NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2026
The Flyers, Ducks, and Kings clinch playoff berths, the Hurricanes claim first place in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres take the Atlantic Division title, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: A shootout goal by Tyson Foerster and a 24-save effort by Dan Vladar lifted the Philadelphia Flyers over the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2019-20. The Hurricanes took a 2-0 lead on goals by Bradley Nadeau and Nikolaj Ehlers, but Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras rallied the Flyers in the second period. The Flyers (42-27-12) clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points, while the 52-22-7 Hurricanes secured first overall in the Eastern Conference with 111 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The rebuilding Flyers were among the better teams in the league since the Olympic break, riding a 17-7-1 record to an unexpected berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They will face their arch-rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the opening round.
The Flyers’ victory eliminated the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets from the postseason race.
The Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin, and Shayne Gostisbehere to rest them for the upcoming playoffs. They also recalled goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov from a two-game conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Chicago. He’s been sidelined for the past three months recovering from surgery for a lower-body injury.
The Los Angeles Kings clinched the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference with a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Quinton Byfield scored two goals, Trevor Moore and Alex Leferriere each had a goal and an assist, and Anton Forsberg stopped 28 shots for the 35-26-19 Kings (89 points). Adam Larsson and Frederick Gaudreau replied for the Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forsberg was named the NHL’s first star for the week ending Apr. 12. Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark was named the second star, and Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was the third star.
Kraken forward Jared McCann missed this game as he’s out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini tallied twice to nip the Nashville Predators 3-2, ending the latter’s playoff hopes. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, and Igor Chernyshov had a goal and an assist for the 38-34-8 Sharks (84 points), who were also eliminated from postseason contention. Luke Evangelista scored both goals for the 38-33-10 Predators (86 points).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks’ victory over the Predators and the Kings’ win against the Kraken ensured the idle Anaheim Ducks clinched their first playoff berth since 2017-18. The Ducks (42-32-6) hold third place in the Pacific Division with 90 points. They face the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday and the Predators on Thursday to conclude their regular-season schedule.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).
The Vegas Golden Knights are 6-0-1 under interim coach John Tortorella after defeating the Winnipeg Jets 6-2, eliminating the latter from the playoff race. Jack Eichel had a goal and three assists while Mark Stone had a goal and two assists for the 38-26-17 Golden Knights, who sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Gabriel Vilardi and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are the fifth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, joining the 1992-93 and 2024-25 New York Rangers, the 2007-08 Buffalo Sabres, and the 2014-15 Boston Bruins.
The Jets’ disappointing season overshadowed Mark Scheifele’s career-best performance. He had a goal and an assist to reach 101 points to set the franchise’s single-season points record.
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson scored twice (including his 40th goal of the season) in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist for the Sabres (50-23-8), who clinched the Atlantic Division title with 108 points. Ryan Greene replied for the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a remarkable season for the Sabres, rising from last place in the Eastern Conference in early December to top their division and end a 14-year playoff drought. It’s the fifth-best performance in franchise history.
The Tampa Bay Lightning blew a 3-1 lead, but an overtime goal by Nikita Kucherov gave them a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Kucherov finished with two points to reach 130 points for the second time in his career as the 50-25-6 Lightning (106 points) will face the Montreal Canadiens in the opening round of the playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane collected an assist to reach 1,400 regular-season points.
Florida Panthers winger Cole Reinhart scored twice for a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Matthew Robertson and Gabe Perreault replied for the Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick made 14 saves on 17 shots in his final NHL game. The 40-year-old netminder announced that this game will be his last as he is retiring at the end of this season. Following the game, the Panthers lined up to shake hands with Quick.
Quick won three Stanley Cups during his 19-season NHL career, two of those with the Los Angeles Kings. His best seasons were with the Kings, setting numerous single-season and career goaltending records over his 16 seasons in Los Angeles and winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2011-12. He finishes his career with a record of 410 wins, 307 losses, and 90 overtime losses, with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and 65 shutouts.
