As we gear up for another thrilling run towards the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the jockeying for position is starting to intensify, with several teams primed to either clinch their spots or face the harsh reality of elimination. Let's break down the potential playoff scenarios as of April 9, 2025—an evening that could very well reshape the playoff landscape.
Clinching Scenarios:
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils, taking the night off, find themselves in a position where they don't need to lace up the skates to grab a playoff berth. They can secure their spot if the New York Rangers stumble against the Philadelphia Flyers, whether it's in a clean win by the Flyers or a shootout victory for the Rangers.
As the Rangers hit the ice at 7:30 p.m. ET, all eyes will be on that intense battle, broadcast via MAX, truTV, TNT, and TVAS, to determine the Devils' fate.
Edmonton Oilers
For the Edmonton Oilers, it's a bit more straightforward, though no less nerve-wracking. A victory over the St.
Louis Blues in any fashion will punch their playoff ticket, but they'll also be rooting for the Calgary Flames to fall to the Anaheim Ducks in regulation time. This dual outcome scenario raises the stakes high for a 10 p.m.
ET showdown, aired on multiple channels including TVAS, SN360, SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, TNT, truTV, and MAX. Meanwhile, Flames followers will be tuning in on Victory+, KCOP-13, and SNW to see how their fate unfolds.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues have a clear path: a regulation win against the Oilers combined with a regulation loss by the Flames to the Ducks. It's an all-or-nothing night where their playoff presence hinges on their own ability to bear down, along with a watchful eye on the results down in Calgary.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are sitting this one out as well, yet they can clinch the top spot in the Eastern Conference without breaking a sweat if the Toronto Maple Leafs take a regulation-time loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Leafs-Lightning face-off set for 7 p.m. ET will be a must-watch game for Capitals fans, featuring on FDSNSUN and SN.
Elimination Scenarios:
Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club sits on the brink of elimination. Their playoff hopes will be extinguished if the Minnesota Wild secure a win over the San Jose Sharks.
The outcome will unfold in an 8 p.m. ET match, accessible on FDSNNO and NBCSCA, leaving Utah fans tensely following from afar.
Vancouver Canucks
Much like their Utah counterparts, the Vancouver Canucks' playoff dreams are on thin ice. They too will be closely monitoring the Wild vs. Sharks clash; a Wild victory spells the end of the Canucks' postseason aspirations.
As the clock ticks down toward each of these pivotal games, the hockey world holds its breath. Every goal, every save, and every penalty could tip the scales and decide who continues their quest for glory and whose season comes to an early end. In the high-stakes world of NHL hockey, it's nights like these that remind us why we love the game.
