2026 NHL Playoffs: Updated Bracket and Full Schedule As Teams Chase Stanley Cup

The NHL playoffs have arrived. After a long 82-game season, the NHL seeded eight teams from each conference in a deeply imperfect manner that should be changed, but for now, it's all we've got.

In the Eastern and Western Conferences, each division sent its top three teams. Then, the top two wild-card teams with the next best records earned the right to play the two division winners. This year, the Atlantic Division sent five teams while the Metropolitan sent three and both Western Conference divisions sent four apiece.

The puck dropped in this year’s edition of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 18. Here’s a look at the updated NHL bracket and the full schedule and results for each series:

Updated Stanley Cup playoffs bracket

In the West, the Golden Knights shockingly swept the Avalanche to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Previously in that bracket, the Avs swept the Kings in four games and took just five contests to eliminate the Wild, who previously took care of the Stars in six games for their first playoff series win since 2015. The Ducks cut Connor McDavid’s season short by defeating the Oilers in six games, but their playoff run ended in the second round against Vegas.

Over in the East, the Hurricanes and Canadiens are locked in a tight battle for a chance at a Stanley Cup Final berth.

NHL bracket — The Stanley Cup playoff bracket heading into the conference finals. | NHL

NHL Stanley Cup playoffs: Full schedule

Check out the full schedule and results for each series below.

Western Conference Final: Avalanche vs. Golden Knights (Vegas leads 2–0)

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 2
Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Avalanche 1
Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Avalanche 3
Game 4: Golden Knights 2, Avalanche 1

Eastern Conference Final: Hurricanes vs. Canadiens (Carolina leads 3–1)

Game 1: Canadiens 6, Hurricanes 2
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 3: Hurricanes 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Canadiens 0
Game 5*: Canadiens @ Hurricanes | Friday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET
Game 6*: Hurricanes @ Canadiens | Sunday, May 31 at TBD
Game 7*: Canadiens @ Hurricanes | Tuesday, June 2 at 8 p.m. ET

Western Conference semifinals: Avalanche vs. Wild (Colorado wins 4–1)

Game 1: Avalanche 9, Wild 6
Game 2: Avalanche 5, Wild 2
Game 3: Wild 5, Avalanche 1
Game 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 2
Game 5: Avalanche 4, Wild 3 (OT)

Western Conference semifinals: Ducks vs. Golden Knights (Vegas wins 4–2)

Game 1: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 1
Game 2: Ducks 3, Golden Knights 1
Game 3: Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2
Game 4: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3
Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2 (OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Ducks 1

Eastern Conference semifinals: Hurricanes vs. Flyers (Carolina wins 4–0)

Game 1: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 0
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)
Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Flyers 1
Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)

Eastern Conference semifinals: Sabres vs. Canadiens (Montreal wins 4–3)

Game 1: Sabres 4, Canadiens 2
Game 2: Canadiens 5, Sabres 1
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Sabres 2
Game 4: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Canadiens 6, Sabres 3
Game 6: Sabres 8, Canadiens 3
Game 7: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (OT)

First round: Lightning vs. Canadiens (Montreal wins 4–3)

Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT)
Game 2: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 3: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
Game 4: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2
Game 5: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2
Game 6: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0
Game 7: Canadiens 2, Lightning 1

First round: Avalanche vs. Kings (Colorado wins 4–0)

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

First round: Stars vs. Wild (Minnesota wins 4–2)

Game 1: Wild 6, Stars 1
Game 2: Stars 4, Wild 2
Game 3: Stars 4, Wild 3 (2OT)
Game 4: Wild 3, Stars 2 (OT)
Game 5: Wild 4, Stars 2
Game 6: Wild 5, Stars 2

First round: Golden Knights vs. Mammoth (Vegas wins 4–2)

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Mammoth
Game 2: Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2
Game 3: Mammoth 4, Golden Knights 2
Game 4: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT)
Game 5: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (2OT)
Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 1

First round: Oilers vs. Ducks (Anaheim wins 4–2)

Game 1: Oilers 4, Ducks 3
Game 2: Ducks 6, Oilers 4
Game 3: Ducks 7, Oilers 4
Game 4: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT)
Game 5: Oilers 4, Ducks 1
Game 6: Ducks 5, Oilers 2

First round: Sabres vs. Bruins (Buffalo wins 4–2)

Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3
Game 2: Bruins 4, Sabres 2
Game 3: Sabres 3, Bruins 1
Game 4: Sabres 6, Bruins 1
Game 5: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT)
Game 6: Sabres 4, Bruins 1

First round: Hurricanes vs. Senators (Carolina wins 4–0)

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

First round: Flyers vs. Penguins (Philadelphia wins 4–2)

Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2
Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0
Game 3: Flyers 5, Penguins 2
Game 4: Penguins 4, Flyers 2
Game 5: Penguins 3, Flyers 2
Game 6: Flyers 1, Penguins 0

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