What’s at Stake in the NHL: Predators vs. Kings is essentially a playoff game
Welcome to the home stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. This deep into the schedule, something significant is on the line virtually every day, whether it’s a playoff spot, division title to clinch or a major individual milestone. At Daily Faceoff, we’re breaking down what you need to know every day between now and the end of the season April 16.
So what’s at stake across the four-game slate for Monday, April 6?
– Get your popcorn ready as the Buffalo Sabres (46-23-8) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-22-6) Monday night. Not only do the Sabres, who clinched their first playoff spot in 15 years over the weekend, trail the Lightning by two points for the Atlantic Division lead, but the matchup also marks the first meeting between the teams since their epic 8-7 overtime thriller last month. If the Bolts pick up at least a point, they’ll lock themselves into one of the top three Atlantic playoff positions.
– Just because nothing is mathematically at stake yet doesn’t mean the games aren’t massively meaningful this late in the season. The Winnipeg Jets (33-31-12) host the Seattle Kraken (32-32-11); The Jets sit just three points back of the final Western Conference Wildcard spot, while the Kraken are barely hanging on, six back of a Wildcard spot. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators (36-31-9) visit the Los Angeles Kings (31-26-19) in what is essentially a playoff game. The two clubs are tied for the final Wildcard position in the West at 81 points; the Preds have the tiebreaker with more regulation wins. The matchup is somewhat of a scheduling anomaly given Nashville visited L.A. four days ago, beating the Kings 5-4 in a shootout.
– Incredible San Jose Sharks sophomore Macklin Celebrini sits fourth in NHL scoring with 106 points. With one more point, he’ll equal 1987-88 Jimmy Carson’s total for the third most in a single season by a teenager in NHL history. Celebrini is a long shot to catch 2006-07 Sidney Crosby (120) for second, while 1979-80 Wayne Gretzky (137) is safe.
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PRESENTED BY STAKE
