Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings Playoff Seeding Decided April 16

The NHL regular season’s final day arrives Thursday, April 16, with the Stanley Cup playoffs set to begin on Saturday, April 18, and the postseason field already set for all 16 teams.

“When do NHL playoffs start”

Bergen Record

ESPN frames the moment as a “second season” beginning Saturday, while also noting that “there are three teams in the Pacific Division still battling it out for seeding.”

Bergen Record

The Washington Post’s hockey preview quotes Commissioner Gary Bettman pointing out that, in years past, “first-round matchups [have been] decided on the final day of the season,” and says the league is again reaching that point with “three matchups yet to be determined.”

USA Today similarly says that “the second and third Pacific Division seeds, plus the second wild card in the West” remain up for grabs on the final night when the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings play.

The Hockey News adds that “four teams in the West don't have a first-round opponent yet,” and it lays out the possibility that “Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon” could meet in the first round depending on how the Pacific shakes out.

In the West, the Daily Faceoff scenario guide says “Only two playoff matchups remain to be decided,” naming the “top overall Western Conference seed Colorado Avalanche’s opponent and the No. 2 vs. No. 3 Pacific Division seed matchup.”

In the East, multiple outlets report the bracket is already settled, including USA Today’s list of Eastern Conference first-round series and Bergen Record’s description that “Three first round series matchups have been decided so far.”

The Pacific Division picture is the central puzzle, with ESPN listing three teams still “battling it out for seeding” and Daily Faceoff spelling out how the Oilers, Ducks and Kings can finish as high as second or fall to the second wild-card spot.

ESPN’s game-by-game watch includes Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+), San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+), and Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+), while also putting Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN+).

CBS Sports

Daily Faceoff says the Oilers clinch second and home ice in Round 1 if they “collect even a single point against the Vancouver Canucks” or if “the Kings lose to the Calgary Flames AND the Ducks lose to the Nashville Predators.”

It also states the Oilers can drop to the “second Wildcard spot” and earn a date with Colorado only if “the Oilers lose in regulation AND the Kings and Ducks BOTH win.”

For Anaheim, Daily Faceoff says “If the Ducks beat the Predators AND the Oilers lose in regulation, the Ducks win the No. 2 seed in the Pacific,” and it adds that the Ducks land No. 3 if they beat Nashville and meet additional conditions involving the Kings.

For Los Angeles, Daily Faceoff says “The only way the Kings can win the Pacific” is if “the Oilers lose in regulation AND the Ducks lose in any fashion AND the Kings win.”

The New York Times’ recap of the final-day scenarios emphasizes the same basic structure, saying “It’s simple for the Oilers. They just need one point against the Canucks,” while also noting that if Edmonton loses in regulation it “could fall all the way into the wild-card spot.”

USA Today’s tiebreaker explanation also underscores why regulation wins matter, stating “In the Pacific Division, the Oilers have the most regulation wins, followed by the Ducks and Kings.”

While the West remains fluid, the Eastern Conference first-round matchups are already determined in the reporting, with USA Today listing series such as Carolina vs. Ottawa, Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia, Buffalo vs. Boston, and Tampa Bay vs. Montreal.

“NHL Clinching Scenarios: Avalanche, Oilers, Ducks, Kings will learn playoff opponents Welcome to the home stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season”

Daily Faceoff

Bergen Record similarly says “Three first round series matchups have been decided so far” and names Pittsburgh Penguins (M2 vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3), Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3), and Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1).

The Washington Post’s hockey preview also points to the Eastern bracket being set as playoff races raged down the stretch, and it includes a quote from Commissioner Gary Bettman about final-day determination.

CBS Sports focuses on one of those Eastern series, saying “The Tampa Bay Lightning will attempt to extend the Sunshine State's streak to seven this postseason” and that the Lightning begin their quest with “a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens that gets underway Sunday.”

CBS Sports adds that “The Lightning and Canadiens both finished the regular season with 106 points” and that the Lightning earned second place in the Atlantic Division “by virtue of having more regulation victories.”

It also reports the series history between the clubs, saying Tampa Bay won three of its first four playoff series against Montreal and referencing a “four-game sweep in 2004” and a “Stanley Cup Final in five games” in 2021.

