The last day of the NHL regular season arrived with all 16 playoff spots filled, but the Edmonton Oilers still had work to do. They, the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings were chasing Pacific Division home ice, with two Western Conference first-round matchups still undecided.
Beginning Sunday, the team that clinches the second wild card will face the Colorado Avalanche. In the Pacific, the Oilers, Ducks and Kings could each finish as the No. 2 or No. 3 seed, a difference that would shape the 2026 NHL postseason path immediately.
The Oilers’ possible opponents were tied directly to the night’s scoreboard. If Edmonton earned at least one point against the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim beat the Nashville Predators in any fashion, the Oilers would draw the Ducks. If Nashville beat Anaheim in overtime or a shootout and Calgary beat Los Angeles in any fashion, Edmonton would also face the Ducks. If Nashville beat Anaheim in regulation and Calgary beat Los Angeles in regulation, that matchup would remain the same.
Los Angeles remained in the mix as well. Edmonton could meet the Kings if the Oilers got at least one point against Vancouver and Los Angeles beat Calgary in any fashion while Nashville beat Anaheim in any fashion. The Oilers could also face the Kings if they got at least one point against Vancouver, the Kings earned at least one point against Calgary and Nashville beat Anaheim in regulation. Another path sent Edmonton to Los Angeles if Calgary beat the Kings in overtime or a shootout and Nashville beat Anaheim in regulation.
The night’s schedule kept all of it live. Edmonton was set to play Vancouver at 9 p.m. ET, Anaheim was scheduled to meet Nashville at 8 p.m. ET and Los Angeles was due to face Calgary at 9 p.m. ET. The final standings would sort out the bracket before the first round began.
This was the last stop in the NHL.com series Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2026 NHL postseason. By the time the games ended, the Western Conference picture would be complete enough to tell Edmonton exactly which road it had to take.
