Welcome to your premier source for the latest NHL news. As we wake up on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Stanley Cup Playoff picture has suddenly come into crystal-clear focus. Yesterday’s massive 15-game slate delivered exactly the kind of high-stakes drama hockey fans live for during the spring.
Saturday marked just the fourth time in the Wild Card era that four different teams punched their postseason tickets on the exact same day. Let’s break down everything you need to know from yesterday’s action.
Vegas, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Boston Secure Postseason Tickets
The biggest NHL news of the morning is the newly minted playoff teams: the Vegas Golden Knights, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, and Boston Bruins are all officially in.
In Denver, the Golden Knights secured their spot in thrilling fashion. Jack Eichel buried an overtime game-winner at 1:19, roofing a wrist shot over Mackenzie Blackwood on a 2-on-1 rush to give Vegas a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The sequence was started by a miraculous knob-of-the-stick save by goaltender Carter Hart at the other end of the ice, proving once again that goaltending is everything in April.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators locked up their second straight playoff berth with a dominant 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders. Goaltender Linus Ullmark stopped all 23 shots he faced for the shutout, while Jake Sanderson netted his 14th goal of the year. It’s an incredible turnaround for Ottawa, a team that faced a massive 10-point standings deficit back in late January.
The Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins also backed their way into the playoffs yesterday thanks to out-of-town help. Despite the Oilers suffering a 1-0 shutout loss to the Los Angeles Kings (thanks to an Artemi Panarin goal and a 27-save Anton Forsberg shutout), Edmonton clinched when the Philadelphia Flyers decimated the Winnipeg Jets 7-1. The Bruins punched their ticket thanks to regulation wins from both New Jersey and Ottawa.
In other notable news, Alex Ovechkin continues to defy time. The Great Eight netted his 44th career goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 6-3 Capitals victory. This ties him with Bobby Clarke and Wayne Gretzky for the fourth-most goals scored against the Penguins franchise by a single player.
Yesterday’s NHL Scores (April 11, 2026)
| Matchup | Final Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning @ Boston Bruins | 2 – 1 | TBL |
| Ottawa Senators @ New York Islanders | 3 – 0 | OTT |
| Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 – 3 | WSH |
| Edmonton Oilers @ Los Angeles Kings | 0 – 1 | LAK |
| New York Rangers @ Dallas Stars | 0 – 2 | DAL |
| St. Louis Blues @ Chicago Blackhawks | 5 – 3 | STL |
| New Jersey Devils @ Detroit Red Wings | 5 – 3 | NJD |
| Minnesota Wild @ Nashville Predators | 1 – 2 | NSH |
| Carolina Hurricanes @ Utah Mammoth | 4 – 1 | CAR |
| Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens | 5 – 2 | CBJ |
| Florida Panthers @ Toronto Maple Leafs | 6 – 2 | FLA |
| Philadelphia Flyers @ Winnipeg Jets | 7 – 1 | PHI |
| Calgary Flames @ Seattle Kraken | 1 – 4 | SEA |
| Vegas Golden Knights @ Colorado Avalanche | 3 – 2 (OT) | VGK |
| Vancouver Canucks @ San Jose Sharks | 4 – 3 | VAN |
Finding the Latest NHL News, NHL Trade Rumors, and Fantasy Hockey Predictions
If you want to stay ahead of the curve as the playoffs approach, you need the inside scoop. Whether you are searching for the latest NHL news, breaking NHL trade rumors, or looking for that edge in your daily Fantasy Hockey Predictions, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to add nhltraderumor.com to your bookmarks so you never miss a beat on the waiver wire or the trade block. Want this information delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter below!
The post Latest NHL News & Scores: 4 Teams Clinch Playoff Berths (April 12, 2026) appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
