NEW YORK (AP) — Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal, Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced and the Ottawa Senators moved to the verge of clinching a playoff spot by shutting out the New York Islanders 3-0 on Saturday.
Ottawa is in if Detroit loses at home in regulation to New Jersey. The Islanders’ hopes took another hit with a fifth loss in six games.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk took a puck up high late in the second period, returned for one shift in the third and then did not return.
Greig made it a 1-0 game with 6:54 remaining in the first. Jake Sanderson scored in the third, and Michael Amadio sealed it with an empty-netter. The Islanders went 0 for 5 on the power play.
New York is now 1-1 since firing coach Patrick Roy and hiring Peter DeBoer as his replacement. Ilya Sorokin allowed two goals on 15 shots.
NEW YORK (AP) — Ridly Greig scored a short-handed goal, Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced and the Ottawa Senators moved to the verge of clinching a playoff spot by shutting out the New York Islanders 3-0 on Saturday.
Ottawa is in if Detroit loses at home in regulation to New Jersey. The Islanders' hopes took another hit with a fifth loss in six games.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk took a puck up high late in the second period, returned for one shift in the third and then did not return.
Greig made it a 1-0 game with 6:54 remaining in the first. Jake Sanderson scored in the third, and Michael Amadio sealed it with an empty-netter. The Islanders went 0 for 5 on the power play.
It appears the Vancouver Canucks are looking to get more of their young players into the lineup ahead of the end of the season. Earlier today, the team announced that they have recalled defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev from the AHL.
Despite the Abbotsford Canucks’ less than stellar season, Kudryavtsev has played solidly on a roster that has seen lots of change throughout the past few months. He has scored two goals and 16 assists in 42 games played at the AHL level, ranking fourth on the team in points by a defenceman (third of those who have spent the entire season with Abbotsford).
Kudryavtsev made his NHL debut last year on April 14 against the San Jose Sharks and also played against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 16. The defenceman has yet to make his Canucks debut this season but was recalled in October as a result of Vancouver’s injury issues.
Both Vancouver and Abbotsford will play later tonight, with the Canucks facing the Sharks at 7:00 pm PT and Abbotsford taking on the Calgary Wranglers at 5:00 pm PT.
Apr 14, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) makes his NHL debut in warm prior to a game against the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals carries the puck against Ryan Shea #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 6, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 27: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck against Pavel Dorofeyev #16 of the Vegas Golden Knights as Alexander Holtz #26 of the Golden Knights looks on in the first period of their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 27, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche, fresh off a Presidents Trophy-clinching performance on Thursday, play their final weekend game of the regular season tonight.
After a three and a half month hiatus, they will wrap up the season series against the Vegas Golden Knights, who pay their only(?) visit to the Mile High City this spring.
Colorado Avalanche (52-16-10)
The Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-17)
Time: 6:00 P.M. MDT/8:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ABC, ESPN (US National Broadcast), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Colorado and Vegas broadcast areas – Canada)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
As mentioned above, the Avalanche secured their rightful place as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings in their 3-1 defeat of the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Gabe Landeskog would open the scoring late in the first period, and Martin Nečas scored on a pretty play as he skated through the Calgary defense to double the lead in the second period. A sleepy third period (and an extra skater in place of goaltender Dustin Wolf late in the frame) cracked open the door for Calgary, who had a tying goal wiped out due to a successful offside challenge by Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. Nathan MacKinnon would ice the game on an empty net goal late in regulation for his League-leading 52nd goal of the season, ensuring that Colorado would claim the fourth Presidents Trophy in franchise history. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 28 of 29 shots for his 22nd win of the season.
With the win, Avs locked in home ice advantage throughout the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs. With their position as the top seed in the playoffs now secured, Bednar has the option to rest players up and down the lineup. Speaking on the option to rest some players leading up to the end of the season, he said, “I’d like to see all of our guys play games yet before the playoffs […] If they’re able to play, we’ll get them as much rest as we can in between games, and then some guys, I’m going to try to get some guys a little bit of a breather that, I think, could probably benefit from it.”
