NHL Schedule Today, April 4: Games, Standings, Playoff Picture and Wild Card Race
Saturday’s NHL slate features 15 games with major playoff and lottery implications across both conferences.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Blue Jackets dealt brutal Damon Severson update amid playoff race
The Columbus Blue Jackets have suffered a huge setback in their playoff push, as defenseman Damon Severson will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NHL season after undergoing shoulder surgery performed on Thursday, the team announced Friday. Severson sustained the injury during the third period of Columbus’ March 26 matchup against the Montreal Canadiens after […] The post Blue Jackets dealt brutal Damon Severson update amid playoff race appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Blue Jackets’ head coach Rick Bowness lays into players after Hurricanes blowout
The whole hockey world sat and waited for the Columbus Blue Jackets’ bubble to burst after they hired Rick Bowness as their new head coach and went on a stunning run to get into a playoff spot. At one point, Columbus made it to second in the Metropolitan Division and looked like one of the […] The post Blue Jackets’ head coach Rick Bowness lays into players after Hurricanes blowout appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Senators’ Brady Tkachuk breaks silence on dad’s comments on podcast
The Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, love to find themselves in the middle of drama, whether it’s on or off the ice. After being in the middle of the USA Olympic hockey drama earlier this season, the brothers continued recording their Wingmen podcast. They welcomed their dad, former NHLer Keith Tkachuk, on an episode earlier […] The post Senators’ Brady Tkachuk breaks silence on dad’s comments on podcast appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Rod Brind’Amour sends defiant message after Hurricanes clinch playoff berth
The Carolina Hurricanes became the first Eastern Conference team to clinch their berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Thursday evening. It has been a successful run for Rod Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes, but it hasn’t led to much postseason success. In a wide-open conference, Carolina has an intriguing opportunity in front of them this year, and […] The post Rod Brind’Amour sends defiant message after Hurricanes clinch playoff berth appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Hurricanes’ dream seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs
The Carolina Hurricanes are as consistent as a metronome — at least as far as the regular season is concerned. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has a team that brings it on a regular basis from October through the early part of April. The Hurricanes play with speed, precision and just enough snarl to have their […] The post Hurricanes’ dream seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Tragic NHL star Johnny Gaudreau honored at son’s first birthday 18 months on from his death
FORMER NHL star Johnny Gaudreau was honored on his son’s first birthday 18 months after his tragic passing. Gaudreau’s widow Meredith celebrated their youngest child Carter’s first birthday on April…
2026 NHL Mock Draft 5.0: Pre-playoff predictions as regular season nears end
The 2025-26 NHL season is nearing its end. The Florida Panthers are close to being eliminated from postseason contention. As a result, it is a near-guarantee that we will have a new Stanley Cup champion in 2026. For those eliminated, like the Panthers, their attention turns toward the 2026 NHL Draft. With the season entering […] The post 2026 NHL Mock Draft 5.0: Pre-playoff predictions as regular season nears end appeared first on ClutchPoints.
ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings, Week 23: Maple Leafs, Golden Knights going through changes
All the way back in 2000, the playoff-bound New Jersey Devils fired head coach Larry Robinson 74 games into the season, replaced him with Robbie Ftorek, and went on to win the Stanley Cup. A full 26 years later, the Vegas Golden Knights are hoping to follow a similar blueprint after shockingly replacing Bruce Cassidy […] The post ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings, Week 23: Maple Leafs, Golden Knights going through changes appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness preaches urgency amid playoff push
The Columbus Blue Jackets are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Still, they have lost three straight, and the Jackets are coming off a bad loss to the Boston Bruins. After a rough stretch of play, but with the playoffs in reach, head coach Rick Bowness sent a […] The post Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness preaches urgency amid playoff push appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Islanders’ Patrick Roy reveals advice to Ilya Sorokin amid demanding stretch
As the New York Islanders look to run at the playoffs in 2026, they are in a demanding stretch of the season. This has put a lot of pressure on goaltender Ilya Sorokin. After a rough start a week ago against the Montreal Canadiens, Sorokin bounced back with his best performance against the Columbus Blue […] The post Islanders’ Patrick Roy reveals advice to Ilya Sorokin amid demanding stretch appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Penguins’ nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs
The Pittsburgh Penguins have exceeded expectations throughout the regular season. While many of the league’s top insiders thought the Penguins would find themselves near the bottom of the NHL’s Metropolitan Division this season, they have been inside the playoff structure throughout all year. Much of that is due to the hot start the team had […] The post Penguins’ nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Rick Bowness hits Blue Jackets with harsh reality check after Bruins loss
The Columbus Blue Jackets have vastly improved under head coach Rick Bowness after a midseason coaching change. However, there are still some legitimate growing pains this young team needs to experience before it is ready to take the next step. Columbus fans saw as much on Sunday against the Boston Bruins. The Blue Jackets owned […] The post Rick Bowness hits Blue Jackets with harsh reality check after Bruins loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Blue Jackets’ nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs
The Columbus Blue Jackets are fighting for their lives and a spot in this season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a miserable start to the season, they fired hard-nosed head coach Dean Evason and brought in veteran coach Rick Bowness and the results were immediate. The Blue Jackets (38-24-11, 87 points) surged and steadily climbed up […] The post Blue Jackets’ nightmare seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Sharks’ Ryan Warsofsky finds silver lining in ‘frustrating’ Blues loss
The San Jose Sharks are falling behind in the Western Conference Wild Card race. They still have some time to make up lost ground before the end of the season. However, they cannot afford bad losses like the one they suffered on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues. The Sharks and Blues played well into […] The post Sharks’ Ryan Warsofsky finds silver lining in ‘frustrating’ Blues loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Zach Weresnki is willing Blue Jackets to the playoffs with another epic performance
The Columbus Blue Jackets have not made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season. This year, the Blue Jackets are making a push to return to the playoffs. On Tuesday night, they made another step towards the playoffs with a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. While the team struggled early in the game, Zach Werenski continued […] The post Zach Weresnki is willing Blue Jackets to the playoffs with another epic performance appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Penguins’ dream seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs
There have been several teams in the NHL that have had shocking jumps in the standings this season. The Buffalo Sabres have not been to the playoffs since 2011, but they have risen to first place in the Atlantic Division and they are chasing the Carolina Hurricanes for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. […] The post Penguins’ dream seeding, matchup scenarios for 2026 NHL Playoffs appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Islanders ride historic Ilya Sorokin shutout to massive win vs Blue Jackets
The New York Islanders needed to have a big weekend to hold on to their playoff position. On Saturday, the Islanders were dominated by the Montreal Canadiens. This led to the game on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets being a must-win. The Islanders got the win, and in the process, Ilya Sorokin set some […] The post Islanders ride historic Ilya Sorokin shutout to massive win vs Blue Jackets appeared first on ClutchPoints.