NHL playoff watch: What's on the line in Wednesday's games

April 15 is tax day in the United States, so here's another reminder to get those done (if the thousands of ads during the past few weeks didn't do the trick).

But April 15 is also the penultimate day of the 2025-26 NHL regular season. Ten teams have completed their seasons already -- including seven of eight in the Metro Division -- while some other teams have two games left.

Although we know the identity of the 16 postseason teams, not every spot has been clinched for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs -- or the NHL draft lottery, which will take place on May 5.

Here's what is on the line in Wednesday's six games:

Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabres
7 p.m. ET (TNT)

There was a possible world where this rematch of the 1999 Stanley Cup Final would have had consequences for both teams. In the version of reality that has come to pass, however, the results will not impact either team's postseason standing; the Stars are locked in as the No. 2 seed in the Central Division, while the Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division title.

New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

With the Canadiens' loss on Tuesday, this game means a lot less to the Lightning, who are now locked in as the higher seed in their opening-round series with Montreal. On the Rangers' side, their draft lottery position is not yet secure. Currently, they are No. 3, but a win here moves them down to No. 4 (pending the Flames' result on Thursday).

Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers
7 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

The Panthers' are taking a one-year break from the postseason -- they've earned it, with three straight trips to the Cup Final and two Cups. The Red Wings are continuing what is now the NHL's longest postseason drought, with their last appearance in 2016.

Florida is in a pack of teams with 82 or 84 points, currently sitting eighth in the draft lottery order. Why does this matter? Their first-round pick will head to the Blackhawks if it's not in the top 10. Detroit's first-rounder is headed to St. Louis unconditionally, and they are currently 15th in the draft lotto order.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Prior to the Bruins' season-ending win on Tuesday, the Senators had a chance to leap over them with a win, becoming the first wild card instead of the second. As it stands, they are locked in as WC2, with an opening-round matchup with the Hurricanes on tap.

Like the Panthers, the Leafs are paying strict attention to their final spot in the draft order for trade condition-related reasons; their first-rounder will be shipped up to Boston unless it lands in the top five. They're currently fifth in the lottery order, and would move into sixth with a win here (pending the Kraken's final two games). Finishing fifth wouldn't guarantee anything however, as the possibility remains that teams could jump ahead of them on May 5. Tense times in Toronto.

San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks
8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Well, if nothing else, this game will be a showcase of two of the top young talents in the NHL, both of whom were recent No. 1 overall picks.

San Jose's Macklin Celebrini became the rare NHL teenager to score 100 points, he looked right at home playing a key role for the superstar-laden Team Canada the Olympics, and he's drawn consideration for the Hart Trophy as league MVP -- all in just his second pro campaign. Chicago's Connor Bedard got off to a good start, but an injury derailed his third season for a bit. Nevertheless, he'll easily finish with the highest point total of his career.

As it pertains to the standings, both teams are lottery-bound; the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 spot behind the Canucks, while the Sharks are members of the group of 82/84-point teams mentioned above, although with two games remaining, they could drop as low as 12th if they win both.

Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights
10 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

And in the final game of the night, there are some actual playoff seeding concerns on the line! Vegas is currently first in the Pacific, with 93 points and 29 regulation wins. A win or a loss in overtime/shootout in this game clinches the division for them, and a matchup with the first wild-card Mammoth in Round 1. A regulation loss means that the Oilers can pass them with a win against the Canucks on Thursday.

The Kraken said goodbye to playoff chances last week, and currently sit sixth in the draft lottery order. They can move up to fifth -- with a Maple Leafs win tonight and by losing their final two -- or could drop down to eighth with two wins (pending results elsewhere).

The regular season concludes on Thursday, and we'll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all of the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Last night's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Anaheim Ducks

Today's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Dallas Stars at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. (TNT)
New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.

Last night's scoreboard

Boston Bruins 4, New Jersey Devils 0
Carolina Hurricanes 2, New York Islanders 1
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
Washington Capitals 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2
Utah Mammoth 5, Winnipeg Jets 3
Colorado Avalanche 3, Calgary Flames 1
St. Louis Blues 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 5
Vancouver Canucks 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)

Expanded standings

Note: An "x" with a team's name means the club has clinched a playoff spot; a "y" means that they have clinched the division; a "z" indicates that they have clinched the best record in the conference; a "p" means they have clinched the top overall seed. An "e" means that the club has been mathematically eliminated. Teams clinch a playoff spot when their magic number reaches zero and are mathematically eliminated when their tragic number reaches zero.

Atlantic Division

Metro Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.

*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five. The Panthers' pick belongs to the Flames, unless it lands in the top 10. The Red Wings' pick belongs to the Blues, unconditionally.