Tonight wraps up the three game series against Vegas, with the Avs having won both of the previous two games. The last time both teams met was coming out of the holiday break back on December 27 at T-Mobile Arena. With Vegas leading 4-2 at the beginning of the third period, Nečas and MacKinnon would score to pull the Avs back on even footing, and despite falling behind with four minutes to play in regulation, a goal from Artturi Lehkonen with under two minutes pushed the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the extra session, and MacKinnon scored the shootout winning goal to complete the comeback as the Avs walked out with a 6-5 decision.
MacKinnon remains atop the League lead in goals coming into tonight’s game, having set a career high with his 52nd goal of the season on Thursday. With four games remaining in the regular season, his 126 points ranks third behind Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (128) and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (133). Nečas is two goals shy of his first ever 40 goal season, and two points away from his first 100 point season. Bednar indicated that Nazem Kadri will require further evaluation before rejoining the lineup, and he expects Cale Makar to return to action prior to the end of the season.
Scott Wedgewood is likely to start in goal for the Avs tonight. A win against Vegas would see him reach the thirty win mark for the first time in his career.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton – Nicolas Roy – Joel Kiviranta Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Logan O’Connor
Defense: Devon Toews – Sam Malinski Brett Kulak – Josh Manson Nick Blankenburg – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Vegas Golden Knights
A hot start that saw Vegas begin the season with a near identical record to Colorado through the month of October was derailed by a combination of injuries to key personnel: forwards Jack Eichel, William Karlsson Brandon Saad, Colton Sissons, Mark Stone, defensemen Brayden McNabb, Noah Hanafin, Jérémy Lauzon, and goaltenders Adin Hill and Carter Hart all missed time throughout the season. Even with so many injuries through their lineup, Vegas strung together several modest winning streaks through the year, including a stretch that saw them win seven straight games in January. However, they struggled to maintain their winning ways, winning only five games coming out of the Olympic break, and those hardships would only continue through February and March. As the season winds down, Vegas finds themselves tied with the Anaheim Ducks in points (89), but due to tiebreakers, currently occupy second place in the porous Pacific Division.
This isn’t the same Vegas team that previously faced Colorado back in December. They made their first trade of 2026 in January, sending longtime defenseman Zach Whitecloud, defenseman Abram Wiebe, a 2027 first round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick in 2028 to Calgary for defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Leading up to the trade deadline, they acquired depth forward Cole Smith from Nashville for defenseman Christoffer Sedoff and a 2028 third round pick, and forward Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals for goaltender Jesper Vikman, a 2027 third round pick, a 2029 second round pick.
Vegas didn’t limit themselves to roster makeovers this season. On March 29, head coach Bruce Cassidy was relieved of his head coaching duties, replacing him with John Tortorella in an interim capacity. Vegas marks the seventh stop for the two-time Jack Adams and former Stanley Cup-winning coach. The team responded with a four game winning streak to kick off the Tortorella era, which came to an end this past Thursday in a 4-3 shootout decision against the Seattle Kraken. Tortorella has yet to lose in regulation in his short time behind the Vegas bench, and a win tonight against Colorado could make things interesting in the chase for first place in the Pacific. The Edmonton Oilers, who currently lead the division, face the Los Angeles Kings this afternoon. By the time the puck drops in Denver, Vegas will know whether if they’re in a position to overtake Edmonton for the top spot, or if they’re still chasing them down. As of this writing, neither team has clinched a playoff spot, but the outcomes of both games could change that.
Eichel leads all Vegas skaters in points (83) and assists (58) while Mitch Marner ranks second in both categories (78 points and 55 assists, respectively). Pavel Dorofeyev leads all Vegas forwards in goals (35), while Theodore leads all Vegas defenders in goals (9), assists (29), and points (38).
This is the final road game of the season for Vegas, as they wrap up a four game road trip. Hart, who played the first three games of the road trip since (his first action since January 8), may return to the crease this evening. Hill was the goaltender of record in the loss this past Thursday in Seattle.
