The Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most exciting postseasons in the sports world. They’re structured into rounds with division winners playing the lowest-seeded wild card playoff team in both conferences. It takes 16 wins to get the Stanley Cup, which is considered by many hockey fans to be the most important trophy in the sport.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to start on April 18, and there are still teams battling for their respective spots. The only team that has clinched a spot so far is the Colorado Avalanche, which currently has the best record in the NHL at 46-13-10 with 94 points. According to FanDuel and betMGM, the Avs are currently the favorites to win the Stanley Cup; however, the team with the best record in the league hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since the Blackhawks did so in 2013. With all that said, let’s look at the current Stanley Cup Playoff picture with a few predictions.
If the Stanley Cup Playoffs started today at the time of this writing, in the West the Avalanche (C1) would play the Predators (WC2), the Stars (C2) would play the Wild (C3), the Ducks (P1) would play the Mammoth (WC1) and the Oilers (P2) would play the Golden Knights (P3). Over in the East, the Sabres (A1) would play the Red Wings (WC2), the Lightning (A2) would play the Canadiens (A3), the Hurricanes (M1) would play the Bruins (WC1) and the Penguins (M2) would play the Blue Jackets (M3).
These matchups could prove to be some of the best the NHL has seen in a long time, especially the Oilers and the Golden Knights. These are two Pacific Division teams that know each other well and have faced off twice in the playoffs in the last few seasons. The first came in 2023 and the second in 2025, with the Golden Knights winning the former and the Oilers winning the latter. One team that has seemingly emerged out of nowhere is the Buffalo Sabres. Through their first 17 games, the Sabres were 5-8-4. Now, as the playoff race heats up, they sit comfortably atop the Pacific Division along with the Eastern Conference’s best record.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are very unpredictable, as although there are only 16 teams and upsets can happen all the time. A good example came just last year when the Los Angeles Kings went up 2-0 on the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, only to lose the next four games and get eliminated by the Oilers for a fourth consecutive year. Los Angeles was favored to win the series due to home ice and the desire from fans and players alike to break the losing streak against Edmonton. However, as any hockey fan found out shortly after, the Oilers still had the Kings’ number.
Since the Kings are very likely to not make the postseason this year, Edmonton will have a different road. For the Western Conference Final, I see a likely 2022 WCF rematch between the Avalanche and the Oilers. I say that because it seems as if the Oilers are hungry and poised to finally bring the cup to Edmonton. However, they will have a formidable opponent in Colorado. I would favor Edmonton in this scenario as they have the experience of getting to the Stanley Cup Final, appearing in back-to-back Cup Finals
In the Eastern Conference, I see an ECF matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sabres now look like the hottest team in the Eastern Conference on the back of Ryan McLeod and Jordan Greenway. As for the Penguins, Sidney Crosby is still a force to be reckoned with, even at the age of 38, leading the team in points with 62. The Eastern Conference has proven to have stronger competition than the Western Conference. Given that fact, the possibility of a seven-game ECF between the Sabres and the Penguins is very likely. In this scenario, I would pick Buffalo.
I see a Sabres-Oilers Cup Final in 2026. The implications of this matchup would be huge as Buffalo would be looking at its first Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, a Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens won it in 1993 over the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton would not only be playing for themselves but for national Canadian pride. I see an Oilers victory in this scenario due to the mentality of Connor McDavid wanting to bring the cup to Edmonton. As great as the ride would be for Buffalo, I see a possibility of them losing despite their home ice advantage.
