NHL 2025 Playoff Clinching/Elimination Scenarios – 04/05/2025

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are approaching, and teams are officially clinching playoff berths and being eliminated from contention. Here are the potential scenarios where teams can clinch or be eliminated on April 5, 2025.

Clinching Scenarios

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if:

They earn at least one point against the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, MSG-B)

OR

Any result in the New York Rangers/New Jersey Devils game other than a Rangers regulation win (12:30 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS)

OR

The Montreal Canadiens lose to the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, SNE, NBCSP)

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (2 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN5, SCRIPPS)

OR

They get one point against the Senators

AND

One of the following happens:

-The Rangers lose to the Devils in any fashion
-The Canadiens lose to the Flyers in any fashion

OR

Both of the following happens:

-The Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNP, FDSNOH)
-The Rangers lose to the Devils in regulation

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Edmonton Oilers in any fashion (4 p.m. ET; FDSNW, SNW, SNO, SNE)

AND

The Calgary Flames lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, SCRIPPS)

OR

If both of the following happens:

-They earn one point against the Oilers
-The Flames lose to the Golden Knights in regulation

Elimination Scenarios

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion (

OR

The Canadiens earn at least one point against the Flyers

OR

The Rangers defeat the Devils in any fashion

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They lose to the Canadiens in any fashion

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They lose to the Dallas Stars in any fashion (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, TVAS)

AND

The Canadiens defeat the Flyers in any fashion

OR

They lose to the Stars in regulation

AND

The Canadiens earn at least one point against the Flyers