Trending Now - NHL Playoff Preview: Key Matchups and Saturday Showdowns
WHO:
LA Kings Insider - The Los Angeles Kings will face the Utah Mammoth on March 28th, 2026.
Anaheim Ducks (41-27-4)
Edmonton Oilers (36-28-9)
NHL (National Hockey League)
Utah Mammoth
Anaheim Ducks
Nashville Predators
Colorado Avalanche
Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers
Minnesota Wild
Dallas Stars
WHAT:
ESPN - The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 18th, 2026, with 15 games scheduled for Showdown Saturday.
The New York Times - The odds for the potential first-round playoff matchups include:
Utah Mammoth vs. Anaheim Ducks: 61.0 percent
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche: 40.5 percent
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins: 21.2 percent
Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: 11.4 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres: 37.2 percent
Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres: 23.6 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 16.5 percent
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: 67.0 percent
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers: 49.6 percent
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars: 98 percent
LA Kings Insider - The Kings have a record of 29 wins, 25 losses, and 18 overtime losses (29-25-18) this season.
LA Kings Insider - The Kings have collected 48 of 76 points this season on the road, with only 28 points at home, resulting in a record of 10 wins, 16 losses, and 8 overtime losses (10-16-8) at Crypto.com Arena.
LA Kings Insider - The Kings are currently four points behind the Utah Mammoth in the Wild Card standings.
The Anaheim Ducks will face the Edmonton Oilers in a game on March 28th, 2026.
The matchup is significant as both teams are competing at the top of the Pacific Division.
The NHL standings page added an “If Playoffs Started Today” link, indicating the proximity to the playoffs.
The odds for potential matchups include:
Utah Mammoth vs. Anaheim Ducks: 61.0 percent
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche: 40.5 percent
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins: 21.2 percent
Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: 11.4 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres: 37.2 percent
Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres: 23.6 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 16.5 percent
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: 67.0 percent
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers: 49.6 percent
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars: 98 percent
The NHL standings page added an “If Playoffs Started Today” link, indicating the proximity to the playoffs.
The Utah Mammoth will make their first postseason appearance in 2026.
The odds for the potential matchups are as follows:
Utah Mammoth vs. Anaheim Ducks: 61.0 percent
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche: 40.5 percent
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins: 21.2 percent
Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: 11.4 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres: 37.2 percent
Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres: 23.6 percent
Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes: 16.5 percent
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: 67.0 percent
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers: 49.6 percent
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars: 98 percent
The NHL playoffs are set to begin in three weeks, on April 18th, 2026.
The article ranks the 10 best potential first-round playoff matchups.
The Utah Mammoth have a 61.0 percent chance of facing the Anaheim Ducks.
The Nashville Predators have a 40.5 percent chance of facing the Colorado Avalanche.
The Buffalo Sabres have a 21.2 percent chance of facing the Boston Bruins.
The Detroit Red Wings have an 11.4 percent chance of facing the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Montreal Canadiens have a 37.2 percent chance of facing the Buffalo Sabres.
The Ottawa Senators have a 23.6 percent chance of facing the Buffalo Sabres.
The Montreal Canadiens have a 16.5 percent chance of facing the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a 67.0 percent chance of facing the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Vegas Golden Knights have a 49.6 percent chance of facing the Edmonton Oilers.
The Minnesota Wild have a 98 percent chance of facing the Dallas Stars.
WHERE:
NHL games are played in various arenas across North America, including locations for the teams mentioned.
WHEN:
LA Kings Insider - The game between the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoth is scheduled for March 28th, 2026, at 6:00 PM Pacific.
The game between the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers is scheduled for March 28th, 2026.
The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 18th, 2026.
The last playoff series between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars was in 2023.
The last playoff series between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche was in 2022.
The last playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins was in 2010.
The last playoff series between the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning was in 2016.
The last playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres was in 1998.
The last playoff series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins was in 2017.
The NHL playoffs begin on April 18th, 2026.
