NHL 2025 Playoff Clinching/Elimination Scenarios – 04/03/2025

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 3, 2025.

Clinching Scenarios

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, FDSNSUN)

OR

They earn one point against the Senators

AND

One of the following happens:

-The Montreal Canadiens lose to the Boston Bruins in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; RDS, SN, NESN)

-The Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion (7:30 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, ALT)

OR

The Canadiens and Blue Jackets both live in regulation

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Blue Jackets in any fashion

OR

The Calgary Flames lose to the Anaheim Ducks in any fashion (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, KCOP-13, Victory+)

OR

The Avalanche get one point against the Blue Jackets

AND

The Flames lose to the Ducks in any fashion

Elimination Scenarios

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They lost to the Flames in any fashion