Last week, the Los Angeles Kings became the 16th and final team to clinch the Stanley Cup Playoffs, following a 5-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. It is their fifth straight season qualifying for the postseason, as they will try to advance to round 2 for the first time since 2014. It also means Captain Anze Kopitar will have a chance to retire a champion, as he heads into the final stretch of his future Hall-of-Fame career.

The matchups are set across the NHL, with the first games taking place Saturday afternoon. Sixteen teams will compete for the greatest trophy in sports, as the most exciting part of the NHL’s season kicks off.

Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)

Prediction: Sabres in 5

They finally did it! The longest playoff drought in North American professional sports is over, as the Sabres have made the dance for the first time since 2011. Not only did they just make the playoffs, they did so in dominating fashion, winning the Atlantic Division, arguably the NHL’s best, with 109 points. Making things more exciting, they started the season 11-14-4, and fired their GM, Kevyn Adams, on December 15th. The turnaround has been incredible, led by 40-goal scorer Tage Thompson and captain Rasmus Dahlin, the Sabres will draw their division rival Boston Bruins in round 1.

The Bruins are an interesting team who were not expected by many to make the playoffs after finishing last in the Eastern Conference a year ago. Star winger David Pastrnak led the team in scoring, but a breakout season from Morgan Geekie supplemented the Bruins’ offense and helped them reach 100 points. The team’s strength, however, is goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who will likely be a Vezina finalist this season.

I expect a chippy, physical series, but I think the Sabres simply have too much momentum right now, and despite being a young team, will ride the energy to a quick series win in five games.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)

Prediction: Canadiens in 7

These two teams have a lot in common heading into the postseason. Both finished with 106 points, and both are looking to avenge being bounced in the first round in five games last year. In what looks to be the tightest Eastern Conference matchup, I am expecting an extremely high-scoring series. Tampa Bay will be relying heavily on arguably the league’s best goaltender, Andrei Vasilevski, but Montreal has plenty of young talent and speed to make up for that.

One massive advantage for the Canadiens is simple: Playing in Montreal. The Bell Centre is the loudest playoff venue in the league, and will give them a huge boost when playing at home.

It will be an extremely close series, but I’m taking the hotter team, Montreal, who is 7-3 in their last 10, to win the series in seven games.

Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC2)

Prediction: Hurricanes in 7

This is an extremely intriguing first-round matchup. The Hurricanes come in having been on cruise control in the Metropolitan Division. Their 113 points were 15 points ahead of the second-place Penguins, and that lead was never really threatened all year. It’s an extremely balanced team, and potentially one of the most complete rosters they’ve had in recent years.

On the other hand, the Ottawa Senators have exploded their way into the last 16. The Sens are 21-6-4 in their last 31 games, and are one of the league’s hottest teams. The Canes and Sens are 2nd and 3rd in the NHL in Expected Goals % (xG%), respectively, so I predict this to be a long, hard-fought series.

I would take the streaking Sens over almost any other team in the East, but the Hurricanes are such a tough draw. I lean more towards their veteran nature and playoff experience, and subsequently have Carolina winning the series in 7 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3)

Prediction: Flyers in 6

Who would have predicted this at the season’s start? Heading into the year, it seemed like the Penguins were headed for a long rebuild, and the Flyers appeared stuck in no-man’s land. Well, alas, both teams have had incredibly surprising seasons, and the Battle of Pennsylvania is back for another installment.

Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has done a wonderful job of mixing young prospects with the old veteran guard of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin. The Flyers have also successfully revived young players, specifically Trevor Zegras, who set a career high in points with 67.

While the Penguins probably have more talent, the Flyers have essentially been playing playoff hockey for the last two weeks and are 18-5-1 in their last 24 games. Philly also has the edge in goal, as Dan Vladar has been fantastic as of late. I’m taking the Flyers who are peaking at the right time, to win the Battle of the Keystone State in six.

Western Conference

Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)

Prediction: Avalanche in 5

Death, Taxes, and …. wait what? The Kings are finally NOT playing the Oilers. Unfortunately, they match up with the league’s best Colorado Avalanche, who tallied 121 points and captured the President’s Trophy. The Avalanche are a straight-up juggernaut. Two players, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, totalled over 100 points, and their blue line is still led by Cale Makar, arguably the best D-man in the NHL. Even Colorado’s goaltending, which has been their achilles heel in recent years, is stout as can be. Scott Wedgewood comes into the postseason with a .921 save percentage and should be a difficult challenge for LA’s offense to crack.

Los Angeles, however, did go on a heater to end the year. Led by goaltender Anton Forsberg taking the reins, the Kings won six of nine to finish the season, and only failed to claim a point in one of those final nine games. Quinton Byfield has especially awoken to supplement top forwards Adrian Kempe and Artemi Panarin, but I simply don’t see any on-paper advantages for the Kings over Colorado. Because of this, I think the Avs will make quick work of the Kings, and end Anze Kopitar’s career in five games.

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Minnesota Wild (C3)

Prediction: Wild in 7

Most of us knew these two teams would match up in round one for quite a while but goodness, this series is going to be a barnburner. In a rematch of a 2023 first-round series that was extremely feisty, it’s unfortunate that one of these two juggernauts must bow out in Round 1.

Dallas is all about consistency throughout their lineup, with depth scoring aplenty. Dallas also has an ace up its sleeve in net, as Jake Oettinger remains one of the league’s best goaltenders.

Minnesota, on the other hand, is led by its top dogs, who are arguably unmatched. Kirill Kaprizov is a generational superstar, and the mid-season acquisition of star D-man Quinn Hughes has done wonders for this team. Minnesota hasn’t won a playoff series since 2014, but I think this year’s team is the one to finally get it done, in seven games.

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Utah Mammoth (WC1)

Prediction: Mammoth in 6

With eight games remaining, the Golden Knights fired their head coach, Bruce Cassidy, and hired veteran coach John Tortorella in an attempt to regain control of their season. Tortorella has done just that, as Vegas comes flying into the playoffs, having won seven of eight and capturing the Pacific Division crown.

2025-26 marks the first time in franchise history that the Utah Mammoth have made the postseason. Utah is a young, dynamic team, with tons of speed and skill. They are led by captain Clayton Keller, who has put up at least 80 points in three of his last four seasons.

Despite Vegas entering the playoffs on a high note, I think their speed will be tough for Vegas to handle over the course of a series, so I have Utah winning in six games.

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Anaheim Ducks (P3)

Prediction: Oilers in 5

For the fifth straight season, Edmonton has drawn a team from Southern California in the first round. But as they try to win a series for the fifth time in a row, they probably have the weakest team they have had in that span. Despite only putting up 95 points, they are still led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who is expected to return for the playoffs.

Anaheim, who has made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, led the Pacific Division for most of the season. However, after going 2-6-2 in their final 10 games of the season, they drop to 3rd and draw the Oilers in round 1.

This one’s an easy pick for me. Edmonton’s got miles more playoff experience than the Ducks, and I think they will make quick work of a floundering team in five games.