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Stanley Cup playoffs 2026: Bracket, schedule, scores, news

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Brandon Hagel nets go-ahead goal for Lightning (0:42)

Brandon Hagel nets go-ahead goal for Lightning (0:42)

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us. Sixteen teams enter, one leaves with the greatest trophy in the world of sports.

With the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers outside the playoff field this season, that means there will be a new team atop the pedestal for the first time since 2023.

This page will be your home throughout the postseason, featuring schedule and broadcast details, scores, highlights and other intel on every series, updated continually through the Stanley Cup Final.

Read more:
Full schedule
Stanley Cup odds
Wyshynski's bracket
First-round overreactions
Flaws for each team
Offseason guide for eliminated teams

First round

Atlantic Division

A1 Buffalo
Sabres

vs.

WC1 Boston
Bruins

Regular-season records:

Sabres: 50-23-9, 109 points
Bruins: 45-27-10, 100 points

Leading scorers:

Sabres: Tage Thompson (40 goals, 41 assists)
Bruins: David Pastrnak (29 goals, 71 assists)

Schedule (BUF leads 3-1):

Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3 | Recap
Game 2: Bruins 4, Sabres 2 | Recap
Game 3: Sabres 3, Bruins 1 | Recap
Game 4: Sabres 6, Bruins 1 | Recap
Game 5: Bruins at Sabres | April 28, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 6: Sabres at Bruins | TBD
Game 7: Bruins at Sabres | TBD

Consensus pick: Sabres

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Bowen Byram delivers Sabres' 4th goal of the 1st period vs. Bruins

Bowen Byram scores the Sabres' fourth goal to give Buffalo a significant 1st-period lead over the Bruins. 


A2 Tampa Bay
Lightning

vs.

A3 Montreal
Canadiens

Regular-season records:

Lightning: 50-26-6, 106 points
Canadiens: 48-24-10, 106 points

Leading scorers:

Lightning: Nikita Kucherov (44 goals, 86 assists)
Canadiens: Nick Suzuki (29 goals, 72 assists)

Schedule (Series tied 2-2):

Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 2: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 4: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 | Recap
Game 5: Canadiens at Lightning | TBD
Game 6: Lightning at Canadiens | TBD
Game 7: Canadiens at Lightning | TBD

Consensus pick: Lightning

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Brandon Hagel's power-play goal ties the score at 2-2

Brandon Hagel's power-play goal ties the score at 2-2.


Metropolitan Division

M1 Carolina
Hurricanes

vs.

WC2 Ottawa
Senators

Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 53-22-7, 113 points
Senators: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho (27 goals, 53 assists)
Senators: Tim Stutzle (34 goals, 49 assists)

Schedule (CAR wins 4-0):

Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Senators 0 | Recap
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: Hurricanes 2, Senators 1 | Recap
Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Senators 2 | Recap

Consensus pick: Hurricanes

Keys to the offseason for the Senators

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Taylor Hall's goal gets Hurricanes on the board

Taylor Hall's scores to put the Hurricanes up 1-0.


M2 Pittsburgh
Penguins

vs.

M3 Philadelphia
Flyers

Regular-season records:

Penguins: 41-25-16, 98 points
Flyers: 43-27-12, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Penguins: Sidney Crosby (29 goals, 45 assists)
Flyers: Travis Konecny (27 goals, 41 assists)

Schedule (PHI leads 3-1):

Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | Recap
Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0 | Recap
Game 3: Flyers 5, Penguins 2 | Recap
Game 4: Penguins 4, Flyers 2 | Recap
Game 5: Flyers at Penguins | April 27, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 6: Penguins at Flyers | TBD
Game 7: Flyers at Penguins | TBD

Consensus pick: Penguins

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Kris Letang finds the net for Penguins' 3rd goal

Kris Letang finds the net for Penguins' 3rd goal


Central Division

C1 Colorado
Avalanche

vs.

WC2 Los Angeles
Kings

Regular-season records:

Avalanche: 55-16-11, 121 points
Kings: 35-27-20, 90 points

Leading scorers:

Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (53 goals, 74 assists)
Kings: Adrian Kempe (36 goals, 37 assists)

Schedule (COL wins 4-0):

Game 1: Avalanche 2, Kings 1 | Recap
Game 2: Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: Avalanche 4, Kings 2 | Recap
Game 4: Avalanche 5, Kings 1 | Recap

Consensus pick: Avalanche

Keys to the offseason for the Kings

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Cale Makar doubles Colorado's lead with near-post goal

Cale Makar doubles Colorado's lead with near-post goal


C2 Dallas
Stars

vs.

C3 Minnesota
Wild

Regular-season records:

Stars: 50-20-12, 112 points
Wild: 46-24-12, 104 points

Leading scorers:

Stars: Jason Robertson (45 goals, 51 assists)
Wild: Kirill Kaprizov (45 goals, 44 assists)

Schedule (Series tied 2-2):

Game 1: Wild 6, Stars 1 | Recap
Game 2: Stars 4, Wild 2 | Recap
Game 3: Stars 4, Wild 3 (2OT) | Recap
Game 4: Wild 3, Stars 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: Wild at Stars | April 28, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 6: Stars at Wild | TBD
Game 7: Wild at Stars | TBD

Consensus pick: Wild

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Matt Boldy sends Wild to OT win and 2-2 series tie

Matt Boldy sends Wild to OT win and 2-2 series tie


Pacific Division

P1 Vegas
Golden Knights

vs.

WC1 Utah
Mammoth

Regular-season records:

Golden Knights: 39-26-17, 95 points
Mammoth: 43-33-6, 92 points

Leading scorers:

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (27 goals, 63 assists)
Mammoth: Clayton Keller (26 goals, 62 assists)

Schedule (UTAH leads 2-1):

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Mammoth 2 | Recap
Game 2: Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 3: Mammoth 4, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 4: Golden Knights at Mammoth | April 27, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 5: Mammoth at Golden Knights | TBD
Game 6: Golden Knights at Mammoth | TBD
Game 7: Mammoth at Golden Knights | TBD

Consensus pick: Golden Knights

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Lawson Crouse makes it 3-0 Utah

Lawson Crouse makes it 3-0 Utah


P2 Edmonton
Oilers

vs.

P3 Anaheim
Ducks

Regular-season records:

Oilers: 41-30-11, 93 points
Ducks: 43-33-6, 92 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers: Connor McDavid (48 goals, 86 assists)
Ducks: Cutter Gauthier (41 goals, 28 assists)

Schedule (ANA leads 3-1):

Game 1: Oilers 4, Ducks 3 | Recap
Game 2: Ducks 6, Oilers 4 | Recap
Game 3: Ducks 7, Oilers 4 | Recap
Game 4: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 5: Ducks at Oilers | April 28, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Game 6: Oilers at Ducks | TBD
Game 7: Ducks at Oilers | TBD

Consensus pick: Oilers

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Ryan Poehling sneaks in OT winner for Ducks

After a lengthy review, Ryan Poehling's OT winner stands for the Ducks as they put the Oilers on the brink of elimination.