The eight Eastern Conference teams that failed to qualify for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are now focused on securing additional postseason games, aiming to keep their season alive into June. With the regular season concluded, these teams are exploring options to extend their campaigns beyond the usual playoff cutoff. The push comes as the league has historically allowed certain formats to prolong the season for non-playoff participants. Fans and analysts are watching closely to see how these teams might bridge the gap between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

For the eight Eastern Conference teams that missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their goal since the regular season ended has been determining how to extend their season into June, like the Stanley ...