Sunday's NHL schedule is full of playoff permutations but the biggest question was whether Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin played his final home game and final meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby.

Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, has said he won't make a decision on his future until he talks with his family and team management during the offseason. And he gave no hints in a postgame interview on ice and with reporters.

But there were special touches in the game. He posed with longtime Penguins stars Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang during warmups. The winger took the opening faceoff against Crosby and the Capitals put out a video commemorating the 100th career meeting between Ovechkin and Crosby.

Though the Penguins stuck around to shake Ovechkin's hand, he waved them off because "I haven't decided yet," and he planned to meet with Crosby and Malkin afterward. Asked about fans chanting, "One more year," Ovechkin said, "I'll think about it."

The Capitals beat the Penguins 3-0 to keep their playoff hopes alive with Ovechkin picking up an assist. They pulled within a point of the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division, the last remaining open spot in the Eastern Conference playoff field.

Washington will need help because the Flyers have two games left to the Capitals' one. But that game is against the Blue Jackets, so the Capitals can help themselves. Each contending team's final game is on Tuesday. Whoever clinches the spot will face the Penguins in the first round.

The Anaheim Ducks will have to wait to clinch a playoff berth after losing to the Vancouver Canucks. The Montreal Canadiens reclaimed second place in the Atlantic Division, and the Boston Bruins reclaimed the first wild card seed in the East while the Ottawa Senators fell to the second one.

Here's what to know about the NHL standings, including the latest playoff bracket, Sunday's clinching scenarios and the tiebreaker procedures for the 2025-26 season:

Canucks beat Ducks: What it means

Vancouver's 4-3 overtime win means the Ducks missed an opportunity to clinch on Sunday, though they'll have two more opportunities. Anaheim remains in third place in the Pacific Division.

Devils beat Senators: What it means

Ottawa's 4-3 overtime loss means the Senators fall back to the second wild-card seed. Boston sits in the first wild card, one point ahead, after its victory earlier Sunday. The Bruins wrap up their season on Tuesday and the Senators on Wednesday.

Bruins beat Blue Jackets: What it means

Boston won 3-2 and moved into the first wild card seed, though the Bruins would drop to the second spot if Ottawa wins its 7 p.m. ET game. The Blue Jackets remain two points of a playoff spot and will have to hope the Flyers lose their two remaining games in regulation in order to have a shot at the playoffs. Columbus hosts Washington on Tuesday.

Canadiens beat Islanders: What it means

The Canadiens' 4-1 victory moves them ahead of the Lightning for second in the Atlantic. Montreal has 106 points, tied with the division-leading Sabres, but Buffalo holds the first tiebreaker. The Islanders are eliminated from playoff contention.

Capitals beat Penguins: What it means

Washington wins 3-0 and pulls within one point of the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division. They have one game left to try to extend their season, but will need help.

Alex Ovechkin postgame interview

As expected, there were no questions about his future. He said he would decide in the offseason and the Capitals' season might extend based on what happens in Columbus on Tuesday.

Ovechkin did say when asked about his message to Capitals fans: "Thank you very much guys. I love you so much. It's been tremendous all year, so we'll see what's going to happen."

Fans responded with cheers and chants of "One more year."

Alex Ovechkin is No. 1 star of the game

Alex Ovechkin gets out on the ice one last time as he's named the No. 1 star of the game. He had one assist in the game.

Nothing but love for Alex Ovechkin in D.C. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xmzKzHlKpl
— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2026

Final score: Capitals 3, Penguins 0

The Capitals win and keep their postseason hopes alive. They'll visit the Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Alex Ovechkin gets an assist. The Penguins stayed on the ice to greet Ovechkin, but he waved them off the ice.

Capitals score: Connor McMichael gets empty-netter

Alex Ovechkin picks up the assist, the 757th of his career and his 1,686th point. Capitals 3, Penguins 0

Penguins pull goalie

Alex Ovechkin is on the ice with a chance for an empty-netter.

Capitals score: Connor McMichael adds to Capitals' lead

Ryan Leonard and Connor McMichael come down the ice on a 2-on-1 break and McMichael scored his 13th goal of the season with 4:10 left in the third period. Capitals 2, Penguins 0

Capitals fans chant

The "Ovi, Ovi" chants ring out with Alex Ovechkin on the ice. Ovechkin dives to get the puck out of his team's zone.

Alex Ovechkin chance

Ovechkin can't get to a rebound of an Anthony Beauvillier shot. Still 1-0 Capitals.

Third period underway

1-0 Capitals. If this holds up, Washington stays alive in the playoff hunt.

Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby stats

Through two periods, Alex Ovechkin has three shots and four hits. Sidney Crosby has two shots and two hits.