Vegas finishes out the regular season with a brief two game home stand against the Winnipeg Jets on April 13, and close out the regular season against Seattle on April 15.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone Brett Howden – Mitch Marner – Pavel Dorofeyev Brandon Saad – Tomáš Hertl – Colton Sissons Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
With the Pittsburgh Penguins having several players out for their contest against the Washington Capitals, they have called up multiple forwards from the AHL.
The Penguins have announced that they have recalled Ville Koivunen, Joona Koppanen, and Rutger McGroarty from their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Koivunen has appeared in 36 games this season for Pittsburgh, where he has recorded two goals and seven points. In the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has 11 goals and 36 points in 32 games this season.
Koppanen has one assist, two penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating in 10 games this season for Pittsburgh. Down in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has eight goals, 15 assists, 23 points, and a plus-19 rating in 42 games.
As for McGroarty, he has two goals and five points in 21 games so far this season with Pittsburgh. He has shown clear improvement this campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as he has eight goals and 30 points in 28 games with the AHL squad.
The Buffalo Sabres are in a fortuitous position with less than a week to go in the regular season. The club has already locked in their first postseason berth since 2011, and after their 5-0 shutout victory over Columbus, the Sabres have over a 95% chance to secure home-ice advantage by either Montreal or Tampa Bay losing on the weekend, or the Sabres earning two points in Chicago against the Blackhawks on Monday.
Tampa Bay and Boston play on Saturday afternoon at TD Garden, and the Blue Jackets and Canadiens face off at the Bell Centre on Saturday. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff put his group through their paces at the Harborcenter on Saturday morning and spoke to the media:
What is the status of Noah Ostlund and do you hold out any hope for him being available next weekend?
(He’s) getting better, just one of those injuries, just pain management, and as soon as we get that reduced he'll be back…… I do. Hope's the one thing you can have. He was skated this morning. He's skating every day, just trying to get through this. That's all.
How nice is it to have a two-day respite before playing the final two games?
Shocking.....we thought originally maybe off-ice again today. But then we thought there's some things we'd like to work on in a quick sense, with a turnaround, with playoffs around the corner, (we'll) probably only have maybe one more practice this week after tomorrow.
With the power play struggling, you’ve moved Alex Tuch back on the top unit. What are you hoping for with this move?
We're going to take a look at this for a game or two, which we have that luxury. If we run it off the left side where (Dahlin), is, then we got one-timer up-top, another one timer. So we've got the hands matched up a little bit better. Before these last five games, our power player was on a pretty good pace. We've run a little bit dry, so it's now time just try something.
How has Logan Stanley fit in on the blueline?
I thought he closed his gap lot quicker. His first pass was a lot better. I think all that's related, (he) made a nice play getting up ice. But I think he plays a real predictable game. You make the easy plays and kept everybody in front of him...... I think he dealt with the year where Winnipeg lost a couple top defensemen. He was put on a power play for a while. So I think the adjustments coming here are, you're not getting quite the same role, but what he's offered us is one, one real tough guy in the back end. He does have good hands. I think we saw that the other night, that in situations where we need somebody to get up ice, he can get up ice. He's a good skater. He's physical, so I think he's a good fit. He's the type of guy you need in the playoffs.
While speaking to reporters, including TSN's Chris Johnston, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube announced that former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Anthony Stolarz is done for the 2025-26 season.
Stolarz left his most recent appearance during the second period against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Now, with this update from Berube, the former Flyers goalie officially won't be back for the rest of the season for Toronto.
After having the best save percentage in the NHL in both 2023-24 and 2024-25, Stolarz had a down year for his standards this campaign. In 26 games this season with the Maple Leafs, he had a 10-10-3 record, an .893 save percentage, and a 3.28 goals-against average.
Stolarz was selected by the Flyers with the 45th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In two seasons with the Flyers, he had a 6-4-4 record, a .911 save percentage, a 2.86 goals-against average, and two shutouts.
