The Anaheim Ducks stand poised to secure a playoff berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a critical game scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026. The Ducks can clinch their spot if they defeat the Vancouver Canucks in any fashion during their 8 p.m. ET matchup.
With only five days remaining in the regular season, the competition for playoff spots and seeding remains intense across the National Hockey League. The top three teams from each of the four divisions, along with the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, will advance to the postseason.
Anaheim enters Sunday’s game with a 42-32-5 record, coming off a decisive 6-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks that broke a six-game losing streak. A win today would mark a significant turnaround for the team, which is one point behind the Edmonton Oilers for second place in their division and two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first.
Several other teams are also navigating crucial games with playoff implications. The Washington Capitals, holding a 41-30-9 record, face potential elimination from contention if they suffer a regulation loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They are currently five points behind the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
The New York Islanders (43-32-5) are also in a precarious position, facing elimination with a regulation loss, or an overtime/shootout loss under specific conditions related to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Capitals’ results. The Islanders have lost five of their last six games and sit three points behind the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division.
Among the day’s six scheduled games, the Pittsburgh Penguins will visit the Washington Capitals at 3 p.m. ET. This marks the 100th all-time meeting between Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, with Crosby confirmed to play despite several key Penguins forwards and defensemen sidelined with injuries.
The Montreal Canadiens (47-23-10) will host the New York Islanders at 6 p.m. ET. Montreal’s captain Nick Suzuki is on the verge of becoming the first Canadiens player to reach 100 points in a season since Mats Naslund in 1985-86. Meanwhile, Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer is one goal away from setting a new NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, surpassing Brian Leetch.
The Boston Bruins (43-27-10), who have already clinched a playoff berth, look to snap a five-game losing streak as they face the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-28-12) at 6 p.m. ET. The Blue Jackets are two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Ottawa Senators (43-27-10) have also qualified for the playoffs and aim to maintain their position as the Eastern Conference’s first wild card, four points ahead of the Blue Jackets, as they play the New Jersey Devils (41-36-3) at 7 p.m. ET. The Devils have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
In Saturday’s action, the Tampa Bay Lightning secured a critical 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins, while the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 3-0. The Washington Capitals also beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3, and the Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth despite their 1-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers after the Winnipeg Jets’ defeat.
The Vegas Golden Knights (37-26-17) clinched their playoff spot with a 3-2 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche (52-16-11) have already secured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team. The playoff picture will continue to solidify with Sunday’s slate of games.