The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket is locked in after Sunday night's final regular season games, and the first round opens Saturday with four Game Ones stacked across the afternoon and evening. The postseason field features one clear favorite in the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished the season with a Presidents' Trophy and a plus-82 goal differential, two wildcard teams that caught fire in March, and three division winners who backed into the playoffs on losing streaks. The matchups set up as one of the most competitive opening rounds in recent memory.
Carolina earned home ice throughout the Eastern Conference by riding goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov through a remarkable second half. Kochetkov posted a .925 save percentage over his final 38 starts and established himself as one of the three best goalies in the league. Their first round opponent is the New York Islanders, who sneaked in through the second wildcard slot after a 7-2-1 run to close the regular season. Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat have both been healthy for five straight weeks, which is the longest that top two center duo has been available all year.
The Florida Panthers, who have been to the Cup Final three of the last four years, drew the Boston Bruins as their first round opponent. Boston finished strong and forward David Pastrnak scored 53 goals despite playing through a shoulder injury all spring. This series will turn on the health of Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed the final two weeks with a lower body injury. He took a morning skate Sunday and was a full participant, which is a good sign. If Barkov plays, Florida is the better team. If he cannot go, Boston has a real window.
In the Metropolitan Division, the New Jersey Devils face the Washington Capitals in a rematch of their 2024 first round series. Jack Hughes is healthy for the first postseason of his career and finished with 37 goals and 52 assists. Alex Ovechkin is chasing the Gordie Howe career goals mark and sits seven goals shy. He told reporters in Washington on Friday that he feels "as fresh as I have felt in March in a long time." Expect a low scoring series with heavy defense and tight special teams.
The Western Conference has its own compelling matchups. The Colorado Avalanche, who won the Central Division with 108 points, face the Minnesota Wild in a classic regional rivalry. Nathan MacKinnon is the regular season MVP favorite and will play for a second Cup. Kirill Kaprizov missed four weeks with a groin strain but returned in the final week and looked like himself. Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson has quietly posted a .918 save percentage, and if he plays to that level, the Wild can make this a long series.
The Edmonton Oilers, who have lost in the Western Conference Final the last two springs, drew the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. This is the third time in four years these two teams have met in the opening round, and the Kings have never advanced. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have both stayed healthy, and the Oilers added defenseman Owen Power at the trade deadline. The Kings are banged up on the blue line and will lean heavily on goaltender Darcy Kuemper. This could be a short series.
The Vegas Golden Knights face the Winnipeg Jets in a matchup that flies under the radar but features two of the best team structures in the league. Connor Hellebuyck is the defending Vezina winner and Jets captain Mark Scheifele had a career year. Vegas is healthy and playing its deepest lineup of the year. Pay attention to the special teams battle. Both power plays finished in the top five in the league.
For Nashville fans, the Predators missed the playoffs for the second straight year after a disastrous February collapse. Coach Brunette is expected to return but the front office is under pressure to make significant changes this offseason. For now, hockey fans in Middle Tennessee will adopt a team for the run. The consensus pick in local bars right now is the Florida Panthers, who have two former Predators on the roster and play an old-school physical brand that plays well on TV. Game one opens Saturday at 3 PM Eastern on TNT.