HockeyWiz Intelligence
2026 Stanley Cup
Playoffs
First Round · 16 Teams · Best-of-Seven · Live NHL Stats
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108th Annual · Stanley Cup Playoffs · 2025–26
Quest for Lord Stanley's Cup
16
Teams
4
Rounds
Apr 18
Puck Drop
Jun 21
Latest Cup Date
Games Played
2026
① Recent & Upcoming Playoff Games
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Playoff Scores
Live · NHL API
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② 2025–26 Postseason Player Leaders
Live · NHL Playoffs
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③ Eastern Conference — First Round
8 Teams
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Eastern Conference
Atlantic · Metropolitan · 2 Wild Cards
Eastern Conference
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④ Western Conference — First Round
8 Teams
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Western Conference
Central · Pacific · 2 Wild Cards
Western Conference
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⑤ All 16 Playoff Teams — Seeds & Records
Both Conferences
Eastern Conference
8 Teams
SeedTeamPtsRecordMatchup
M1
Hurricanes
11353-22-7vs OTT
M2
Penguins
9841-25-16vs PHI
M3
Flyers
9843-27-12vs PIT
A1
Sabres
10950-23-9vs BOS
A2
Lightning
10650-26-6vs MTL
A3
Canadiens
10648-24-10vs TBL
WC1
Bruins
10045-27-10vs BUF
WC2
Senators
9944-27-11vs CAR
Western Conference
8 Teams
SeedTeamPtsRecordMatchup
C1
Avalanche
12155-16-11vs LAK
C2
Stars
112—vs MIN
C3
Wild
104—vs DAL
P1
Golden Knights
95—vs UTA
P2
Oilers
93—vs ANA
P3
Ducks
92—vs EDM
WC1
Mammoth
92—vs VGK
WC2
Kings
9035-27-20vs COL
⑥ Top Storylines
2026 Playoffs
🦬
Buffalo's Historic Return
The Sabres end a 14-year NHL-record drought. Not only did they qualify — they won the Atlantic Division with 109 pts. T. Thompson (40G, 41A) and Dahlin lead a team playing playoff hockey for the first time since 2011.
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Utah's Franchise First
The Utah Mammoth make their first-ever playoff appearance in just their 2nd NHL season. They host Game 3 at Delta Center on Apr 24 — the first Stanley Cup playoff game ever played in the state of Utah.
🦁
McDavid's Cup Quest
McDavid won his 6th Art Ross (138 pts, 90A). He has lost back-to-back Finals. Draisaitl is day-to-day. With Anaheim in R1, Edmonton has a clear path — if the goaltending holds.
🎸
Battle of Pennsylvania
PIT vs PHI for the 8th time in playoffs. PHI stole G1, 3–2, with 19-year-old Porter Martone netting the OT winner. Crosby and the Pens need to respond in Game 2 on Monday.
🔋
Avs' Presidents' Burden
Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy at 121 pts. MacKinnon led the NHL with 53 goals. But PT winners have a mixed Cup record. The Avs haven't won since 2022 and face a tough Western bracket.
⚡
Panthers Dynasty Ends
Back-to-back champion Florida Panthers failed to qualify for the first time since 2019 — first defending champ out since the 2014-15 Kings. A brand-new name goes on the Cup in June 2026.
⑦ Stanley Cup Odds & Favorites
Pre-Round 1
Western Favorites
BetMGM
1
Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon 53G · 121 pts · Presidents' Trophy
Fav
2
Edmonton Oilers
McDavid 138 pts · 2× Finals loser · Revenge tour
2nd
3
Dallas Stars
Rantanen · 112 pts · Lost G1 to MIN
3rd
4
Vegas Golden Knights
Eichel 90 pts · Hart 6-0-0 · Tortorella era
Dark Horse
Eastern Favorites
BetMGM
1
Carolina Hurricanes
113 pts · 8th straight PO · Andersen G1 shutout
E. Fav
2
Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov 130 pts · Vasilevskiy · Guentzel
2nd E.
3
Buffalo Sabres
14-yr drought done · T.Thompson 81 pts
3rd E.
4
Montréal Canadiens
Suzuki 101 pts · Caufield · Hutson 78 pts (D)
Sleeper
⑧ Awards Watch · Heading Into Playoffs
2025-26
Hart Trophy · MVP
Nikita Kucherov
130 pts (44G, 86A) · Hart ballot leader
Art Ross · Points Title
Connor McDavid
138 pts · 48G, 90A · 6th career Art Ross
Calder · Rookie of Year
Macklin Celebrini
SJS · Impressive debut · Calder frontrunner
Conn Smythe · Playoff MVP
Nathan MacKinnon (proj.)
53G leads NHL · COL heavy Cup favourite
⑨ Droughts Ended · Historic Firsts
2025-26
Drought Breakers & Historic Returns
2026
Buffalo Sabres
First playoffs since 2011 · Won Atlantic Division · NHL-record 14-year drought
14 Years
Anaheim Ducks
First playoffs since 2018 · 8-year drought over
8 Years
Philadelphia Flyers
First playoffs since 2020 · Won G1 vs PIT on Martone OT winner
6 Years
Utah Mammoth
First-EVER playoff appearance · 2nd season · Host first playoff game in Utah Apr 24
Franchise First
Toronto Maple Leafs
Missed playoffs for first time since 2015-16 · Auston Matthews future uncertain
Eliminated
Florida Panthers
Back-to-back champs failed to qualify · First defending champ out since 2014-15 Kings
Champs · Out
⑩ Postseason Road Map
4 Rounds
R1
First Round
16 teams · 8 series
Best of 7 · 2-2-1-1-1
Apr 18 – May 3
R2
Second Round
8 teams · 4 series
Best of 7
Begins May 6
CF
Conference Finals
4 teams · 2 series
Best of 7
Begins May 22
SCF
Stanley Cup Final
2 teams · E vs W
Best of 7
No later than Jun 21