4 Clinching Scenarios In The NHL For April 15

Most of the teams have either been eliminated or clinched a playoff spot this season, and on the third last day of the 2024-25 regular season, every playoff matchup can be confirmed. This includes not only teams that make the playoffs this season, but also division winners.

With the Montreal Canadiens being idle tonight after losing in shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks, they have to await the results of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers game. Montreal holds the final spot in the East and will appear in the postseason if the Blue Jackets do anything other than win in regulation. If that happens, the Canadiens' fate is still in their own hands.

Sticking in the East, the Atlantic Division is the only division that doesn't already have a set winner. The Toronto Maple Leafs will clinch their division if they just get a point against the Buffalo Sabres or if the Tampa Bay Lightning lose to the Florida Panthers in any fashion. The Maple Leafs taking the division seems likely at this point.

Moving over to the West, there are two teams yet to clinch a spot, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. The Calgary Flames are the team chasing both of them. The Wild hold the first wildcard spot and will clinch a spot in the playoffs if one of three things happen. They will get in if the team gets at least one point against the Anaheim Ducks, the Blues lose to the Utah Hockey Club in any fashion, or the Flames lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion.

The Blues have even more ways they can clinch a spot in the playoffs this season after a stellar late season run. The team gets in if they win in regulation against Utah, they get one point vs Utah and the Flames lose in any fashion, if the Flames lose to the Golden Knights in regulation, or if the Blues win in overtime or shootout and one of the following occurs: Anything other than a Flames regulation win or the Wild lose to the Ducks in regulation.

It is a fun time of the year that can wrap up tonight as everyone gets ready for the playoffs.