NHL 2025 Playoff Clinching/Elimination Scenarios – 04/15/2025

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 15, 2025.

Clinching Scenarios

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs will clinch the top seed in the Atlantic Division, and face the Ottawa Senators in Round 1 if:

They earn at least one point against the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, TSN4)

OR

The Tampa Bay Lightning lose to the Florida Panthers in any fashion (7:30 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens will clinch a playoff berth, and play the Washington Capitals in Round 1 if:

The Columbus Blue Jackets do not defeat the Philadephia Flyers in regulation (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, NBCSP)

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth if:

They earn at least one point against the Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; FDSNWIX, FDSNNO, Victory+, KCOP-13)

OR

The St. Louis Blues lose to the Utah Hockey Club in any fashion (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, Utah16)

OR

The Calgary Flames lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, SCRIPPS)

St. Louis Blues

The Blues can clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat Utah in regulation

OR

The Flames lose to the Golden Knights in regulation

OR

The earn at least one point against Utah

AND

The Flames lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion

OR

They earn one point against Utah

AND

One of the following happens:

-The Wild lose to the Ducks in regulation
-The Flames don’t defeat the Golden Knights in regulation

Elimination Scenarios

Calgary Flames

The Flames will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion

OR

They lose to the Golden Knights in overtime/shootout

AND

The Blues earn at least one point against Utah

OR

The Flames defeat the Golden Knights in overtime/shootout

AND

The Blues defeat the Golden Knights in overtime/shootout

AND

The Wild earn at least one point against the Ducks

OR

The Wild earn at least one point against the Ducks

AND

The Blues defeat the Golden Knights in regulation

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets will be eliminated from playoff contention if:

They do not defeat the Flyers in regulation