Monday's 10 NHL Games Have Everything on the Line, and the Kraken Are Right in the Middle of It

We're down to the final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, and Monday is one of those nights where playoff spots are still up for grabs, lottery positioning is getting locked in, and some teams are playing for their season while others are already planning their offseason. The Kraken just knocked off Calgary 4-1, and now we've got 10 games that could reshape the postseason picture entirely.

The Draft Lottery Chaos Is Real

Here's the wild part: the Kraken are sitting right in the middle of the draft lottery conversation. Currently seventh overall, they're one spot back of Toronto and two spots behind the Rangers, who just moved into third with Calgary's loss on Sunday. The Rangers can't go any higher even if they run the table because Chicago still has 70 points with two games left compared to New York's 75. Meanwhile, Detroit got bounced from playoff contention with a loss to New Jersey on Saturday, and their first-round pick (currently sitting 14th overall) is heading to St. Louis. These final games matter for positioning.

The Atlantic Division Battle and the Metro Title

In the Atlantic, Tampa Bay is fighting for the top seed with Detroit. That matchup against Detroit at 7 p.m. ET is huge because lightning, Sabres, and Canadiens are all bunched between 104 and 106 points. Buffalo has the regulation wins edge. Whoever finishes first takes on Boston or Ottawa in Round 1. Second or third means facing Buffalo or Montreal instead. It's tight.

Up in the Metro, Carolina has already locked in the division title and is closing in on the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. A win or even an overtime loss gets it done. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is having a wild season and charged back into playoff contention recently. A win of any kind clinches their spot in the postseason. That's a game worth watching.

Monday Kicks Off at 7 p.m. ET

Detroit hosts Tampa at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. New York takes on Florida at the same time. Carolina plays Philadelphia. And across all 10 Monday games, seeds are getting locked in, lottery order is getting finalized, and the first puck of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs drops this Saturday. Watch how this plays out.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.