Featured Image: Brandon Hagel (38) of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with Jake Guentzel (59). (Photo Credit to Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers). 

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 18, 2026. There are a lot of teams who are still fighting to clinch a playoff spot before the end of the regular season, but some divisions have been locked up.

The Atlantic division is currently locked up with the Tampa Bay Lightning at first, the Buffalo Sabres at second and the Montreal Canadiens at third. The Sabres just broke the longest playoff drought in the league, making the playoffs for the first time since 2011. However, the Lightning, Sabres and Canadiens are all shockingly tied at 102 points. This means that these upcoming matchups are key for playoff seeding and the division title is still up for grabs. Currently, the Bruins have the best chance of earning a Eastern Wild Card spot with 95 points.

The Carolina Hurricanes have clinched the top of the Metropolitan division, while the Pittsburgh Penguins have not clinched yet, they sit right behind them. Third in the Metro is the bitter rivals of the Pens and the Philadelphia Flyers. If the playoffs started today, the Pens and Flyers would face off in the first round in a generational playoff series.

Meanwhile, westward, the Pacific division is struggling with no teams clinching a playoff berth. The Edmonton Oilers are currently at first in the division, tied at 87 points with the Anaheim Ducks. The Vegas Golden Knights are currently at third riding off of their 16 OT losses, the second most in the league.

In the giant that is the Central division, the top 3 spots are locked up with the Colorado Avalanche dominating at 110 points. The Dallas Stars are at second, and the Minnesota Wild have third. Dallas will face off against Minnesota in the first round in a playoff series that could very well go to seven games.

All that said, only one team can hoist the Stanley Cup. Which teams can go the distance?

Colorado Avalanche
W- 50-16-10 

The Avs are the easy pick for the Stanley Cup Champions. They have been on fire all season, MacKinnon is currently leading the league in goals (51), Cale Makar is one of the best defenseman in the league, and the goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood are solid. Not to mention the offensive likes of Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Martin Necas, etc. The Avs’ also get the benefit of playing the Wild Card 2 team in the first round.This team is easily a team that could go all the way, and is very much the favorite.

Tampa Bay Lightning
W-48-24-6 

The Florida Panthers might be eliminated from playoff competition, but that doesn’t mean the state of Florida won’t experience playoff hockey. The Lightning have been on a tear. Russian winger Nikita Kucherov has silently snuck his way into MVP and Art Ross Trophy considerations, and could lead the team offensively to their 3rd cup in the past 6 years. If they win the cup, there’s potential conversations to be had that this is a dynasty, but that’s a debate for another day.

The Lightning have also been fortunate to experience the Vezina caliber goaltending of Andrei Vasilevskiy who has been stellar for the team between the pipes, leading the league in wins. Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel are also core pieces on the team that can bring this team back to the Finals.

Edmonton Oilers
39-29-9

There are many people out there who doubt the Oilers, and you wouldn’t be wrong to do that. They’ve had some rough games this season no doubt, defensively and especially goaltending wise. However, this is still a team that has made it to the Finals back-to-back, and is led by the best player in the world, Connor McDavid. They’ve upgraded their defense at the deadline with the additions of Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, and their power play is top notch.

Goaltending is the only problem this team is facing, with Tristian Jarry being quite shaky with a save percentage of .885%. Connor Ingram is a bit more steady, with .895%. However, if they get past that hump, McDavid might finally get his hands on Lord Stanley.