The 2026 NHL playoff picture continues to take shape with just seven or fewer games remaining for each team. The Nashville Predators reclaimed the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, moving into position with 81 points and 26 regulation wins through 76 games. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres punched their tickets to the postseason.

In the Eastern Conference, the race for the second wild-card spot remains particularly chaotic, with four teams tied at 88 points. The Ottawa Senators currently hold the position with 29 regulation wins, holding a slim one-point lead over the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. The Philadelphia Flyers have been the hottest team in the mix, going 7-3-0 in their last ten games, though they face a nine-win deficit in the crucial regulation wins tiebreaker.

The Western Conference features a tighter battle, with the Predators, Los Angeles Kings (tied at 81 points), and Sharks all within striking distance. The Winnipeg Jets remain mathematically alive, sitting three points back with an equal number of regulation wins to Nashville. With the regular season concluding April 16, every game carries massive playoff implications as teams jockey for seeding and positioning.