The Edmonton Oilers are back in the Stanley Cup playoffs after clinching a post-season spot Saturday night, extending their remarkable run of consecutive final appearances.
The Oilers' path to the playoffs became clear when the Winnipeg Jets suffered a devastating 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers — a result that mathematically eliminated any chance of Winnipeg leapfrogging Edmonton in the Western Conference standings.
The news came hours after Edmonton's own narrow defeat to the Los Angeles Kings, a 1-0 loss that temporarily dropped the Oilers one point behind Vegas in the Pacific Division chase. The Golden Knights' 3-2 overtime victory over Colorado further tightened the divisional battle, with the idle Anaheim Ducks lurking just one point behind Edmonton with a game remaining.
Historic Run Continues
This playoff clinching marks another milestone for Edmonton's championship-contending roster. The Oilers have now advanced to the post-season for the third consecutive season, with back-to-back Stanley Cup final appearances in 2024 and 2025.
In a twist of playoff fate, the Florida Panthers — the team that defeated Edmonton in both of those finals — have already been mathematically eliminated from post-season contention this season, marking a significant shift in the league's competitive landscape.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg's hopes are fading fast. The Jets sit five points behind Los Angeles for the Western Conference's second wild-card spot with just three games remaining on the schedule. The situation is now dire for the Manitoba franchise as they face near-elimination from playoff contention.
This report was originally published by Global Calgary and The Canadian Press on April 11, 2026. WestNet News provides updated coverage of Edmonton and Alberta sports news.