The 2026 NHL playoffs have begun, featuring 16 teams vying for the Stanley Cup. Notably, the defending champions, Florida Panthers, are absent, opening the field for teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights.
Key points
2026 NHL playoffs feature 16 competing teams
Defending champions Florida Panthers are not participating
Colorado Avalanche enter as Presidents' Trophy winners
Connor McDavid aims to win a Cup for Edmonton
Buffalo Sabres end 14-year playoff drought
Florida PanthersColorado AvalancheVegas Golden KnightsEdmonton
Hockey fans, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here. The 2026 version might be as good as ever, with a bracket that feels as wide open as any in recent memory.
Sixteen teams have the same quest: to take home Lord Stanley's Cup. Only one will emerge victorious and etch its name into NHL history. The landscape has shifted dramatically this year, as for the first time in a decade, the defending champions will not be in the dance, as the Florida Panthers failed to qualify following their 2025 title run. That leaves the door wide open for the Colorado Avalanche, who enter the postseason as Presidents' Trophy winners, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who look to recapture their 2023 magic under the late-season guidance of John Tortorella.
The storylines are everywhere you look. Connor McDavid is coming off another staggering 130-point season, desperate to finally bring a Cup back to Edmonton. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference features a nostalgic "Battle of Pennsylvania" between the Penguins and Flyers.
Then, of course, there's the Buffalo Sabres, who finally shattered the longest playoff drought in NHL history by storming into the postseason as Atlantic Division champions. After 14 years on the outside looking in, Lindy Ruffâs squad has transformed from a December basement-dweller into a legitimate threat to go the distance.
Q&A
What is the schedule for the 2026 NHL playoffs?
The 2026 NHL playoffs schedule includes various dates and times for each matchup, which can be found on official NHL platforms.
Which teams are competing in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Sixteen teams are competing, including the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and Buffalo Sabres, among others.
How can I watch the 2026 NHL playoffs live?
The playoffs will be broadcast on various TV channels and available for live streaming through NHL's official partners.
What notable storylines are emerging in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Key storylines include Connor McDavid's pursuit of a Cup with Edmonton and the historic playoff return of the Buffalo Sabres after 14 years.
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From the breakout Sabres winning the Atlantic to the Utah Mammoth making their postseason debut, the stage is set for a wild ride. Here is the full schedule for every series of the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs will be broadcast across ESPN and TNT Sports platforms, with six different channels being destinations for games. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC.
Fans can live stream every game from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV. Games appearing on ESPN networks, including ABC, can also be streamed live on fubo and the ESPN app.
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The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs follow a divisional bracket system where 16 teams â eight from each conference âcompete in four rounds of best-of-seven series. The top three teams in each of the league's four divisions qualify automatically, while the final four spots are awarded to the two wild card teams in each conference with the highest remaining point totals.
In the opening round, the division winner with the best record in their conference faces the wild card with the fewest points, while the other division winner plays the wild card with the higher point total. The remaining first-round series feature the second- and third-place teams from each division facing off against one another.
Every series follows a 2â2â1â1â1 format, meaning the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Home-ice advantage is determined by division seeding in the first two rounds and moves to the team with the better regular-season record for the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final.
Postseason hockey also introduces continuous 20-minute, five-on-five overtime periods where the first goal scored ends the game, as there are no shootouts in the playoffs.
How many teams make the NHL playoffs?
Sixteen teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, eight from both the Eastern and Western Conference. This includes the top three teams in all four divisions â Atlantic, Metropolitan, Pacific, Central â and four wild card teams, two from each conference.
How many rounds are in the NHL playoffs?
There are four rounds in the NHL playoffs, each consisting of a best-of-seven series. To win the Stanley Cup, a team must advance through the First Round, the Second Round (Division Finals), and the Conference Finals, before finally winning the Stanley Cup Final.
Because every round requires four victories to advance, a champion must win a total of 16 games over the course of the postseason.
How many games are in a series?
All series in the Stanley Cup playoffs follow a seven-game format.
The matchups are played in a 2â2â1â1â1 format, where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. This structure remains consistent from the opening series through the Final, ensuring that the team with the better regular-season standing always has the opportunity to host a potential Game 7 in front of their home crowd.