The Montreal Canadiens will continue their quest for the Atlantic Division crown against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, April 11.
Montreal narrowly won a 2-1 nailbiter on March 26th, which kick-started an ugly six-game losing streak for the Jackets.
My Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens predictions and NHL picks suggest that an iconic milestone may be achieved for the second consecutive game at the Bell Centre.
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens prediction
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens best bet: Nick Suzuki Over 1.5 points (+135)
Of course, his linemate Cole Caufield had his moment of glory on Thursday, becoming the first Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season since 1989-90. Suzuki would become the first Hab to hit 100 points in exactly 40 years.
The Habs captain has tallied 33 points in 22 games since the Olympic break, and he notched a point on both Montreal goals against Tampa Bay on Thursday.
Suzuki ranks sixth in NHL scoring over the last two seasons, and a 100-point campaign would be a significant addition to his resume.
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens same-game parlay
With the 50-goal monkey off his back, Caufield remains the hottest goal scorer in 2026.
Caufield has notched 28 goals in his last 30 games and 10 in his last 11. Perhaps he has an ounce of extra motivation to find twine, as he’s just two goals behind Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead.
On the topic of red-hot Habs, Jakub Dobes has been arguably the best goalie in the league over the past month.
While more aggressive and erratic than calm and prude, Dobes has allowed two or fewer goals in seven of his last nine starts (and has won seven straight for good measure), boasting a .944 save percentage during that span.
Additionally, the Columbus Blue Jackets have only scored eight goals in their last five games.
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens SGP
Nick Suzuki Over 1.5 points
Cole Caufield anytime goal
Blue Jackets Under 2.5 team total
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens odds
Moneyline: Blue Jackets +110 | Canadiens -130
Puck Line: Blue Jackets +1.5 (-220) | Canadiens -1.5 (+180)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) | Under 6.5 (-130)
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens trend
Montreal has won eight of the last 10 matchups against Columbus, including seven straight from Nov. 2022 to Nov. 2024. Find more NHL betting trends for Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Blue Jackets vs Canadiens
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet East
Blue Jackets vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Two Atlantic Division rivals meet for the final time this season as the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers.
Joseph Woll gets the call between the pipes for the Buds tonight, and my Panthers vs. Maple Leafs predictions expect another busy night for Toronto’s netminder.
Find out more in my NHL picks for Saturday, April 11.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs prediction
Panthers vs Maple Leafs best bet: Joseph Woll Over 26.5 saves (-110)
If there’s been one positive about the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, it’s been their goaltending.
Joseph Woll carries a respectable .901 save percentage this season despite plenty of difficult assignments, and he’ll likely be busy again tonight against the Florida Panthers.
The Leafs’ goaltender has faced an average of 33.1 shots against per game — the highest mark in the NHL among netminders with more than two games played.
Woll has made Over 26.5 saves in nine of his last 10 appearances, while the Panthers have recorded 26+ shots in all three of their meetings against the Maple Leafs this season.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs same-game parlay
John Tavares has improved as the season has worn on, logging a point in eight of his last 10 games.
On the Panthers' side, Sam Bennett seems to always bring his A-game against his hometown Leafs, and he’s eclipsed 2.5 shots in five of his last six contests.
The Over is also 6-3-1 in Toronto’s last 10 games.
Panthers vs Maple Leafs SGP
John Tavares Over 0.5 points
Sam Bennett Over 2.5 shots
Over 6.5
Panthers vs Maple Leafs odds
Moneyline: Panthers +110 | Maple Leafs -130
Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 (-215) | Maple Leafs -1.5 (+175)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-115) | Under 6.5 (-105)
Panthers vs Maple Leafs trend
Toronto has cashed the first-period game total Over in 16 of its last 20 games at home (+10.45 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Maple Leafs.
