2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Full Bracket, First-Round Matchups, Schedule and TV Details

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:38:00 +0200

The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, April 18, with all 16 teams confirmed after the final day of the regular season. In the Eastern Conference, the Buffalo Sabres (No. 1 Atlantic) face the Boston Bruins (No. 1 East Wild Card), while the Tampa Bay Lightning (No. 2 Atlantic) take on the Montreal Canadiens (No. 3 Atlantic). The Carolina Hurricanes (No. 1 Metropolitan) meet the Ottawa Senators (No. 2 East Wild Card), and the Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 2 Metropolitan) battle the Philadelphia Flyers (No. 3 Metropolitan). Western Conference matchups include the Colorado Avalanche (No. 1 Central) versus the Los Angeles Kings (No. 2 West Wild Card), the Dallas Stars (No. 2 Central) against the Minnesota Wild (No. 3 Central), the Vegas Golden Knights (No. 1 Pacific) hosting the Utah Mammoth (No. 1 West Wild Card), and the Edmonton Oilers (No. 2 Pacific) facing the Anaheim Ducks (No. 3 Pacific). Semifinal pairings follow the bracket winners accordingly. The first-round s