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🏆

2026 NHL PLAYOFFS

If the Season Ended Today

Regular Season Ends
April 16, 2026
Playoffs Begin
April 18, 2026
Updated
Apr 8, 2026

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Series starts April 18
Tampa Bay Lightning (A1)
Boston Bruins (WC1)
Series starts April 18
Buffalo Sabres (A2)
Montreal Canadiens (A3)
Series starts April 18
Carolina Hurricanes (M1)
Ottawa Senators (WC2)
Series starts April 18
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)
Philadelphia Flyers (M3)

Conference Semifinals

Conference Semifinals
TBD
TBD
Conference Semifinals
TBD
TBD

Conference Final

Eastern Conference Final
TBD
TBD

WESTERN CONFERENCE

First Round

Series starts April 18
Colorado Avalanche (C1)
Los Angeles Kings (WC2)
Series starts April 18
Dallas Stars (C2)
Minnesota Wild (C3)
Series starts April 18
Edmonton Oilers (P1)
Utah Mammoth (WC1)
Series starts April 18
Anaheim Ducks (P2)
Vegas Golden Knights (P3)

Conference Semifinals

Conference Semifinals
TBD
TBD
Conference Semifinals
TBD
TBD

Conference Final

Western Conference Final
TBD
TBD

🏆 STANLEY CUP FINAL

Best of Seven

Stanley Cup Final
TBD
TBD

📊 Current Playoff Picture

Eastern Conference

  • M1. Carolina Hurricanes (49-22-6, 104 pts) ✓ CLINCHED
  • A1. Tampa Bay Lightning (48-23-6, 102 pts) ✓ CLINCHED
  • A2. Buffalo Sabres (47-23-8, 102 pts) ✓ CLINCHED
  • A3. Montreal Canadiens (45-22-10, 100 pts) ✓ CLINCHED
  • M2. Pittsburgh Penguins (~96 pts) ↑ Moved from M3 to M2
  • WC1. Boston Bruins (43-26-9, 95 pts)
  • M3. Philadelphia Flyers (~90 pts) ↑ Climbed into playoff picture
  • WC2. Ottawa Senators (40-27-10, 90 pts) ↑ Replaced Columbus as WC2

Just outside: New York Islanders (89 pts), Detroit Red Wings (88 pts), Columbus Blue Jackets — all eliminated

Western Conference

  • C1. Colorado Avalanche (100+ pts) ✓ CLINCHED — can clinch Western Conference
  • C2. Dallas Stars ✓ CLINCHED
  • C3. Minnesota Wild ✓ CLINCHED
  • P1. Edmonton Oilers (39-29-9) ↑ Edged Anaheim on regulation wins — 5-game win streak
  • P2. Anaheim Ducks (tied pts with EDM) ↓ Dropped to P2
  • P3. Vegas Golden Knights (35-26-16) 3 pts back of EDM/ANA
  • WC1. Utah Mammoth
  • WC2. Los Angeles Kings ↑ Replaced Nashville as WC2

Just outside: Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets — all battling for the final spot

Note: Updated April 8, 2026. The East bracket has been completely reshuffled from a week ago. Columbus and the Islanders both fell out — Ottawa climbed into WC2, and the Philadelphia Flyers snuck in as M3, a result almost nobody saw coming. Boston stays WC1 but now faces Tampa instead of Carolina. In the West, Edmonton overtook Anaheim on the strength of regulation wins, claiming P1 after a five-game winning streak. Nashville couldn't hold on — the Kings have their spot. The wild card race on both sides remains razor thin with eight games left in the regular season.

🔥 HOT TEAMS RIGHT NOW

🛢️

Edmonton Oilers

P1 • 5-game win streak • vs Utah (WC1)

Five in a row and climbing. Edmonton surged past Anaheim on regulation wins to claim the Pacific top seed — and with McDavid locked in, nobody in the West wants to see them in Round 1. They draw Utah, which looks manageable on paper. History says don't bet against the Oilers when they're rolling like this.

🦅

Philadelphia Flyers

M3 • ~90 pts • vs Pittsburgh (M2) in Round 1

Nobody had the Flyers in the playoffs in October — and here they are. They're in as M3 after quietly putting together one of the more underrated second halves in the league. They get Pittsburgh in Round 1, which means Philly-Pittsburgh in the playoffs. That series is going to be loud.

🎶

Ottawa Senators

WC2 • 90 pts • Holding on • vs Carolina (M1)

Ottawa is in — for now. They hold WC2 with New York, Detroit, and Columbus all just behind them with eight games left. If they get there, they draw Carolina in Round 1: the best regular-season team in the East. It'd be a baptism by fire. But the Senators have earned the right to find out.