The league-leading Colorado Avalanche nipped the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on a shootout goal by Nathan MacKinnon. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves for the Avalanche, who won the Presidents’ Trophy last week as the top team in the standings. Connor Ingram also made 30 saves for the Oilers (40-30-11), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 91 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson played in his 1,000th NHL regular-season game. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl resumed skating with his teammates as he recovers from a knee injury, but he’s not expected to be ready for their opening game of the playoffs.
Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque scored his first NHL hat trick and added an assist in a 6-5 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The playoff-bound Stars overcame 3-0 and 5-3 deficits for the win. William Nylander had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the final home game for long-time Maple Leafs radio broadcaster Joe Bowen, who is retiring after this season. He received a lengthy standing ovation from Leafs fans.
The Maple Leafs got a bit of good news yesterday. With the Kings clinching a playoff berth, the conditional 2026 third-round pick they received from them in the Scott Laughton trade becomes a second-round pick.
The St. Louis Blues scored five unanswered goals to upset the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild 6-3. Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who were recently eliminated from postseason contention. Nick Foligno had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who rested several of their veterans, including forwards Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Joel Eriksson Ek, and defensemen Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber.
I guess we’re not going to know who Boston Face until the last day of reg season unless Bos wins this evening. I would prefer to play Buff. first Canes, second no Tampa I don’t like odds in that matchup. Win for the bs tonight.
I do NOT understand the Stars dressing their full roster last night. They are locked into home ice advantage and will be playing the Wild in the first round regardless of the outcome of last night’s game. AND, they were playing the TML who have had nothing to play for, for weeks now.
The only reason I can think that they wouldn’t rest a few players is that the game was in Toronto and the players “want” to play in Toronto. Is that a thing?
Unlike Carolina, who scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Jaccob Slavin, and Shayne Gostisbehere in a game against Philadelphia, making it a LOT easier for the Flyers who were still competing with 3 teams for that 3rd spot in the Metro, and who still could catch Pittsburgh for 2nd – a win for thr Flyers in their final game combined with a loss by the Penguins and they’re tied in points … but the Flyers would have 43 wins to Pittsburgh’s 41.
I thought Carolina matched the Flyers desperation and intensity from the beginning of the game to the end of overtime. It looked like every other game the two teams have played this year. Carolina won the first three games with an overtime win and two wins in shootouts. Last night Philly won in a shoot out. In all 4 games the either team could have easily won the game. The Flyers were 7-3 down the stretch Columbus was 2-7-1 The Islanders were 3-7 and fired their coach. Washington was 7-3 but they also have to ask themselves where they would be if they didn’t trade Carlson. The bottom line is Philadelphia is a good team and they earned their way into the playoffs.
It’s a thing.
Oh man that was the worse/best tank game ever. I didn’t think it was the Stars full roster going down 3 goals after one then after tying it up, after the 2nd to only drop back by another two goals at which point I turned it off because clearly the team can’t even tank to being completely and utterly ecstatic to see the team shift to 18 wheeler over a cliff mode and drive that tank home…so I guess that’s should of been the telltale sign that it was in fact the full Dallas roster…they just weren’t into it I guess…. But hey both brothers scored and made mom so happy. Good to see.
In games of some significance tonight
a win by Boston at home to NJ and they finish in the first WC spot. A loss in regulation, however, and Ottawa could grab that spot with a win tomorrow at home against the Leafs.
A win by Philadelphia at home against the Habs, and a regulation loss by Pittsburgh in St. Louis would elevate the Flyers to 2nd in the Metro and drop the Penguins to 3rd.
A win by Anaheim in Minnesota moves them to within 1 point of 1st-place Vegas, both with 1 game to go.
A loss by Utah in regulation at home to Winnipeg and a win by L.A. in Vancouver vaults the Kings into the 1st WC slot and Utah drops to the 2nd spot.
I don’t think the Flyers can pass the Penguins in the metro. My understanding is that regulation wins is the tie breaker. Penguins are already selling home tickets for games 1 and 2.
Yeah, of course you’re right Randino. Should have realized that, and there the Flyers can’t catch the Penguins.
NFL draft is in Pittsburgh April 23rd-25th(next Thur – Sat). If the Pens didn’t have home ice advantage for games 1 and 2, scheduling for games 3 and 4 would get real interesting real quick.