The end of the 2025-2026 NHL regular season is approaching, but worry not, fans, playoff hockey rises above all other sports, so some of the most exciting action of the entire year is almost upon us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sixteen teams, eight from each conference, will make the playoff field. The final games of the regular season are scheduled for Thursday, April 16, with the first-round playoff matchups set to begin the following weekend. The Stanley Cup Finals will be held in June, giving us almost two months of playoff hockey.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Florida Panthers<\/a> won the 2025 Stanley Cup, the franchise’s second consecutive trophy. Ironically, they played the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> both years. With two weeks left in the regular season, the Panthers are sitting outside of the playoff picture, suggesting there will likely be a new champion crowned in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n SN’s NHL HQ:\u00a0Live NHL scores<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Updated NHL standings<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Full NHL schedule<\/a><\/p>\n NHL playoff bracket 2026<\/p>\n Bracket as of results on April 2<\/p>\n Eastern Conference<\/p>\n (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins<\/a><\/p>\n (A2) Buffalo Sabres<\/a> vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens<\/a><\/p>\n (M1) Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators<\/a><\/p>\n (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> vs. (M3) New York Islanders<\/a><\/p>\n Western Conference<\/p>\n (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) San Jose Sharks<\/p>\n (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild<\/p>\n (P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth<\/p>\n (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Vegas Golden Knights<\/p>\n NHL standings 2026<\/p>\n The tables below will be updated with the latest NHL standings on a daily basis until the playoffs begin (current through April 2).\u00a0<\/p>\n Eastern Conference<\/p>\n Atlantic Division<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Lightning7547-22-61002Sabres7646-22-61003Canadiens7544-21-1098<\/p>\n Metropolitan Division<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Hurricanes – X7548-21-61022Penguins7638-22-16923Islanders7642-29-589<\/p>\n Wild Card<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Bruins7643-25-8942Senators7539-26-1088\u00a0Red Wings7540-27-888\u00a0Blue Jackets7638-26-1288\u00a0Flyers7537-26-1286\u00a0Capitals7638-29-985\u00a0Devils7539-34-280\u00a0Panthers7537-35-377\u00a0Maple Leafs7632-31-1377\u00a0Rangers – E7631-36-971<\/p>\n X = clinched playoff Western Conference<\/p>\n Central Division<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Avalanche -X7449-15-101082Stars – X7645-19-121023Wild – X7542-21-1296<\/p>\n Pacific Division<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Ducks7541-29-5872Oilers7639-28-9873Golden Knights7634-26-1684<\/p>\n Wild Card<\/p>\n SeedTeamGamesRecordPoints1Mammoth7539-30-6842Sharks7436-31-779\u00a0Predators7535-31-979\u00a0Kings7530-26-1979\u00a0Jets7532-31-1276\u00a0Kraken7432-31-1175\u00a0Blues7431-31-1274\u00a0Flames7531-36-870\u00a0Blackhawks – E7627-35-1468\u00a0Canucks – E7522-45-852<\/p>\n X = clinched playoff NHL clinching scenarios today<\/p>\n There are only two games on the slate for Friday, April 3. There are no playoff clinching scenarios between the matchups.\u00a0<\/p>\n When do the NHL playoffs start?Start date: Saturday, April 18<\/p>\n The first round of the NHL playoffs is expected to start on Saturday, April 18, two days after the culmination of the regular season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
E = eliminated<\/p>\n
E = eliminated<\/p>\n