As the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs open, The Athletic’s hockey staff is leaning into the kind of predictions that can make April hockey feel unpredictable from the first puck drop. The range is wide, from a possible coaching change in Vegas to a Buffalo run to the Eastern Conference final and a Minnesota breakthrough past the opening round for the first time since 2015.
Those calls are built on matchup paths, late-season form and the kind of star power that can tilt a short series. They also reflect how little margin exists in the postseason, where one hot goalie, one scoring burst or one bad week can reshape the bracket.
Pittsburgh’s path looks better than its seed
The Penguins entered the postseason as a story already, with Vegas sports books giving them only a 9 percent chance to qualify in October. That makes a second-round run feel ambitious, but one writer argued their draw in the East gives them a real opening.
Philadelphia is viewed as a more manageable first opponent on paper, and Carolina’s status as the Metropolitan Division winner does not guarantee safety in its own series. That combination could give Pittsburgh a cleaner road than expected if the bracket breaks its way.
Philadelphia needs Matvei Michkov to finish strong
Michkov’s production dipped this season after a strong rookie campaign, falling from 26 goals and 63 points to 20 goals and 51 points. Even so, his late-season surge after the Olympic break showed the kind of offensive value the Flyers need.
He scored important goals in wins over Winnipeg and Carolina, which pointed to a player who can raise his level in meaningful moments. If that trend continues, the Flyers could get more scoring from him than the rest of the roster expects.
Ottawa’s style could travel well
The Senators’ second-half turnaround was tied to better goaltending and stronger penalty killing. That improvement backed up a team identity built on structure, defensive work and opportunistic offense.
That kind of game can be effective in the playoffs, where opponents have less time to adjust and mistakes carry more weight. Ottawa was picked by one writer to reach the Eastern Conference final because that formula can frustrate teams that count on pace and volume.
Carolina still looks like a conference-final threat
The Hurricanes drew one of the boldest expectations: a Stanley Cup Final appearance. The case rests on how complete this group looks under Rod Brind’Amour, with one assessment calling it Carolina’s best team since he became coach.
The first two rounds appear favorable, and if Carolina handles those early series quickly, the bracket could set up better for the conference final. In a field with several uneven contenders, that kind of efficiency matters.
Boston’s young piece may matter sooner than expected
James Hagens already flashed in his NHL debut with an assist against the Blue Jackets. That small sample was enough for one prediction that he will soon make an offensive impact in the postseason.
The 19-year-old’s speed, skill and puck-moving ability could earn him a top-six or top-nine role, depending on how the lineup settles. For Boston, that would mean another layer of offense from a player still early in his career.
Buffalo’s bracket is built for a run
The Sabres’ prediction was among the boldest of the group: a trip to the Eastern Conference final. Winning the Atlantic Division changed the look of their postseason path and gave a playoff newcomer a realistic route to two series wins.
Boston is not an easy first-round matchup, but the next round could bring a bruising series between Tampa Bay and Montreal. That would leave Buffalo with a favorable chance to keep its momentum going if it survives the opener.
Tampa Bay needs Vasilevskiy to look like Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy’s name still carries weight because of what he did during Tampa Bay’s three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. The concern is that his recent postseasons have not matched that standard.
The prediction here was not that he will improve slightly, but that he will return to true playoff form and become a difference-maker again. For a Lightning team that still depends heavily on its goaltending, that matters as much as any scoring streak.
Montreal’s goalie pick is built on evidence
Jakub Dobeš was chosen for a first-round shutout against Tampa Bay, and the reasoning comes from more than optimism. He allowed only one goal in each of two wins over the Lightning within a 10-day span, which shows he can handle this opponent.
The numbers also support the belief that he can steal a game. From the trade deadline through season’s end, Dobeš led the NHL in goals saved above expected, according to Hockey Stats.
Minnesota has enough depth to make noise
The Wild were projected to go past the first round for the first time since 2015, and the argument starts with talent. The roster now includes Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes as legitimate stars, a very different setup from the team Dallas eliminated in 2023.
That earlier series came with injuries and thinner support around Minnesota’s core. This version is described as deeper and more balanced, with scoring across three lines and enough physical play in the bottom six to wear opponents down.
Dallas and Edmonton both hinge on secondary help
Jason Robertson was picked to have more than one multi-goal game for Dallas against Minnesota, a reminder that the Stars may need a high-end offensive push just to survive the opening round. He has only three multi-goal playoff games in 56 career appearances, but he arrives in strong form and with extra motivation.
Edmonton’s bold call goes in the opposite direction, with the expectation that its secondary scorers finally show up. Matt Savoie and Vasily Podkolzin were named as possible difference-makers, which would give Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl the support that can change a series.
Anaheim’s upset case starts in goal
The Ducks were the other team tied directly to Edmonton’s fate, with one prediction that Anaheim will upset the Oilers. That idea comes with clear caveats, because the Ducks’ defense remains inconsistent and their penalty kill could struggle against the Oilers’ power play.
Still, Anaheim can score, and Lukáš Dostál gives the team a chance if he outplays Connor Ingram. The matchup also carries the possibility of a high-scoring series, which can amplify small goaltending edges.
Vegas is the wild card of the bracket
The boldest Vegas prediction had nothing to do with a round win and everything to do with the organization’s history. John Tortorella has already sparked the Golden Knights, but the idea is that a coaching change could still come mid-playoffs if the fit fades.
That is not normal, but it is not out of character for this franchise. Vegas has moved quickly before, including coaching changes after reaching the Stanley Cup Final and even after winning the Cup, so the possibility fits the team’s aggressive reputation.
Utah and Colorado bring upside and pressure
Logan Cooley was identified as a player who could emerge as Utah’s best offensive driver, even though Clayton Keller has led the attack all season. Cooley’s pace of 65 points per 82 games suggests useful production now, but the prediction is that the playoffs become his launch point toward true star status.
Colorado’s bold call was simpler: the Avalanche will finally win a Game 7. They have lost seven straight Game 7s dating to the 2002 Western Conference final against Detroit, which makes even one victory in that setting a meaningful shift in the postseason narrative.
Los Angeles is playing for Kopitar’s next home games
The Kings’ prediction was not a title run or a shocking upset, but a shorter and more practical goal. If they can take a couple of wins and push Colorado to a Game 6 in Los Angeles, Anže Kopitar would get three more home games in front of the Kings’ fans.
That would not rewrite the bracket, but it would give their captain another proper run in a familiar arena. In a postseason built on margins, even that kind of outcome counts as a notable step for a veteran team trying to make the most of a tough draw.
