the most playoff series involving state or provincial rivals in NHL history.
FINAL TWO PACIFIC DIVISION CLUBS CLINCH MONDAY: KINGS, DUCKS
The Kings and Ducks were the final two clubs to secure their position in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Los Angeles doing so via a victory over the Kraken and a Sharks regulation win against the Predators, while idle Anaheim did so by virtue of San Jose defeating Nashville.
* The Kings extended their winning streak to five games – their longest run this season – as Adrian Kempe hit the 35-goal mark for the fourth time in his career. Only three other Swedish-born players have had as many 35-goal campaigns: Markus Naslund (5), Kent Nilsson (4) and Mats Sundin (4).
* Los Angeles earned its fifth straight berth into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and eyes its first series win since the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. The Kings, who occupy the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, also entered the 2012 postseason as the conference’s lowest seed en route to a Stanley Cup. They are one of five franchises in NHL history to advance to the Final after entering the postseason as the lowest seed, alongside the 2023 Panthers, 2021 Canadiens, 2017 Predators and 2006 Oilers. Click here for more #NHLStats on the Kings’ clinch.
* Anaheim is making its first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2018 and seeks its first series win since the 2017 Second Round. Overall, the Ducks own a .600 winning percentage at home during the Stanley Cup Playoffs since their first-ever postseason appearance in 1997.
* Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke currently lead the Ducks in scoring this season with just two games remaining. Anaheim would be the seventh team in NHL history to enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs with their top three scorers all age 22 or younger. The others: 2017-18 Maple Leafs, 2008-09 Penguins, 2007-08 Capitals, 1982-83 Oilers, 1981-82 Oilers and 1980-81 Oilers. Click here for more #NHLStats on the Ducks’ clinch.
HURRICANES FINISH FIRST IN THE EAST, SABRES EARN DIVISION TITLE
Two more titles were secured Monday as the Hurricanes claimed first place in the Eastern Conference, while the Sabres earned the Atlantic Division title.
* Nikolaj Ehlers (1-1—2) helped Carolina clinch its first conference title Monday after collecting a point against Philadelphia. Ehlers (25-45—70) became just the second player in Hurricanes team history (since 1997-98) to record 70-plus points in their first season with the club, following Cory Stillman (76 in 2005-06). Ehlers also joined Vegas’ Mitch Marner (23-56—79) as the only players on new teams this season to reach the 70-point mark.
* Tage Thompson scored twice to record his third career 40-goal season as the Sabres (50-23-8, 108 points) clinched the Atlantic Division title by virtue of a regulation win against the Blackhawks and a Lightning overtime victory versus the Red Wings – their seventh division title in franchise history and first since 2009-10. Thompson became the fifth player in Sabres history to post three or more 40-goal seasons.
KUCHEROV HITS 130 POINTS AS LIGHTNING LOCK IN FIRST ROUND VS. CANADIENS
Nikita Kucherov (1-1—2) continued to make his case in the Art Ross Trophy race with his 130th point of the season as the Lightning (50-25-6, 106 points) locked in a First Round matchup with the Canadiens (48-23-10, 106 points) by virtue of the Sabres clinching the No.1 seed in the Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay and Montreal each have one game remaining with home advantage yet to be decided.
* Kucherov (44-86—130) recorded his second career 130-point season and became the second active player with multiple, following Connor McDavid (3). Kucherov trails McDavid by four points in the Art Ross Trophy race with one game remaining but leads the League in four-point outings with nine on the season – the next closest players are McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon (both w/ 6).
* The Lightning and Canadiens will play their fifth head-to-head playoff series and first since Tampa Bay’s five-game win in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. The Lightning have a 3-1 record through the four previous meetings, with the Canadiens’ lone victory being a four-game sweep during the 2014 Conference Quarterfinals.
-13110919.png)
BOURQUE SCORES FIRST HAT TRICK AS STARS COMPLETE RARE RALLY
Mavrik Bourque (3-1—4) scored his first NHL hat trick as the Stars rallied from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits to defeat the Maple Leafs and earn their first multi-goal third-period comeback win in regulation since Dec. 23, 2023 (3-2 W at NSH). Dallas (49-20-12, 110 points) hit the 110-point mark in a season for the fifth time in franchise history and has a chance to reach 50 wins for the third straight campaign.