End of second period: Capitals 1, Penguins 0

Trevor van Riemsdyk scores his third goal of the season to give the Capitals the lead in what's essentially a must-win game for Washington. Alex Ovechkin had a good chance off a Capitals faceoff win but is stopped by Stuart Skinner. Washington's Logan Thompson stops a partial breakaway by Sidney Crosby.

Tom Wilson injury update

He's back on the bench in the final seconds of the second period.

Tom Wilson injury

Washington's Tom Wilson is down on the ice after blocking a shot from Erik Karlsson. He eventually gets up and limps toward the dressing room. The Capitals kill of the rest of the Penguins power play, allowing no shots.

Penguins power play

Washington's Martin Fehervary is called for tripping, his second penalty of the game.

Capitals score: Trevor van Riemsdyk opens scoring

The Capitals take the lead with the first goal of the game. Trevor van Riemsdyk is down low and taps in a loose puck in the crease. It's his third goal of the season. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael pick up the assists. Capitals 1, Penguins 0

Third whack's a charm pic.twitter.com/TsGBKxqttv
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 12, 2026

Midway through game

Still scoreless.

Second period underway

The Penguins kill off the rest of the Sidney Crosby penalty.

End of first period: Capitals 0, Penguins 0

The Capitals appeared to go ahead, but the goal was overturned on a challenge for offsides. Alex Ovechkin's stats so far: one shot, three hits. Sidney Crosby has one shot, two hits, a faceoff win against Ovechkin and a penalty. He'll still be in the penalty box when the second period begins.

Capitals goal overturned

Alex Ovechkin would have drawn an assist as Justin Sourdif scores a power play goal, but the Penguins challenge for offsides. No goal. Still 0-0.

Sidney Crosby goes to penalty box

The Penguins star is called for tripping. Alex Ovechkin is out there for the power play.

Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry acknowledged

The Capitals acknowledge the 100th meeting of the two stars. Ovechkin stands on the bench as fans cheer. Crosby is on the ice with the Penguins about to go on a power play. The Capitals kill off the penalty.

Alex Ovechkin's game so far

Alex Ovechkin, also known for his physical play, lays out Kris Letang with a big hit. Later, his deflection attempt is stopped by Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner.

Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby

Pittsburgh stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday's game. This is the 100th meeting of Ovechkin and Crosby. Even though Ovechkin is a winger, he took the opening faceoff against Crosby. The Penguins star won.

Dylan Strome got himself excused from the faceoff for so that Alex Ovechkin could take the opening draw against Sidney Crosby. pic.twitter.com/knMwemMz9N
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) April 12, 2026

Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference: Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston

Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Utah, Edmonton, Vegas

Who could clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

The Anaheim Ducks will clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Vancouver Canucks.

Update: The Ducks lost and will have to wait to clinch.

NHL games today (Sunday, April 12)

Capitals 3, Penguins 0
Canadiens 4, Islanders 1
Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2
Devils 4, Senators 3 (OT)
Canucks 4, Ducks 3 (OT)
Flames 4, Mammoth 1

NHL playoff standings

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26

After completed April 12 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Metropolitan Division

y-Carolina Hurricanes (110)
x-Pittsburgh Penguins (98)
Philadelphia Flyers (94)

Atlantic Division

x-Buffalo Sabres (106)
x-Tampa Bay Lightning (104)
x-Montreal Canadiens (104)

Wild card

x-Boston Bruins (98)
x-Ottawa Senators (97)

Sitting out of playoff position: Washington Capitals (93), Columbus Blue Jackets (92), z-Detroit Red Wings (91), z-New York Islanders (91), z-New Jersey Devils (87), z-Florida Panthers (80), z-Toronto Maple Leafs (78), z-New York Rangers (75)

NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26

After completed April 12 games. x-clinched playoff spot. y-clinched division. z-eliminated.

Central Division

y-Colorado Avalanche (115) - Presidents' Trophy winner
x-Dallas Stars (108)
x-Minnesota Wild (102)

Pacific Division

x-Vegas Golden Knights (91)
x-Edmonton Oilers (90)
Anaheim Ducks (89)

Wild card

x-Utah Mammoth (90)
Los Angeles Kings (87)

Sitting out of playoff position: Nashville Predators (86), Winnipeg Jets (82), San Jose Sharks (82), z-St. Louis Blues (80), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (75), z-Chicago Blackhawks (70), z-Vancouver Canucks (56)

NHL playoffs if they started today

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on April 12:

Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (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 April 12.

Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3). This series is set
Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (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 Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

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:

Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
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. When more than two clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any odd games) shall be used to determine standings.
Goal differential
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 2026 standings and clinching scenarios

Pierre-Luc Dubois

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