The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially underway. Pucks drop today, April 18, with the first of 16 teams beginning their hunt for the Cup. Here's everything you need to know — the full bracket, how each series breaks down, and who's most likely to hoist the hardware in June.
The Full 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket
Sixteen teams made the cut. Six of them are first-time or long-absent playoff entrants: the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Utah Mammoth, and Anaheim Ducks all return to the postseason after missing it in recent years.
Eastern Conference First Round
Metropolitan Division
- (1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators
- (2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers
Atlantic Division
- (1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins
- (2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
Western Conference First Round
Central Division
- (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings
- (2) Dallas Stars vs. (3) Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
- (1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (WC1) Anaheim Ducks
- (2) Utah Mammoth vs. (3) Vegas Golden Knights
Series Breakdown & Predictions
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators
Carolina enters as the Eastern Conference's top seed and one of the Cup favorites. The Hurricanes led the East in regular-season points and finished with one of the NHL's best defensive records. Ottawa earned a wild-card spot in a tightly contested final week.
Edge: Hurricanes in 5. Carolina's defensive system and goaltending depth are too much for a young Senators team making its first playoff run in years.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
This is the rivalry matchup everyone in the East wanted to see. The Penguins returned to the playoffs after a multi-year drought, while the Flyers sneaked in on the final night of the regular season. Both clubs are playing with house money.
Edge: Penguins in 6. Pittsburgh's playoff experience proves decisive in a physical, entertaining series.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins
Buffalo won the Atlantic Division title — a historic milestone for a franchise that went over a decade without a playoff appearance. Boston earned a wild card and brings veteran playoff experience to counter the Sabres' youthful energy.
Edge: Sabres in 7. Home-ice advantage and the emotional weight of Buffalo's historic run keep them alive in a seven-game war.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
Tampa Bay is one of the overall Cup favorites entering this bracket, with odds second only to Colorado. The Lightning's core remains dangerous. Montreal has re-emerged as a legitimate contender after years of rebuilding, making this the most intriguing Atlantic matchup.
Edge: Lightning in 6. Tampa's Finals experience and depth at every position are too much, though Montreal makes them work.
- One of the top 3 Cup favorites in betting markets
- Battle-tested roster with multiple Stanley Cup Final appearances
- Elite power play and penalty kill
- Legs could be an issue deep in June after tough regular season
- Montreal is playing the best hockey of their rebuild
Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings
Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's overall best team and enters as the top betting favorite to win the Cup. The Avalanche dominated the Western Conference all season. Los Angeles earned a wild-card spot and has playoff-tested veterans who know how to slow elite offenses.
Edge: Avalanche in 5. Colorado is the class of the West. Kings can steal a game or two, but the Avs are rolling.
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
A Central Division rivalry that was hotly contested all season. Dallas edged out the second seed; Minnesota finished third after a late-season surge. Both teams play a physical, structured game that makes this a coin-flip series.
Edge: Stars in 7. Dallas has just enough playoff experience and depth to outlast Minnesota in a grinder.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks
Edmonton enters as -210 favorites, and for good reason — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain the most dangerous offensive duo in hockey. The Ducks, at +175, are genuine underdogs who made the playoffs for the first time in years on the strength of their young core.
Edge: Oilers in 5. Edmonton's superstar firepower is simply too much for Anaheim to contain for six or seven games.
Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Utah's first playoff appearance as the NHL's newest franchise (relocated from Arizona) goes up against Vegas, a team built for playoff runs. The Golden Knights have been here before — multiple times. Utah is hungry and has the talent to compete, but experience matters in the postseason.
Edge: Golden Knights in 6. Vegas knows how to win close playoff games; Utah will gain invaluable experience for future runs.
Stanley Cup Predictions
The chart above reflects approximate betting-market implied probability (%) for each team to win the Stanley Cup, based on opening-round odds.
Our pick: Colorado Avalanche. The Presidents' Trophy winners have the best roster top-to-bottom, the deepest blueline, and the most dangerous forward group in the West. If their goaltending holds — always the variable in a Cup run — Colorado is the team to beat.
Dark horse: Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes have the defensive structure, the coaching, and the goaltending to grind through a tough Eastern bracket. If Tampa Bay falls early, Carolina could run the table.
Upset special: Montreal Canadiens over Tampa Bay. Montreal is peaking at the right time, and Tampa's depth has thinned. This is the series most likely to produce a first-round shocker.
How to Watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs
All playoff games are available on TNT, TBS, and Max (streaming) in the United States. Canadian viewers can watch on Sportsnet and CBC. The first round runs from April 18 through approximately May 5.
- TNT and TBS carry national US broadcasts
- Max (streaming) has all TNT/TBS games online
- ESPN+ carries select regional games
- Sportsnet and CBC carry games in Canada
- NHL.com/TV has the full schedule and broadcast listings
What to Watch in Round 1
Beyond the results, keep an eye on a few storylines that will define the rest of these playoffs:
McDavid's window: At 29, Connor McDavid is in his prime. Edmonton has the firepower to make a run — but playoff hockey is unpredictable, and McDavid is still searching for his first Stanley Cup ring.
Buffalo's historic run: The Sabres haven't won a playoff series since 2011. A Buffalo victory in Round 1 would be one of the feel-good stories of the spring.
Utah's debut: The Mammoth are playing their first-ever playoff games as a franchise. The atmosphere in Salt Lake City will be electric regardless of results.
Tampa's age question: The Lightning core that won back-to-back Cups is still dangerous — but Father Time doesn't take a playoff bye. Montreal could expose any regression in the first round.
Check back for round-by-round updates, series recaps, and a live bracket as the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs unfold.
