NHL playoff field set after Kings clinch final West spot
The entire Stanley Cup Playoff field is now set after the Los Angeles Kings clinched the last postseason berth in the Western Conference by defeating the Seattle Kraken 5-3 on Monday.
The Philadelphia Flyers also locked up the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Monday. Seeding for both conferences is still to be determined.
Playoff teams
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Dallas Stars | Buffalo Sabres |
| Minnesota Wild | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Montreal Canadiens |
| Edmonton Oilers | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Anaheim Ducks | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Utah Mammoth | Boston Bruins |
| Los Angeles Kings | Ottawa Senators |
The Avalanche are locked in as the Presidents' Trophy winners. The Hurricanes secured the top seed in the East and will face either the Bruins or Senators. Wild-Stars and Flyers-Penguins are set for the opening round while the Canadiens and Lightning will also meet with home ice still to be determined.
The Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets were eliminated from postseason contention as a result of L.A.'s victory.
This marks the fifth consecutive playoff appearance for the Kings, who lost in Round 1 to the Edmonton Oilers in each of the last four years. Los Angeles hasn't won a postseason series since 2014, when it won the Stanley Cup.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday.
HEADLINES
- Lakers prepare for Rockets series with Doncic, Reaves out indefinitely
- Report: Cubs, Padres interested in free agent Giolito
- Brewers' Yelich likely to miss at least 1 month with adductor strain
- GM Schoen: Giants having productive talks with Lawrence
- The Athletic's Dianna Russini resigns after Vrabel photos published