The Hockey News also lists the Eastern matchups and says “The Lightning-Canadiens series and Bruins-Sabres series starts Sunday,” while also stating “The Hurricanes and Senators play Game 1 at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday” and “The Penguins and Flyers start at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.”

Delawareonline’s local coverage of Flyers vs Penguins Game 1 says the matchup is set for “Saturday, April 18, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (ESPN/NBCSP).”

As the bracket locks in, betting and player narratives begin to dominate the coverage, with CBS Sports publishing futures odds for the Lightning-Canadiens first-round series and USA Today and Bergen Record listing broader Cup odds.

CBS Sports says “odds at the see the Lightning as the favorites in the first-round series, with odds in the -235 to -260 range,” while pricing the Canadiens “from +195 to +210.”

Delawareonline

It also ties the matchup to recent form, noting that “The Lightning lost four of their final six regular-season games, while the Canadiens dropped two of their last three” after going “10-1-0 over their previous 11 contests.”

CBS Sports highlights Nikita Kucherov’s playoff profile by quoting that he “owns numerous franchise postseason records,” including “most points in one playoff season (34 in 2020)” and “most overall playoff goals (53), assists (114) and points (167).”

It then connects those credentials to this season’s production, saying the 32-year-old Russian right wing “eclipsed the 100-point plateau for the fourth consecutive season and sixth time in his career with 130 this campaign” and that he “registered only four assists in Tampa Bay's five-game series defeat in 2025.”

The same CBS Sports piece provides other statistical anchors, including Jake Guentzel’s “38 goals” and “a personal-best 88 points,” and Darren Raddysh’s “22 goals, 48 assists and 70 points.”

For the wider league, Bergen Record lists BetMGM odds “as of Wednesday, April 15,” including “Colorado Avalanche: 3/1 (+300)” and “Tampa Bay Lightning: 5/1 (+500),” while USA Today lists the playoff bracket and tiebreakers and also references BetMGM promo code language.

The Hockey News adds a parallel set of end-of-season awards watch, stating that “both players have all but officially won the Art Ross and 'Rocket' Richard Trophies” and listing Nathan MacKinnon with “53 goals, one game left” and Connor McDavid with “48 goals, one game left.”

Daily Faceoff similarly says “The Oilers’ Connor McDavid, leading the NHL with 134 points, should clinch his sixth career Art Ross Trophy tonight,” while also stating that “The Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, leading the NHL with 53 goals, should secure his first career Rocket Richard Trophy tonight.”

Once Thursday’s results settle the Pacific, the next immediate step is the start of the first round, with multiple outlets giving specific opening-game timing and broadcast details.

“The saying goes, "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened”

ESPN

Delawareonline says the Flyers and Penguins will begin their series with “Game 1: Saturday, April 18, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. (ESPN/NBCSP),” and it adds that “The 2026 NHL playoffs will be broadcast on ESPN, TNT and ABC as well as regional network like NBC Sports Philadelphia.”

ESPN

It also notes that games can be streamed using “ESPN+, Hulu and Max or via live TV services like Fubo TV and DirecTV Stream.”

ESPN’s playoff-watch framing says “the 'second season' -- i.e. the Stanley Cup playoffs -- begins Saturday,” while USA Today says the postseason begins on “Saturday, April 18.”

The Hockey News provides additional start times, stating “The Hurricanes and Senators play Game 1 at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday” and “The Penguins and Flyers start at 8 p.m. ET Saturday,” and it says “The Lightning-Canadiens series and Bruins-Sabres series starts Sunday.”

For the West, USA Today’s bracket preview says the Vegas Golden Knights will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round, and it also lists the Western matchups if the season ended on April 15, including “Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)” and “Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2).”

The New York Times’ scenario discussion warns that if Edmonton loses in regulation it “could fall all the way into the wild-card spot,” and it notes that if Edmonton and Anaheim both win, “the Kings are destined for a matchup with Colorado.”

Daily Faceoff’s clinching guide similarly stresses that the Oilers’ path to Round 1 home ice depends on collecting “even a single point” versus Vancouver or on specific results involving the Kings and Ducks.

Beyond the bracket, Bergen Record points to the next league event, saying “The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery is set for Tuesday, May 5.”