How to watch Panthers vs Maple Leafs
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Panthers vs Maple Leafs latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Pittsburgh Penguins scratched Crosby and longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin, among many others, just hours before Pittsburgh was scheduled to host Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
The Penguins said Crosby is day to day with a lower-body injury and Malkin is day to day with an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh also scratched forwards Ben Kindel and Bryan Rust and defensemen Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson and Parker Wotherspoon.
Crosby and Malkin have both missed games recently with injuries. Crosby didn't play for a month after injuring his knee while playing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Malkin has missed nearly 20 games this season with various health issues.
The decision came two days after Pittsburgh clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2022 with a victory over New Jersey. The Penguins have basically locked up second place in the Metropolitan Division with three games remaining.
Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, and the Capitals are still holding out faint hope of making the postseason. Washington is still mathematically alive but likely needs to win each of its final three games and get some help.
The Los Angeles Kings (33-26-19) will compete in front of their home crowd for the final time this season on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers (40-29-10).
After pulling away against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, Los Angeles has won three games in a row and currently holds the second wild card spot, just a one-point lead ahead of the Nashville Predators.
A win against Edmonton will not only give the Kings momentum heading into the playoffs, if they get there, but also put them just two points behind Vegas and Anaheim if either team loses. Right now, the Ducks and Golden Knights are tied for the second seed, and Los Angeles will have a great chance to move into the top three, assuming one of them loses their remaining games.
Start Time and TV Schedule
Who: Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
When: 1:00 p.m. PT
Where: Crypto.com Arena
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network West
Projected Kings Lines
Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright
Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper
Projected Oilers Lines
Vasily Podkolzin - Connor McDavid - Matt Savoie
Max Jones - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach - Josh Samanski - Trent Frederic
Jack Roslovic - Adam Henrique - Curtis Lazar
Mattias Ekholm - Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse - Connor Murphy
Jake Walman - Ty Emberson
Connor Ingram
Tristan Jarry
Key Factors
The Oilers have had the Kings' number for years now, in both the regular season and the playoffs. But this season, the two teams have split their two meetings, with the Kings losing the humiliating February match, getting throttled 8-1 at home.
Even with Leon Draisaitl out for the rest of the season, the Oilers are still winning, led by Connor McDavid and his heroics. With that being said, Edmonton is playing for the No. 1 seed, right now holding a one-point lead over Vegas and Anaheim, while Los Angeles continues to fight to make the postseason.
So, both teams have something to play for, and if we see the Kings play like how they've played in their last three games, with Adrian Kempe continuing his recent hot play, Anton Forsberg being a monster under the crease, and the third line giving contributions, the Kings can absolutely win this game at home.
With this being Los Angeles' last home game and with the Kings playing with urgency, that could work in the Kings' favor. The Kings need this game with Nashville still on their tails and a chance to continue moving up in the standings. A win against a potential playoff contender gives them momentum heading into the postseason.
Notes and Updates
For the Kings' injury report, Alex Turcotte (undisclosed) and Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus) will remain out.
As for the Oilers, Jason Dickinson (lower body), Leon Draisaitl (lower body), Zach Hyman (undisclosed), and Mattias Janmark (shoulder) are all out.
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Saturday's game will be in Pittsburgh, followed by Sunday's game in Washington.
Both games are meaningless for the Penguins since they already have the second seed in the Metropolitan Division locked up. Meanwhile, the Capitals will be playing for their season this weekend, even if their playoff odds are only at 7.4% right now.
Saturday's game could be Alex Ovechkin's last in Pittsburgh, as he's contemplating retirement this offseason. He's one of the best players in NHL history and broke Wayne Gretzky's record for the most goals in NHL history last April. He may be 40, but he still has 31 goals and 61 points in 79 games this season.
Outside of Ovechkin, the Capitals still have power forward Tom Wilson, who's having a great year with 29 goals and 59 points in 69 games. Aliaksei Protas has been fantastic, racking up 24 goals and 50 points in 73 games.
Jakob Chychrun has been the Caps' No. 1 defenseman this season with 25 goals and 59 points in 77 games. However, don't sleep on Cole Hutson. He already has three goals and eight points in 11 games since making his NHL debut in March.
