The Stanley Cup is a prestigious event on the ice hockey calendar, and the trophy is one of the most coveted in professional sports. Teams play four rounds in the playoffs, which last over about two months. It’s the ultimate test of endurance where two battle-hardened teams eventually face off in the finals to win the trophy.
Playoff format
It requires persistence for teams to get through the playoff rounds and into the finals. Eight teams from the Eastern and Western conferences with the best records of the regular season go through to the playoffs. At the end of the season, the top three teams in each division automatically get playoff berths.
Two wild card teams from each conference also earn places in the playoffs on their points. How teams place in their divisions determines their matchups and which teams get home advantage on the ice.
With the bracket being fixed, mapping potential opponents a few rounds ahead is possible by not reacting to team names after each result but rather by tracing seed paths.
Viewers in the United States can watch the playoffs on ABC, stream them via the ESPN app, and place bets on match outcomes.
First round
In the first round, the winning team of each division will play the second wild card team, and the team that has the second-best record will play against the first wild card team. Teams that finish in second and third place in each division play against one another. This structure offers one of the best playoff first rounds in any sport.
In the first round, the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes won their matches and are going into the second round. They will be joined by the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild. Various other teams, like the Philadelphia Flyers, have also made it through.
The first round in 2026 has been one of the closest on record, with much of the action being close games with a one-goal margin of victory or two-plus with at least one empty-net goal.
Second-round matchups
Second round matchups are just beginning, and more than half of the teams are in the second round for the first time.
The Western Conference has a marquee matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild. These two teams feature two of the best defenders in the league, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. The one who plays best in this matchup could influence the result.
The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Buffalo Sabres will play against the Montreal Canadiens. The Anaheim Ducks will face the Vegas Golden Knights.
Conference and Stanley Cup Finals
Only two teams reach the finals each year, and last year they were the Florida Panthers and the Oilers. The Florida Panthers won against the Oilers in 2024, and they did so again to take the Stanley Cup last year. The team started this season as a favorite to win again, but this wasn’t to be, as it didn’t get a playoff spot. This creates the opportunity for another team to win this year.
The Colorado Avalanche is being seen as the team to beat this year after a very good season. The players look great on the ice, but will there be enough depth contribution for the team to win? The Carolina Hurricanes have been playing well, and they could just provide a real challenge to the Avalanche.
Keys to winning
By the time teams get to the finals, they aren’t just relying on skills but on depth and discipline. The final matchup is often defined by resilience as much as talent.
When looking at all previous finals, it appears that teams with strong goalkeepers are often able to win the Stanley Cup, and several teams have impactful goalkeepers this year. The champions are also usually defined by depth with secondary scoring, reliable third-line play, and contributions from defense.
Veteran leadership is often invaluable, with players who have been there before often handling adversities better. At the same time, younger players in rising squads can inject energy and produce game-changing moments.
