The most exciting and stressful time is almost here for NHL fans. The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are right around the corner and some teams have already punched their ticket. The playofs are scheduled to begin around April 18, 2026, and run no later than June 21, 2026. Here is a quick look at the playoffs and what we know so far.
Who's in and who's close?
The teams that have already punched their tickets include the Colorado Avalanche (50-15-10, 110 points), Carolina Hurricanes (49-21-6, 104 points), Tampa Bay Lightning (48-22-6, 102 points), Dallas Stars (45-20-12, 102 points), Montreal Canadians (45-21-10, 100 points), Buffalo Sabres (46-23-8, 100 points), and the Minnesota Wild (44-21-12, 100 points).
The Wild Card leaders in the Eastern Conference are the Boston Bruins (43-26-8, 94 points) and the Ottawa Senators (39-27-10, 88 points). In the hunt are the Philadelphia Flyers (88 points), Detroit Red Wings (88), Columbus Blue Jackets (88), Washington Capitals (87), and the New Jersey Devils (81).
In the Western Conference, the Wild Card leaders are the Utah Mammoth (86 points) and the Nashville Predators (81 popints). The Los Angeles Kings (81 points), San Jose Shakrs (79), Wimmipeg Jets (78), St. Louis Blues (76), and the Seattle Kraken (75) remain hopeful.
Storylines surrounding the 2026 NHL playoffs
The biggest stories heading into the playoffs is that the Sabres' streak is now over. They ended their 14- season drought of no playoff hockey and are now officially in for the first time since 2011. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to wait another season for a Stanley Cup push after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The 10-year consecutive playoff streak was the longest in the NHL, but that honor now belongs to the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who both have qualified for the playoffs since 2018.
The Florida Panthers are another story that is hard to believe. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups but will be sitting at home watching as they are the first defending championship team to not qualify for the playoffs since the Los Angeles Kings of the 2014-15 season.
With every round being a best of seven these playoffs are looking to bring the heat early. The NHL playoffs are known for being the hardest in competing sports and teh Stanley Cup is without a doubt the hardest trophy to win in sports. There are still spots open but we can see the playoffs in the near futur as they are that close. The lazst remainign weeks of the regular season should be intense as teams continue to battle for playoff position.