The quest for the 2026 Stanley Cup has its first Conference Finalist. The Carolina Hurricanes completed a ruthless sweep of the Flyers, securing their spot in the final four. Elsewhere, the intensity is mounting as the Colorado Avalanche look to close out their series tonight in a pivotal Game 5 at Ball Arena. With the Vegas Golden Knights one win away and the Sabres/Canadiens locked in a stalemate, the bracket is tightening fast. Below is the live-updated Second Round schedule, tonight’s TV broadcast info for TNT and HBO Max, and our signature printer-friendly 2026 NHL Playoff Bracket.
Last updated: May 13, 2026
How Many NHL Teams Earn a Berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff?
So, the NHL is sorta set up like the NBA Playoff Bracket with 16 teams earning postseason berths. There is no play-in game in the NHL playoff schedule. We also seed the teams based on points and not straight up W-L percentages, and so on. The three divisional winners in each conference and top two teams in each division earn playoff spots. Then, the top 2 remaining teams independent of division win the last two spots. In the bracket, the top 2 seeds take on the Wild Card teams too, so its setup is a tad different there as well. Does it all make sense?
What is the Format of the NHL Playoff Series?
Every series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is a best of seven machup. The teams will rotate between locations based on the rotation in use. We can expect it to be similar if not the same as past postseasons with a HHAAHAH rotation. In this setup, H stands for the home team of the better team (or seed closer to the #1). The first team to win four games wins the series and moves on to the next round of play.
NHL Seed Determination for the Postseason
So, for the NHL Playoffs, the best team in each conference is the overall #1 seed. They play the lower ranked wild card team in the first round of the playoffs (WC2 on the bracket). The #2 ranked team plays the better wild card team (WC 1 on the bracket). Done the same in each conference. Then you see the remaining teams paired up by seed. We don’t reseed in the NHL playoffs anymore (has been a few years).
Finalized 2026 NHL Playoff Schedule Matchups
Eastern Conference
- (A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins: The most anticipated series in Buffalo history as the Sabres return to the postseason for the first time since 2011.
- (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens: A classic Atlantic Division showdown between two veteran playoff rosters.
- (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators: The top-seeded Canes look to avoid a first-round upset against a gritty Senators squad.
- (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers: The “Battle of Pennsylvania” returns to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Western Conference
- (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings: The Presidents’ Trophy winners begin their quest for another Cup against a veteran Kings team.
- (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild: A heavy-hitting Central Division rivalry that promises to be one of the most physical series of the round.
- (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth: History in the making as the Mammoth play their first-ever playoff games in Salt Lake City.
- (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Anaheim Ducks: McDavid and Draisaitl begin their run against an up-and-coming Ducks roster.
2026 NHL Playoff Schedule – Second Round Series Schedule & Results
Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres
(1A) Buffalo Sabres vs. (3A) Montreal Canadiens (Series Tied 2-2)
- Game 1: Buffalo 4, Montreal 2
- Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1
- Game 3: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2
- Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2
- Game 5: Thursday, May 14 | 7:00 PM ET on TNT / truTV / MAX
- Game 6: Saturday, May 16 | 8:00 PM ET on ABC
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3M) Philadelphia Flyers (Hurricanes win 4-0) The Hurricanes have officially advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after a clinical sweep of their divisional rivals.
- Game 1: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 0
- Game 2: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 1
- Game 4: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)
Western Conference
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche
(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild (Colorado leads 3-1)
- Game 1: Colorado 9, Minnesota 6
- Game 2: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2
- Game 3: Minnesota 5, Colorado 1
- Game 4: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2
- Game 5: Tonight, May 13 | 8:00 PM ET on TNT / truTV / MAX
- Game 6:* Friday, May 15 | 8:00 PM ET on ESPN (If necessary)
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3P) Anaheim Ducks (Vegas leads 3-2)
- Game 4: Anaheim 4, Vegas 3
- Game 5: Vegas 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)
- Game 6: Thursday, May 14 | 9:30 PM ET on TNT / truTV / MAX
- Game 7:* Saturday, May 16 | 5:00 PM ET on ESPN (If necessary)
First Round Recap: The Road to the Second Round
- Canadiens (4-2 over Leafs): Montreal’s defense stifled Toronto in a classic Atlantic Division rivalry.
- Sabres (4-3 over Panthers): Buffalo won a Game 7 thriller to advance to their first second round in years.
- Hurricanes (4-0 over Rangers): The only sweep of the first round.
- Flyers (4-2 over Devils): Philadelphia’s physical play wore down the Devils in six games.
- Avalanche (4-1 over Stars): Colorado’s offense averaged 5 goals per game in the opening round.
- Wild (4-3 over Jets): Minnesota survived a triple-OT Game 7 to move on.
- Golden Knights (4-2 over Oilers): Vegas shut down the Edmonton power play to secure the series.
- Ducks (4-3 over Canucks): Anaheim completed a massive comeback after being down 3-1.
Printable 2026 NHL Playoff Bracket with Seeds
We have updated our signature bracket for the 2026 season with a focus on ink-saving design. This high-resolution PDF features:
- White-Background Design: Optimized for home and office printing.
- Pre-Filled First Round: All 16 teams are placed in their official seeds.
- Interactive Blanks: Clean boxes for the Second Round, Conference Finals, and Stanley Cup Final so you can track your winners.
You can look at the list of all of the Stanley Cup winners while you wait for the playoffs to get here too.
NHL Playoff Bracket Frequently Asked Questions
- When do the 2026 NHL Playoffs start? The first round of the postseason begins on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
- How many teams make the NHL Playoffs? 16 teams qualify—eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference. This includes the top three teams from each of the four divisions plus two wild cards per conference.
- Does the NHL re-seed after the first round? No. The NHL uses a set bracket format. The winner of the 1 vs. Wild Card matchup plays the winner of the 2 vs. 3 matchup within their respective divisional bracket.
- What is the format for the Stanley Cup Playoffs? Every series is a best-of-seven using a 2–2–1–1–1 home-ice format. The team with the better regular-season record hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
- Who are the defending champions? The Florida Panthers won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, but in a major upset, they did not qualify for the 2026 postseason.
- Q: Did any NHL team advance to the Conference Finals yet?
- A: Yes. The Carolina Hurricanes have advanced after sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0. They are currently awaiting the winner of the Sabres/Canadiens series.
- Q: Can the Minnesota Wild still win their series?
- A: The Wild currently trail the Avalanche 3-1. They must win tonight in Colorado to force a Game 6 back in Minnesota this Friday.
- Q: When is the next Vegas Golden Knights game?
- A: The Golden Knights head to Anaheim for Game 6 on Thursday, May 14, at 9:30 PM ET. Vegas leads the series 3-2 and can clinch with a win.
Build Your Own: Interactive 2026 NHL Bracket Maker
Think you can predict the road to the Stanley Cup better than the experts? Use our Custom Bracket Maker to create your own personalized NHL postseason layout.
While our printable PDF is perfect for your office wall, the interactive tool allows you to:
- Simulate Upsets: Move wild cards like the Bruins or Senators deep into the rounds.
- Track Seeds: Instantly populate the 16-team field as the final regular-season games conclude.
- Share Your Picks: Export your custom bracket to share with friends or your digital community before the puck drops on Saturday.
NHL Playoff and Other Resources
