The 2025-26 regular season and it’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is easily the greatest part of the hockey calendar. 16 teams are vying for hockey’s greatest prize and for the first time since 2023, a different club will hoist the Stanley Cup as the Florida Panthers missed out on an opportunity to win their third in a row.
This year’s postseason is set to feature a few teams we haven’t seen in the big dance for a little while, most notably the Buffalo Sabres. After 14 years without playoff hockey, the Buffalo Sabres are back, surprising everyone and winning the Atlantic Division with a 50-23-9 record, with Lindy Ruff’s group set to face the Boston Bruins in Round 1. The Philadelphia Flyers also return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six years.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference, the Anaheim Ducks’ playoff drought has ended at seven years thanks in part to new head coach & three-time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville. For the first time in franchise history (reminder: Arizona’s history is not part of Utah’s despite the non-traditional relocation in 2024), the Mammoth are heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Let’s jump right into it, starting off with the Eastern Conference, which in my opinion, is pretty one sided in terms of the bracket. Tampa Bay, Montreal, Buffalo and Boston are all on one side, while Carolina, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are on the other. In my completely unbiased opinion, the winner of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series will likely come out of the Eastern Conference and reach the Stanley Cup Final, but don’t count out the Buffalo Sabres.
Eastern Conference
(A1) Buffalo Sabres vs (WC1) Boston Bruins
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2010 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (Boston wins series 4-2).
It’s been a long time since the Buffalo Sabres made the playoffs, as mentioned, and given the fact they also took home the Atlantic Division crown, they have a lot to prove against the Boston Bruins. The Sabres matchup quite well against the Bruins, in my opinion. They have a really strong top-nine and a potential Norris Trophy winner in captain Rasmus Dahlin.
Fresh off his fourth straight 100-point season, David Pastrnak is going to give that Sabres blue line a lot of problems, especially if they get into penalty trouble. Boston’s top-six is no joke, with Morgan Geekie fresh off his second consecutive 30-goal campaign, while Pavel Zacha reached the mark for the first time in his career.
In between the pipes is where it’s going to get really interesting in this series. Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman has had a solid year, while the Sabres have two goaltender who are more than capable of stealing a game or two in this series in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen & Alex Lyon.
X-Factor
- Boston Bruins: Viktor Arvidsson.
- Buffalo Sabres: Josh Doan.
Schedule
- Game 1: Sunday, April 19th at 7:30 pm ET.
- Game 2: Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30 pm ET.
- Game 3: Thursday, April 23rd at 7 pm ET.
- Game 4: Sunday, April 26th at 2 pm ET.
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 28th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, May 1st at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, May 3rd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Buffalo in 6 games.
(A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs (A3) Montreal Canadiens
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2021 Stanley Cup Final (Tampa Bay wins series 4-1).
In what some are predicting could be the most entertaining series in the first round, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens will meet in a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. The Canadiens will look to avenge that loss, with (X) players remaining from that roster that lost to Tampa Bay – Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault and Jake Evans, although the latter was injured.
Tampa Bay’s experience is going to be crucial in this first round against a young, skilled and fast Canadiens team, but Jon Cooper’s group could be without captain Victor Hedman, who everyone is thinking about at this time. Hedman left Tampa’s game in mid-March against Vancouver due to illness and hasn’t played since, before leaving the club for personal reasons. It’s a big void on the Lightning blue line, but pending UFA Darren Raddysh has stepped up in a big way, registering a career-high 70 points in his third full NHL season.
Montreal has a notable absence on the blue line as well, with Noah Dobson out of the lineup due to an upper-body injury he sustained earlier this month. 2023 first rounder David Reinbacher looked pretty good in Montreal’s final two regular season games, although with Alexandre Carrier ready to return from injury, it looks like the young Austrian may have to wait to get his first taste of playoff hockey.
It certainly feels like either team could win this series and in all honesty, fans should buckle up because this one is going at least six games, potentially seven and as I mentioned earlier on, I firmly believe that whoever wins this series will represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final.
X-Factor
- Montreal Canadiens: Ivan Demidov.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point.
Schedule
- Game 1: Sunday, April 19th at 5:45 pm ET.
- Game 2: Tuesday, April 21st at 7 pm ET.
- Game 3: Friday, April 24th at 7 pm ET.
- Game 4: Sunday, April 26th at 7 pm ET.
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 29th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, May 1st at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, May 3rd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Montreal in 7 games.
(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs (WC2) Ottawa Senators
- Last Playoff Meeting: Never.
For the first time, the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators will meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There’s a ton of talent on both sides to talk about and while Carolina may have won the Metropolitan Division & Eastern Conference titles, the Ottawa Senators are more than capable of an upset, if Linus Ullmark can perform like we all know he can.
