The 188-day marathon of the regular season has reached its final sprint, and as of this morning, the NHL News cycle has confirmed the 16 teams that will battle for the Stanley Cup. Monday night was an absolute frenzy of activity that saw the final three postseason invitations handed out, two division titles secured, and several high-profile first-round matchups finalized.
The Final Three: Flyers, Kings, and Ducks are In
The Philadelphia Flyers provided the night’s most dramatic moment. Erasing a two-goal deficit against the conference-leading Hurricanes, the Flyers secured a 3-2 shootout victory to clinch their first playoff berth since 2020. This sets up a highly anticipated “Battle of Pennsylvania” against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
In the West, the Los Angeles Kings took care of business with a 5-2 win over Seattle, locking up the final wild-card spot. Simultaneously, the Anaheim Ducks clinched their first postseason appearance in years while idle, thanks to a San Jose victory over Nashville. For the first time ever, the Ducks could enter the playoffs with their top three scorers (Gauthier, Carlsson, and Sennecke) all age 22 or younger.
Division Crowns and Milestone Moments
The Carolina Hurricanes may have lost to the Flyers, but a single point was enough to clinch the first-ever conference title in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres blanked Chicago 5-0 to officially claim the Atlantic Division title—their seventh in team history.
On the individual front, Nikita Kucherov hit the 130-point mark for the second time in his career with an overtime winner against Detroit, while Patrick Kane reached a staggering 1,400 career points.
Monday, April 13, 2026: NHL Scoreboard & Notes
Yesterday featured high-stakes games that finalized the playoff field.
Monday Scoreboard
APRIL 13, 2026- Clinchers: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Anaheim have officially locked their playoff spots.
- Division Champs: Carolina wins the East; Buffalo wins the Atlantic.
- Shark Attack: Macklin Celebrini scores twice as San Jose eliminates Nashville from contention.
- Milestone: Patrick Kane (DET) reaches 1,400 career points.
- Injury Update: Leon Draisaitl (EDM) returned to practice but his status for Game 1 is still TBD.
Trade Rumors: Brady Tkachuk to Broadway?
As teams shift their focus to the postseason, the NHL trade rumors for non-playoff clubs are heating up. The most persistent rumor today involves Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Reports suggest the New York Rangers have a “very real” interest in the gritty forward should Ottawa look to shake up their core this summer. Additionally, the Detroit Red Wings are being linked to a potential summer blockbuster involving elite center Robert Thomas as they look to retool.
Finding the Latest NHL News, NHL Trade Rumors, and Fantasy Predictions
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket is set, and the race for the Cup officially begins this weekend. Whether you are looking for the latest NHL trade rumors regarding summer retooling or need sharp Fantasy Hockey Predictions to win your playoff pool, we are your premier source. Make sure to add nhltraderumor.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletter below to get the edge on your competition!
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