NHL playoffs latest bracket, standings, games today and who can clinch

An NHL rarity could happen on Thursday, April 2: The Buffalo Sabres could clinch a playoff berth and end a league-record 14-year postseason drought.

All the Sabres need to do is beat the Ottawa Senators and they're in the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, although there are other ways to clinch.

Buffalo was in last place in the Eastern Conference on Dec. 8 before winning three in a row to get back to .500.

They thenfired general manager Kevyn Adamson Dec. 15 and promoted Jarmo Kekalainen to the position.

The team took off, extending their winning streak to 10 games. They have gone 32-7-4 under the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM heading into Thursday's game.

The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild also are in position to clinch on Thursday. In the late game, the Nashville Predators visit the Los Angeles Kings, who passed them on Wednesday and moved into the second wild-card spot in the West.

Here's what to know about theNHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, who can clinch today and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Feb. 28: Referee Cody Beach stops the fight between the Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael and Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) during the third period at the Bell Centre.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jan. 19: San Jose Sharks goalie Alex Nedeljkovic (left) fights Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nov. 6: Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) fights Minnesota Wild center Tyler Pitlick (19) after his hit injured Carolina's Jalen Chatfield.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oct. 18: Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) is held back by a linesman after scuffling with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Marchand is holding Dahlin's helmet and later pulled off the straps in the penalty box.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NHL physicality: Players fight, deliver big hits

Feb. 28: Referee Cody Beach stops the fight between the Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael and Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) during the third period at the Bell Centre.

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference:None

Western Conference:Colorado, Dallas

Who can clinch today?

• The Buffalo Sabres will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Ottawa Senators. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Red Wings and Blue Jackets lose.

• The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch if they beat the Blue Jackets. They'd also clinch if they get one point and the Red Wings lose, plus the Senators lose in regulation.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch if they beat the Penguins in regulation and all of the following occur: the Senators lose and the Red Wings and Blue Jackets lose in regulation. They would also clinch if they beat the Penguins in overtime or a shootout and the Red Wings, Blue Jackets and Senators lose in regulation.

• The Minnesota Wild will clinch if they get at least one point against the Canucks. They would also clinch if they get one point and 1) the Sharks lose and the Oilers and Golden Knights lose in regulation or 2) the Sharks lose in regulation or 3) the Kings fail to win in regulation.

NHL games today (Thursday, April 2)

All times p.m. Eastern

• Buffalo at Ottawa, 7

• Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 7

• Boston at Florida, 7

• Montreal at N.Y. Rangers, 7

• Detroit at Philadelphia, 7

• Columbus at Carolina, 7

• Washington at New Jersey, 7:30

• Winnipeg at Dallas, 8

• Vancouver at Minnesota, 8

• Chicago at Edmonton, 9

• Calgary at Vegas, 10

• Toronto at San Jose, 10

• Utah at Seattle, 10

• Nashville at Los Angeles, 10:30

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After April 1 games.x-clinched playoff spot.z-eliminated

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes (100)

• Pittsburgh Penguins (92)

• New York Islanders (89)

Atlantic Division

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• Buffalo Sabres (100)

• Tampa Bay Lightning (98)

• Montreal Canadiens (96)

• Boston Bruins (94)

• Columbus Blue Jackets (88)

Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (86), Washington Capitals (85), New Jersey Devils (78), Toronto Maple Leafs (77), Florida Panthers (75),z-New York Rangers (71)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After April 1 games. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated

Central Division

• x-Colorado Avalanche (108)

• x-Dallas Stars (100)

• Minnesota Wild (94)

Pacific Division

• Anaheim Ducks (87)

• Edmonton Oilers (85)

• Vegas Golden Knights (82)

• Utah Mammoth (82)

• Los Angeles Kings (78)

Sitting out of playoff position:San Jose Sharks (77), Nashville Predators (77), Winnipeg Jets (76), Seattle Kraken (75), St. Louis Blues (74), Calgary Flames (70), Chicago Blackhawks (68),z-Vancouver Canucks (52)

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 1:

• Carolina (M1) vs. Columbus (WC2)

• Pittsburgh (M2) vs. N.Y. Islanders (M3)

• Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)

• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.Key: M -Metropolitan Division.A -Atlantic Division.WC -wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 31.

• Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)

• Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)

• Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)

• Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)

The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.Key: C -Central DivisionP -Pacific Division.WC -wild card

More:Vegas Golden Knights fire coach Bruce Cassidy, hire John Tortorella

NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?

If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins

2. Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)

3. Total wins

4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.

5. Goal differential

6. Total goals

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NHL playoff bracket, latest standings and clinching scenarios

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

NHL playoffs latest bracket, standings, games today and who can clinch

An NHL rarity could happen on Thursday, April 2: The Buffalo Sabres could clinch a playoff berth and end a league-record ...

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Geno Auriemma against WNBA draft age change: 'Women's basketball would suffer'

PHOENIX –UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemmawould not be a fan of any potential WNBA rule change that would allow players to join the league sooner.

NBA players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. However, the WNBA requires any player drafted to be at least 22 years old in the year theWNBA drafttakes place. The player must also have no remaining college eligibility or renounce any remaining eligibility. International players must be at least 20 years old on the year the draft takes place. Auriemma says changing the WNBA's rule would not be good for the league or college basketball.

"I think it would be a really bad rule. I'm not saying they need to stay four years. I've coached players, (who) after their freshman year, they would be able to handle it," Auriemma told the media Thursday ahead of the Final Four.

