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How the Edmonton Oilers can clinch a playoff spot this weekend
Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings
Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Apr 10, 2026, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 10, 2026, 16:43 EDT
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The Edmonton Oilers have the opportunity to get the ‘x’ beside their name in the NHL standings and clinch a playoff berth on Saturday. 
All the Oilers have to do is get a point against the Los Angeles Kings, and they’ll make the playoffs for the seventh straight season (six if you discount the qualifier loss in the 2020 bubble). 
However, regardless of the result of Oilers-Kings, there’s also another way to punch their ticket. 
As long as the Winnipeg Jets-Philadelphia Flyers game does not end in a Jets regulation win, the Oilers will also clinch a playoff berth. 
Edmonton will know where they stand before that game begins. Puckdrop in Winnipeg is scheduled for 5 p.m., after Oilers-Kings finishes.  
Even if neither result goes the Oilers’ way, they still have a 99.98 per cent chance of clinching, according to Moneypuck. Any non-regulation win for the Jets gets the job done, as well as one more point for the Oilers.  
Nashville can’t catch Edmonton because the Oilers own the tiebreaker of regulation wins.

Pacific Division title

If the Oilers get five points out of the next three games, there’s nothing Vegas and Anaheim can do to stop them from getting the Pacific Division crown. 
That crown may look dented, the shine may not glimmer like before, but nevertheless, it would end the longest North American pro sports drought for a regular-season division title. The Oilers have not won their division since 1986-87. 
The Oilers have 90 points, one point up on the VGK and ANA, who both have 89. Each team has three games left to play. Edmonton holds a tiebreaker on both foes because of a superior number of regulation wins, and the next tiebreaker of regulation and overtime wins. 
Simply put: any tie in the standings goes to the Oilers. 
  • EDM schedule: LAK, COL, VAN
  • VGK schedule: COL, WPG, SEA 
  • ANA schedule: VAN, MIN, NSH 

Other scenarios

However, winning the division may pit the Oilers against the strongest team in their Pacific bracket in terms of points and goal differential. 
The Utah Mammoth also have 90 points with four games to play and have clinched their playoff spot already. It’s not guaranteed they finish as the best wildcard yet. They need three points to solidify their spot in the Pacific Division playoff bracket. 
  • UTA remaining schedule: CAR, CGY, WPG, STL
The Kings have the inside track for the last wildcard spot, sitting in that spot heading into Saturday’s action one point up on the Predators with a game in hand. LA took advantage and defeated the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Predators suffered a loss to Utah. The Kings have a 66.9 per cent probability for the last spot compared to the Predators’ 20.8 per cent.
  • LA remaining schedule: EDM, SEA, VAN, CGY
  • NSH remaining schedule: MIN, SJ, ANA
Winnipeg kept their slim hopes alive with a win over St. Louis, sitting three points behind LA, with a 12.6 per cent chance. San Jose’s chances took a massive blow after back-to-back losses to Edmonton and Anaheim this week. They would need to run the table and get some help.
  • WPG remaining schedule: PHI, VGK, UTA, SJ
  • SJ remaining schedule: VAN, NSH, CHI, WPG
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

The Nation Playoff Draft Party — Team Sign-Up Now Open

Edmonton hockey fans — think you and your crew know playoff hockey? Prove it at the Nation Playoff Draft Party on Friday, April 17th at the River Cree Resort & Casino. Build your playoff roster, compete against other teams throughout the postseason, and battle for $2,500 cash and Nation bragging rights. Team entry is $1,000 for groups of 8, which includes dinner and your first bevy. The night will be hosted by Ryder & Lisa from The Sauce and Tyler & Liam from ON Everyday, so expect plenty of energy, competition, and chirps. Spots are limited — sign your team up now at nationgear.ca. All proceeds from the event support KidSport Edmonton, helping ensure local kids can stay in the game.

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