* Bourque became the fifth player in Stars team history (since 1993-94) to record at least three goals and four points on the road. Wyatt Johnston was the last to achieve the feat (3-2—5 on March 5, 2024).
* Johnston netted his 27th power-play goal of the season and tied Sam Reinhart (27 in 2023-24) as well as six others for the 13th most in a campaign in NHL history. The only active player with more is Leon Draisaitl (32 in 2022-23).
MORE NOTABLE #NHLSTATS FROM MONDAY’S LIVE UPDATES
With 20 teams in action, Monday’s Live Updates was full of #NHLStats, including ones from Macklin Celebrini, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Quick.
* Celebrini tied Owen Nolan (44 in 1999-00) and Patrick Marleau (44 in 2009-10) for the second-most goals in a single season in Sharks history, a list topped by Jonathan Cheechoo (56 in 2005-06). He also recorded his 46th career multi-point game and will finish with the fifth most by a teenager in NHL history. The only players with more: Sidney Crosby (67), Wayne Gretzky (66), Dale Hawerchuk (54) and Jimmy Carson (51).
* Kane collected an assist and became the fourth active player to reach 1,400 career points (508-892—1,400 in 1,368 GP), joining Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.
* Quick announced he was playing in his final NHL game prior to Monday’s contest – his Rangers teammates paid tribute to his prolific career by wearing his number during warm-ups and the Panthers did so by shaking his hand post-game. Quick ended his career as a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a Conn Smythe Trophy winner (2012) while also owning the most wins by an American goaltender in NHL history and ranking 12th on the League’s all-time list.
WOMEN IN HOCKEY CANADIAN TIRE SPOTLIGHT: MAPLE LEAFS’ ANALYST, JILL REINER
The final Women in Hockey presented by Canadian Tire spotlights Jill Reiner, a hockey research and development analyst with the Maple Leafs. Reiner evaluates team and player performance using data and statistical analysis, helping inform decisions on player personnel and on-ice strategy. Click here for her feature.
-14010333.gif)
QUICK CLICKS
* Anton Forsberg, Linus Ullmark, Dylan Larkin named NHL’s “Three Stars” presented by GEICO
* Jake Neighbours talks Blues’ ASL Awareness Night in Q&A with NHL.com
* NHL EDGE stats behind Jonathan Quick’s elite goaltending career
* Leon Draisaitl back at Oilers practice, status for start of playoffs uncertain
* Color of Hockey: Abby Roque ‘at home’ inspiring Indigenous girls in Montreal
SCORING RACES AND MORE MILESTONES STILL TO BE DETERMINED
With all 16 playoff spots now captured, the focus shifts to seeding and scoring races, while an ESPN doubleheader features Alex Ovechkin (vs. CBJ) and Sidney Crosby (vs. STL) looking to achieve more notable feats in each of their final games of the 2025-26 regular season.
* Nathan MacKinnon (52-74—126) and Cole Caufield (51-37—88) are the only players so far this season to reach the 50-goal threshold and are both in action tonight as they pursue the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Caufield can become the first Canadiens player to finish a season first in goals since Guy Lafleur (60 in 1977-78), while MacKinnon looks to become the second Avalanche player to win the award since its introduction in 1998-99 (Milan Hejduk in 2002-03).
* Ovechkin needs one goal to tie Patrick Kane (29) for the most in NHL history against the Blue Jackets and two to make Columbus the 15th different franchise he has tallied 30 against, which would pass Phil Esposito (14) for the second most in League history behind Wayne Gretzky (16).
* Crosby enters his final contest of the season two assists back of Joe Thornton (1,109) for seventh on the NHL’s all-time assists list and one goal back from his 14th career 30-goal campaign. He would tie Marcel Dionne, Gretzky and Gordie Howe for the fourth most in League history, trailing only Ovechkin (20), Mike Gartner (17) and Jaromir Jagr (15).