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More:Geno Auriemma blasts NCAA over 'frustrating' Sweet 16, Elite Eight setup

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of the Women's NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

March Sadness hits hard in the Women's NCAA basketball tournament

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in theNCAA women's basketballtournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

"I do think women's basketball would suffer in that you wouldn't get the recognition around the country that Azzi Fudd has if you're in college one year, okay? If Sarah (Strong) would have left after last year, you wouldn't have that continued (chance to watch) her grow, and she would go to the WNBA. Great for her. Great opportunity for her. But a bad opportunity 'cause you're not going to replace her with somebody equal."

Auriemma says women's basketball would be "diminished" if players only completed one year of college play before moving on to the pro level. He also said very few players would be able to do as some baseball players do and be a pro right out of high school.

Auriemma even joked he likes the way football requires players to wait, saying you wouldn't send a college freshman or sophomore to play against "grown men" who would "break you in half." The UConn coach eventually said if a change was going to be made, the "baseball model" would be his preference.

"I do think there's benefits for them to grow," Auriemma said. "Now with the money they're making, you got pros wanting to come back to college."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UConn coach Geno Auriemma against potential WNBA draft age rule change

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Geno Auriemma against WNBA draft age change: 'Women's basketball would suffer'

PHOENIX –UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemmawould not be a fan of any potential WNBA rule change that would ...

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Inspection finds dozens of violations of detention standards at a major immigration camp in Texas

A recent inspection at the nation'slargest immigration detention facilityfound dozens of violations of national standards that potentially exposed detainees to excessive force, disease, and other unsafe conditions.

Immigration Detention Conditions

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Detention Oversight performed a congressionally mandated inspection over three days in February at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, according to areport posted onlineby ICE this week.

The report documents 49 deficiencies, which it defines as violations of detention standards or policies, in areas including the use of force and restraints, security, medical care and more. It was the first inspection released by that office since Camp East Montana was hastily built and opened last summer.

Attorney calls inspection findings 'scathing'

The number of deficiencies at the camp is highly unusual. The most found in any other inspection by the oversight office so far this year was 13.

"This report is scathing. Camp East Montana gets an F," said attorney Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of a36-year-old detainee who diedthere in January — one of at least three deaths since its opening. "It's very dangerous. Not only are the detainees in danger of excessive force, they are also in danger of improper or negligent medical care and mental health care, as well as danger from other detainees."

The report comes as ICE's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, ispausing the purchaseof warehouses intended to house up to 7,000 or more immigrants at a single location. ICE data through Feb. 5 shows that Camp East Montana has been the largest detention site, housing nearly 3,000 detainees per day, the majority of whom are men who have not been convicted of crimes.

The inspection was conducted before ICE moved last month toreplace the prime contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, amid intense scrutiny over conditions at Camp East Montana. The company had been awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to build and operate the camp, even though it had no experience in the field. The company and its president, Ken Wagner, didn't respond to messages seeking comment.

Lawmaker calls ICE 'uninterested' in improving conditions

A more experienced contractor, Amentum Services, took over operations at Camp East Montana on March 12. A federal database says its nearly $453 million no-bid contract to provide detention, transportation and medical services runs through Sept. 30.

Detainees usually live at Camp East Montana for several days or weeks while they are awaiting deportation or before they are transferred elsewhere.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat who has toured and met with detainees at the facility several times, said the inspection findings were "a drop in the bucket of what is so profoundly wrong with that facility." She said detainees have consistently complained of medical neglect and other problems.

She said conditions have not improved and wonders whether that is by design to pressure detainees to agree to self-deport.

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"ICE is completely uninterested in really creating any change or holding the contractor accountable," she said.

An ICE spokesperson said the new contract will result in improved medical care, more staff on site and stricter oversight by ICE.

Report documents safety issues

The inspection report documented a series of safety lapses found during Acquisition Logistics' tenure. Camp staff didn't document whether they were conducting required checks to prevent self-harm and suicide, which 911 calls show have been a major problem at the facility.

Acquisition Logistics refused to provide information about staffing levels to ICE, which made it impossible to determine whether they were sufficient to maintain security, according to the report. In one instance, a detainee escaped when there was no staff assigned to watch the perimeter fences.

Inspectors found that tools and equipment were "unsecured and unaccounted for throughout the facility" and that staff did not maintain an accurate inventory of its ammunition.

Security guards who used and witnessed the use of force and restraints such as handcuffs failed to file written reports as required in some instances, the report said.

Supervisors also didn't document their observations, staff failed to record or preserve video recordings in some cases, and the facility did not review incidents afterward to examine whether chemical agents or other types of force were used appropriately.

Medical staff failed to isolate a detainee who had symptoms consistent with tuberculosis, which spreads through the air, and did not notify ICE of the case.

The camp also acted slowly in response to a dozen grievances filed by detainees about medical care, taking between six and 14 business days to respond, the report said.

Despite the problems, the report gave the camp an "acceptable/adequate" rating and recommended ICE work with the new contractor "to resolve the deficiencies that remain outstanding."

It pushed back on one of the most common complaints from detainees: that the food portions were too meager. It said the food service program, run by subcontractor Disaster Management Group, provided certification from a dietitian that the "average daily caloric provision of the menu" met federal recommendations.

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Inspection finds dozens of violations of detention standards at a major immigration camp in Texas

A recent inspection at the nation'slargest immigration detention facilityfound dozens of violations of national stand...

Read More