Thursday's six games wrapped the 2025‑26 regular season and set the stage for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which kick off Saturday. All 16 postseason berths are locked, but the Pacific Division still jostles for seeding, while non‑playoff clubs fight for draft‑lottery positioning. The Utah Mammoth secured the first wild‑card and now host the St. Louis Blues, a matchup that could shuffle draft order for both teams.

In the Pacific, the Anaheim Ducks trail the Nashville Predators for a wild‑card spot; a win lifts them to second place if Edmonton falls in regulation. San Jose’s MVP‑caliber forward Macklin Celebrini can’t rescue the Sharks, who sit ninth in the lottery, while the Winnipeg Jets hover seventh. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings chase a higher seed that could spare them a fourth‑round showdown with the Oilers.

The Colorado Avalanche, already holders of the Presidents' Trophy, close the night against the Seattle Kraken, confirming home‑ice advantage throughout the postseason. The Flames sit third in the draft lottery after a recent win, while the Vancouver Canucks remain locked into the No. 1 pick after clinching the league’s worst record. With seeding settled, the playoff picture sharpens and the first-round matchups are now set.