The Flyers came out with a crucial regulation win in a Metropolitan Division clash against the third-place Islanders. Philadelphia, which sat as many as nine points out of a postseason position this season, are one of five teams separated by a point in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
* Philip Broberg and the Blues have faced a standings deficit of 14 points this season and now sit three points back of the Sharks for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference thanks to a regulation win against the Ducks.
* Saturday’s 15-game slate has it all: an ABC matinee doubleheader, Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada, potential Stanley Cup Playoffs spots being clinched and stars hitting scoring plateaus.
FLYERS ADD TO LOGJAM IN EAST PLAYOFF RACE WITH KEY DIVISIONAL WIN
Matvei Michkov (1-2—3) factored on three of four Philadelphia goals as the Flyers (38-26-12, 88 points) earned a vital regulation win against the Metropolitan Division-rival Islanders (42-30-5, 89 points). Philadelphia and New York are two of five teams in the Eastern Conference separated by one point, and two of six separated by four points.
* The 2025-26 season is the third in NHL history to feature five teams in a Conference vying for a playoff spot and separated by one point (min. 75 GP each team), following 2011-12 (last date: March 25, 2012) and 1996-97 (April 1, 1997). Of note, all three instances featured at least one team occupying a playoff spot.
* Philadelphia improved to 13-6-1 since the NHL returned from the Olympic break – a win total bested by only the Sabres (14-3-2) – and trailed the playoff picture by as many as nine points on March 10. The Flyers are one of eight teams in the mix for a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs who are looking to clinch a berth after facing a standings deficit of eight or more points (also STL: 14, NSH: 11, WPG: 11, OTT: 10, CBJ: 9, WSH: 8 & BUF: 8). The 2025-26 season can be the first in NHL history to feature four teams overcome a standings deficit of eight or more points en route to a postseason berth (most: 3 in 2023-24 & 1990-91).
BROBERG EXTENDS STRING OF SUCCESS IN PLAYOFF PUSH, #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Philip Broberg (0-2—2) and the Blues (32-31-12, 76 points) continued their pursuit of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with a win in Anaheim against the Ducks – who were overtaken by the idle Oilers for top spot in the Pacific Division after the regulation loss. St. Louis, which moved within three points of idle San Jose (36-31-7, 79 points), own the most regulation wins (28) – the first tie-breaker outside of games played – among six clubs battling to get above the playoff line (next closest: NSH, WPG & SEA all w/ 25). Click here for everything you need to know from the latest edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
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15-GAME SATURDAY FEATURES ABC DOUBLEHEADER, SIX GAMES ON HNIC
The second last 15-game day of the regular season is packed with national broadcasts and playoff races, featuring a doubleheader on ABC as well as six contests on Hockey Night in Canada.
* The Red Wings (40-27-8, 88 points) have not occupied a playoff position since March 21 but will look to leapfrog the Senators (39-26-10, 88 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the East when they open ABC Hockey Saturday against the Rangers. Alex DeBrincat needs one tally to become the first skater to record a 40-goal season with Detroit since Marian Hossa (40 in 2008-09).
* ABC moves west for the second half of its doubleheader, where the Avalanche (49-15-10, 108 points) and Stars (45-19-12, 102 points) meet in a Central Division clash. Colorado, skating in its 75th game of the season, can establish its second-fastest pace to 50 wins in a campaign behind 2021-22 (70 GP), while Brent Burns is set to join Phil Kessel (1,064 GP) as the second player in NHL history to skate in 1,000 consecutive contests.
* The Lightning, who face off against the Bruins, are inching towards their ninth consecutive postseason berth, which would match the Avalanche for the longest active run in the NHL. Nikita Kucherov (398) is closing in on becoming the second player in franchise history to reach the 400-goal milestone.
* The Sabres visit the Capitals as they continue the hunt for their first playoff berth since 2011 while Tage Thompson enters the weekend two tallies shy of becoming the fifth player in franchise history with at least three 40-goal seasons. Thompson, who netted 44 last season, can also become the first Sabres skater to record consecutive 40-goal campaigns since Pat LaFontaine (2 from 1991-92 – 1992-93).
* The Sharks (36-31-7, 79 points) overtook the Kings (30-26-19, 79 points) for the second Wild Card spot in the West on Thursday, and that position will be on the line again tonight when San Jose faces off against Nashville (35-31-9, 79 points). Macklin Celebrini (40-65—105 in 74 GP) is on pace to set the Sharks’ record for points in a season and is two points shy of tying Jimmy Carson (107 in 1987-88) for the third-highest single-season total by a teenager in NHL history, behind only Wayne Gretzky (137 in 1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (120 in 2006-07).
WHAT TO WATCH FOR ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
The penultimate Hockey Night in Canada of 2025-26 features more storylines to look out for as the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs quickly approach.
* Montreal (44-21-10, 98 points) will visit New Jersey, where it can earn an eighth straight win and become the sixth team this season to reach 100 points – the last time they hit the mark was in 2016-17 (103 points). Contributing to the Canadiens’ recent success has been Cole Caufield (49-34—83 in 75 GP), whose nine goals since the beginning of the streak (March 21) leads all players. Caufield has scored in each of his past four outings and is on the precipice of the first 50-goal season by a Canadiens skater since Stephane Richer in 1989-90.
* The Jets (32-31-12, 76 points) face off against the Blue Jackets (38-26-12, 88 points) as both clubs vie to get above the playoff line. Columbus is currently tied with Ottawa, which holds Wild Card 2, Detroit and Philadelphia in terms of standings points and is in the middle of a battle for the final Wild Card spot that features six teams separated by four points. The Western Conference Wild Card 2 spot is also still up for grabs as six teams are separated by just four points, one of them being the Jets, who continue to climb the standings and is just three points back of the playoff line.
* Connor McDavid (43-83—126 in 76 GP) and the Oilers (39-28-9, 87 points) will put their five-game winning streak on the line in a pivotal Pacific Division duel against the Golden Knights (34-26-16, 84 points) as they aim to maintain their position atop their cohort. The Oilers captain is approaching his third career 130-point season, which would tie Marcel Dionne for the fourth most in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky (13), Mario Lemieux (6) and Phil Esposito (4). McDavid, the current front runner in the Art Ross Trophy race, has found the score sheet in a League-high 64 games this season and can bump that total to 70 for the second time in his career (75 GP in 2022-23) should he record a point in each of Edmonton’s final six contests of 2025-26.