The Ottawa Senators certainly have the offensive talent to match Carolina, with Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each having solid seasons and depth wise, I’d say it’s fairly even. Ottawa finished the regular season 11th in goals against, while came sixth, so despite the offense both clubs are capable of producing, expect at least a couple of low-scoring affairs early in this series.
Goaltending could be the key to winning this series and Carolina has a big advantage in that department. With Freddie Andersen’s play declining, Brandon Bussi stepped up huge for the Hurricanes this season, posting a 31-6-2 record in 39 games, with two shutouts and a 2.44 goals against average. Another bonus for the Hurricanes is the return of Pyotr Kochetkov, who has been limited to just nine games this season due to a hip injury that required surgery back in December.
X-Factor
- Carolina Hurricanes: Nikolaj Ehlers.
- Ottawa Senators: Shane Pinto.
Schedule
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18th at 3 pm ET.
- Game 2: Monday, April 20th at 7:30 pm ET.
- Game 3: Thursday, April 23rd at 7:30 pm ET.
- Game 4: Saturday, April 25th at 3 pm ET.
- Game 5: Monday, April 27th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, April 30th at TBD (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2nd at TBD (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Carolina in 6 games.
(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (M3) Philadelphia Flyers
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2018 Eastern Conference First Round (Pittsburgh wins series 4-2).
If you were to ask me before the season began if either of these clubs would make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I would’ve said no, emphatically. Both defied the odds, with their respective head coaches, Dan Muse and Rick Tocchet, doing a heck of a job in turning things around. Because of that, hockey fans are treated to a Battle of Pennsylvania in the first round and the return of Sidney Crosby to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Aside from Crosby, Malkin and Letang returning to the playoffs, it’ll be a postseason debut for Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov, two of the game’s most exciting players, in my eyes. The two teams may have finished the regular season with 98 points each, but I’m giving the edge to Pittsburgh in this series purely based on experience. Sidney Crosby feeds off of playing in big games, it’s just what he’s done since entering the league 21 years ago and I don’t expect the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to be any different.
As is the case with a lot of these first round matchups, goaltending is going to be something to watch. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh acquired Stuart Skinner from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Tristan Jarry. Skinner adds to that experience the Penguins have after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons with the Oilers. His numbers since joining the Penguins don’t jump off the page, but he’s more than capable of being the starter. If he falters, Arturs Silovs is a reliable Plan B for Dan Muse after making 39 appearances in his first full NHL season.
X-Factor
- Philadelphia Flyers: Noah Cates.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: Rickard Rakell.
Schedule
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18th at 8 pm ET.
- Game 2: Monday, April 20th at 7 pm ET.
- Game 3: Wednesday, April 22nd at 7 pm ET.
- Game 4: Saturday, April 25th at 8 pm ET.
- Game 5: Monday, April 27th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Wednesday, April 29th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2nd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5 games.
Western Conference
(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs (WC2) Los Angeles Kings
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Western Conference Quarterfinals (Colorado wins series 4-3).
Thanks to a new career-high in goals for star forward Nathan MacKinnon and the strong play of the league’s top goaltending duo – Mackenzie Blackwood & Scott Wedgewood, the Colorado Avalanche were not only able to become Central Division champions & hold the Western Conference crown, Jared Bednar’s group won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top team for the 2025-26 regular season.
We’ll have to wait and see if the Presidents’ Trophy curse will apply to the Colorado Avalanche, but it’s safe to say at least in the first round, they’re heavy favourites to defeat the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night and didn’t find out their opponent until Thursday following their final regular season game in Calgary.
There isn’t really a ton to say about this series because of how lopsided it might be, with Colorado holding the edge in every single category – forwards, defense, goaltending and special teams (power play/penalty kill). If the Kings are going to stand a chance in this series, they’re going to need their stars to step up in a big way, whether it be Quinton Byfield, Artemi Panarin or Anze Kopitar, the latter of whom is set to retire at the end of the Kings’ season.
X-Factor
- Colorado Avalanche: Artturi Lehkonen.
- Los Angeles Kings: Alex Laferriere.
Schedule
- Game 1: Sunday, April 19th at 3 pm ET.
- Game 2: Tuesday, April 21st at 10 pm ET.
- Game 3: Thursday, April 23rd at 10 pm ET.
- Game 4: Sunday, April 26th at 4:30 pm ET.
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 29th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, May 1st at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, May 3rd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Colorado in 4 games.
(C2) Dallas Stars vs (C3) Minnesota Wild
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2023 Western Conference First Round (Dallas wins series 4-2).
For the second time in four years, the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild will meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There’s a lot of excitement surrounding this matchup, with plenty of star talent to go around on both sides, with Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild looking to advance to the second round for the first time in 11 years.
Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin added some much needed depth leading up to the trade deadline, but his biggest deal by far came just before Christmas when he landed star defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. Acquiring Hughes was a huge moment for the franchise, as they celebrated their 25th season, and he made an immediate impact, helping the club to a 8-1-2 record in his first ten games. Kirill Kaprizov had yet another strong year and was just two goals shy of tying his career-high of 47.
On the flip side, the Dallas Stars have looked good all season long, getting contributions up and down the lineup, whether it be rookie forward Justin Hryckowian or Mikko Rantanen, who finished his first full season with 77 points in 64 games. Jake Oettinger has been a brick wall for Dallas too and will certainly be one of the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy in a couple months time. The Stars are dealing with some injury issues at the moment however, with Roope Hintz reportedly going to miss the start of the playoffs, while Miro Heiskanen’s status for Game 1 (as of Friday night) is unclear.
X-Factor
- Dallas Stars: Matt Duchene.
- Minnesota Wild: Joel Eriksson Ek.
Schedule
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18th at 5:30 pm ET.
- Game 2: Monday, April 20th at 9:30 pm ET.
- Game 3: Wednesday, April 22nd at 9:30 pm ET.
- Game 4: Saturday, April 25th at 5:30 pm ET.
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 28th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, April 30th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2nd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Dallas in 6 games.
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs (WC1) Utah Mammoth
- Last Playoff Meeting: Never.
The NHL’s third-youngest franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, will take on the newest franchise, the Utah Mammoth in round one. After joining the NHL in 2024 following the non-traditional relocation of Arizona, with the Coyotes records & statistics going inactive rather than following the club to Utah, Mammoth owner Ryan Smith made it known he was willing to spend money in order to ice a competitive team. It was breath of fresh air after Arizona’s poor ownership groups over the years and it paid off for Smith in just year two of the club’s existence.
Utah finished in the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, setting up a date with winners of the Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite Utah being a wild card team, they ended up with more wins than the Golden Knights, which is just another example of why the NHL needs to return to a 1-8 conference format for the playoffs.
Both clubs are pretty evenly matched and it could go either way. Utah and Vegas have strong top-six forward groups and a decent top-four on the blue line too, but it’s between the pipes where I’m giving the edge to the Mammoth after an outstanding season from Karel Vejmelka. The Czech netminder had a 38-20-3 record in 64 games, along with two shutouts and a 2.73 goals against average. It’s hard to predict who will come out on top and for me personally, this series is one that I’m really looking forward to watching because of that uncertainty.
X-Factor
- Utah Mammoth: JJ Peterka.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Tomas Hertl.
Schedule
- Game 1: Sunday, April 19th at 10 pm ET.
- Game 2: Tuesday, April 21st at 9:30 pm ET.
- Game 3: Friday, April 24th at 9:30 pm ET.
- Game 4: Monday, April 27th at TBD.
- Game 5: Wednesday, April 29th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Friday, May 1st at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Sunday, May 3rd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Utah in 7 games.
(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs (P3) Anaheim Ducks
- Last Playoff Meeting: 2017 Western Conference Second Round (Anaheim wins series 4-3).
And that brings us to our final series – the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers against the Anaheim Ducks, who are making their return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2018. This series wasn’t officially set until Thursday night, with Anaheim, Edmonton, along with Los Angeles, all in the mix for the second spot in the division on the final day of the regular season.
After facing the Los Angeles Kings in the first round for the last four years, Edmonton finally gets a different opponent, but they’ll still be heading to sunny California. The entire Pacific Division was quite weak this season, with Edmonton landing the second spot despite winning just 41 of 82 games this season, largely thanks to the play of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as usual, although the latter has been out of the lineup since mid-March with an injury.
Anaheim is looking to make some noise and surprise people in their first round series with Edmonton and I can say comfortably that while they might be in tough against Edmonton’s offense, they do have a clear edge in net with Lukas Dostal. Anaheim’s depth has also been really impressive to watch this season, with former Montreal Canadiens first rounder Ryan Poehling playing a big role in the bottom-six, setting a new career-high in points. If Anaheim can keep their heads above water on the road in the first two games and able to get Vezina-caliber performances out of Lukas Dostal, there’s absolutely a path for them to win this series.
X-Factor
- Anaheim Ducks: Troy Terry.
- Edmonton Oilers: Vasili Podkolzin.
Schedule
- Game 1: Monday, April 20th at 10 pm ET.
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 22nd at 10 pm ET.
- Game 3: Friday, April 24th at 10 pm ET.
- Game 4: Sunday, April 26th at 9:30 pm ET.
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 28th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 6: Thursday, April 30th at TBD. (If Necessary)
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2nd at TBD. (If Necessary)
Series Prediction: Edmonton in 6 games.