The last meeting between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche was in 2022.
The last playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins was in 2010.
The last playoff series between the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning was in 2016.
The last playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres was in 1998.
The last playoff series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins was in 2017.
The last playoff series between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars was in 2023.
WHY:
The New York Times - The NHL standings page added an “If Playoffs Started Today” link, indicating the proximity to the playoffs and the potential for teams to shift standings before the postseason begins.
LA Kings Insider - Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith stated, “We’ve got to find a way to play the exact same way every night,” emphasizing the need for consistent performance to secure playoff qualification.
Both teams have had phenomenal campaigns this season, contributing to their standings in the Pacific Division.
The NHL season is nearing its end, with only three weeks left before the playoffs begin on April 18th, 2026.
The NHL season is nearing its end, with only three weeks left before the playoffs begin on April 18th, 2026.
The NHL standings are being monitored as teams vie for playoff positions.
The rankings of potential matchups are based on statistical probabilities from HockeyStats.com.
HOW:
LA Kings Insider - The Kings are focusing on shutting down the opposing team's top players to improve their chances of winning at home.
The article uses statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of matchups based on current standings and team performance.
(UPDATED March 29, 2026 13:16 UTC)
The NHL playoffs are set to kick off April 18th, with an exciting lineup of 15 games scheduled for Showdown Saturday. Recent odds for potential first-round matchups show the Minnesota Wild leading with a 98 percent chance against the Dallas Stars, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have a strong 67 percent chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The NHL standings page has introduced an “If Playoffs Started Today” link, highlighting how close teams are to clinching their playoff spots and the potential for shifts in standings leading up to the postseason.
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(UPDATED March 29, 2026 05:29 UTC)
The Los Angeles Kings are set to face the Utah Mammoth on Saturday, at 6:00 PM Pacific. Currently, the Kings hold a record of 29 wins, 25 losses, and 18 overtime losses this season, and they are four points behind the Mammoth in the Wild Card standings. Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith emphasized the importance of consistent performance, stating that the team needs to find a way to play the same way every night to secure a playoff spot.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 19:08 UTC)
The Anaheim Ducks are set to face off against the Edmonton Oilers on March 28, 2026, in a highly anticipated matchup. Both teams are currently competing at the top of the Pacific Division, with the Ducks holding a record of 41 wins, 27 losses, and 4 overtime losses, while the Oilers stand at 36 wins, 28 losses, and 9 overtime losses. This game is significant as both teams have had phenomenal campaigns this season, making their standings in the division even more crucial.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 17:04 UTC)
The NHL has introduced an "If Playoffs Started Today" link on their standings page, highlighting the approaching postseason with just three weeks left in the regular season. The potential playoff matchups show the Minnesota Wild leading with a 98 percent chance against the Dallas Stars, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have a strong 67 percent chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The playoffs are scheduled to kick off on April 18, 2026, as teams gear up for the final stretch of the season.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 15:04 UTC)
The NHL standings page has introduced an “If Playoffs Started Today” link, highlighting the excitement as the season approaches its conclusion with just three weeks remaining until the playoffs kick off on April 18, 2026. Notably, the Utah Mammoth will be making their first postseason appearance this year, and the odds for potential matchups show the Minnesota Wild favored at 98 percent against the Dallas Stars, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have a strong 67 percent chance against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Other matchups include the Utah Mammoth at 61 percent against the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators at 40.5 percent against the Colorado Avalanche, setting the stage for an exciting playoff season ahead.
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(UPDATED March 28, 2026 13:20 UTC)
The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 18, 2026, and an article has ranked the ten best potential first-round matchups based on statistical analysis. Among the most notable probabilities, the Minnesota Wild have a staggering 98 percent chance of facing the Dallas Stars, while the Utah Mammoth are projected to have a 61 percent chance of going up against the Anaheim Ducks. As teams continue to vie for playoff positions, fans can look forward to exciting matchups in arenas across North America.