2025-26 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Field and First-Round Schedule Set

The 16-team field for the 2025-26 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs was finalized, with the final seeding in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference's second wild card spot determined on the last day of the regular season. The first round, a best-of-seven series format, is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18.

Final Seeding Determinations

On the final day of the regular season, the remaining playoff positions in the Western Conference were secured.

The Edmonton Oilers secured the No. 2 seed in the Pacific Division. Source 12 and Source 13 report the Oilers defeated the Vancouver Canucks to clinch this position.

The Anaheim Ducks secured the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division. Source 12 and Source 13 report the Ducks defeated the Nashville Predators to clinch this position.

The Los Angeles Kings secured the Western Conference's No. 2 wild card spot.

First-Round Playoff Matchups

The matchups for the opening round of the playoffs are as follows:

• Buffalo Sabres (No. 1 Atlantic) vs. Boston Bruins (No. 1 East Wild Card)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (No. 2 Atlantic) vs. Montreal Canadiens (No. 3 Atlantic)
• Carolina Hurricanes (No. 1 Metropolitan) vs. Ottawa Senators (No. 2 East Wild Card)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 2 Metropolitan) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (No. 3 Metropolitan)

• Colorado Avalanche (No. 1 Central) vs. Los Angeles Kings (No. 2 West Wild Card)
• Dallas Stars (No. 2 Central) vs. Minnesota Wild (No. 3 Central)
• Vegas Golden Knights (No. 1 Pacific) vs. Utah Mammoth (No. 1 West Wild Card)
• Edmonton Oilers (No. 2 Pacific) vs. Anaheim Ducks (No. 3 Pacific)

First-Round Schedule (First Games)

All times are Eastern Time (ET).

• 3:00 p.m.: Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes (ESPN)
• 5:30 p.m.: Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars (ESPN)
• 8:00 p.m.: Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins (ESPN)

• 3:00 p.m.: Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche (TNT)
• 5:45 p.m.: Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning (TNT)
• 7:30 p.m.: Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres (ESPN)
• 10:00 p.m.: Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN)

• Time and television network to be determined: Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers

Team and Player Context

Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy for the league's best regular-season record. They finished the season ranked first in both goals scored and goals against. Six Avalanche players scored 20 or more goals, led by Nathan MacKinnon with 53. Teammate Martin Nečas recorded 100 points. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood posted a .921 save percentage and a 2.06 goals-against average in 43 starts.

Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres won the Atlantic Division for the first time since 2007, ending a 14-year playoff drought. Forward Tage Thompson leads the team with 40 goals and 41 assists. Source 3 and Source 13 note that thirteen different Sabres players scored 11 or more goals.

Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division with 93 points. Connor McDavid led the NHL with 90 assists and 138 total points. The team finished the regular season ranked 26th in goals allowed per game. Forward Leon Draisaitl is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, according to head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Penguins returned to the playoffs after missing the previous three seasons, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 98 points. Captain Sidney Crosby, age 38, led the team with 74 points. The team finished the season ranked third in goals scored (290) and 24th in goals allowed.

Vegas Golden Knights: The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division. The team changed head coaches late in the season, with John Tortorella replacing Bruce Cassidy according to Source 9 and Source 11. Since the change, the team's record is 7-0-1 in its last eight games. Goaltender Carter Hart, returning from injury, has a record of 6-0-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage during that stretch. Forward Jack Eichel leads the team with 90 points.