Goaltender Logan Thompson is expected to get the start for the Caps, and he's been one of the best goaltenders in the league this year. He leads the NHL with 28.1 goals saved above expected and has a .912 save percentage.
The Penguins are resting a lot of their key starters for Saturday's game after clinching a playoff spot on Thursday, including captain Sidney Crosby. This was supposed to be the 100th all-time meeting between Crosby and Ovechkin, but it won't happen.
Outside of Crosby, Ben Kindel, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, Parker Wotherspoon, and Kris Letang will also not play.
Forwards Joona Koppanen, Rutger McGroarty, and Ville Koivunen have been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The following players will not play today and their statuses are considered day to day:
- Sidney Crosby (lower-body) - Ben Kindel (upper-body) - Evgeni Malkin (upper-body) - Bryan Rust (lower-body) - Parker Wotherspoon (upper-body) - Erik Karlsson (lower-body) - Kris Letang…
The Edmonton Oilers can officially clinch a spot in the 2026 NHL players on Saturday as they face the Los Angeles Kings.
The Oilers will face off against the Kings at 4:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. and with a win, they control their own fate. However, it's not the only way they can put an x beside their name in the standings.
The Oilers will officially clinch a playoff berth in any of these situations.
They earn at least one point in their game vs. the Kings. That means that if the Oilers win in regulation, OT, or a shootout, or they lose in OT/shootout (getting the loser point), they're in.
A regulation loss means they've missed an opportunity and don't clinch from their own game. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they're not in.
Even if they get zero points (regulation loss), they still clinch if the Winnipeg Jets do NOT win in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Jets play at 7:00 p.m. ET, and if the Flyers win in any fashion (regulation, OT, or SO), or the Jets win in OT, the Oilers clinch.
Only a Jets regulation win keeps the door open for Edmonton to potentially need more help.
How the Math Works
Edmonton leads the Pacific Division with 90 points (Vegas and Anaheim are at 89). They’re currently in a strong position for a top-three Pacific spot or wild card.
Here’s every practical combo (assuming games finish as they can):
No other games tonight directly affect Edmonton’s clinch (other Western games like Vegas-Colorado or Vancouver-San Jose matter more for seeding/division than basic qualification at this point).
The Oilers have three games left, including today's, so even in the unlikely “not clinched” scenario, they’re still heavy favorites to make it.
The Oilers control their own destiny — one point tonight and it’s official. Even without it, unless the Jets blow out the Flyers in regulation, Edmonton is in.
The Vancouver Canucks would love nothing more than to spoil the San Jose Sharks’ home finale tonight, as San Jose desperately chases a Wild Card berth.
A win at SAP Center would also ensure Vancouver avoids a sweep in the four-game regular-season series, and my Canucks vs. Sharks predictions have the road team dragging this one into a low-scoring slugfest.
The Vancouver Canucks have just one win in their last 11 games. In seven of those losses, they’ve mustered two goals or fewer.
Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks sit four points back of a Wild Card spot in the West after scoring just a combined three goals in back-to-back losses to Edmonton and Dallas.
And yet, the books have pegged the total at 6.5, despite the Canucks ranking last in scoring and the Sharks sitting 26th.
Despite their struggles, Vancouver has kept the total Under seven goals in each of its last two games. Against an offensively challenged Sharks side, I’m betting they make it three straight.
Canucks vs Sharks same-game parlay
Although I anticipate offense will be at a premium, Macklin Celebrini ranks seventh in NHL scoring with 42 goals, and the Sharks phenom has found the back of the net in three of his last four games against the Canucks.
Jake DeBrusk has also recorded three or more shots on goal in seven of his last 11 contests. While the Canucks winger has hit that mark in just five of his last 13 against the Sharks, he’s missed the Over by a single shot on goal seven other times.
Eight of San Jose's last nine home games following a road loss have gone Under the total. Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Sharks.
How to watch Canucks vs Sharks
Location
SAP Center, San Jose, CA
Date
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Canucks vs Sharks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
