Home HOCKEY NHL 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First-Round Matchups, Schedule, and Series History

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First-Round Matchups, Schedule, and Series History

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Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid

Hurricanes face Senators, Pens battle Flyers, and Sabres host Bruins as the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 18. Full first-round preview. 


Stanley cup playoffs bracket set, Penguins vs Flyers, Lightning vs Canadiens headline round 1...


The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs matchups are set, so let’s break down which teams will meet in the first round starting April 18th.


Carolina enters with its fourth 50+ win season in the past five years, while Ottawa is back in the playoffs for the second straight year under head coach Travis Green.


This will be the first time in their history that they meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canes won the regular-season series 2-1, outscoring the Senators 11-10.


Then, on April 18th at 8:00 p.m., it’s a Battle of Pennsylvania as the (D2) Pittsburgh Penguins prepare to face the (D3) Philadelphia Flyers.


This will be the eighth playoff meeting between the teams and just the second in the first round. The last one came in 2018, when the Penguins won it in six games, 4-2.


Philly holds the all-time playoff series edge at 4-3, while the teams split the regular-season series 2-2.


It marks Philadelphia’s first playoff appearance since the 2019-2020 season and Pittsburgh’s first in four years. Before the 2022-2023 season, the Penguins had reached the playoffs in 16 straight years.


On April 19th at 5:45 p.m., the (D2) Tampa Bay Lightning open their series against the (D3) Montreal Canadiens in a matchup of Atlantic Division rivals.


Tampa holds a 3-1 playoff record against the Habs, with the most recent series win coming in the 2020-2021 Stanley Cup Final when they beat Montreal in five games.




It will be Tampa’s ninth straight playoff appearance as they look to avoid a fourth consecutive first-round exit. Montreal is back again, also trying to avoid back-to-back first-round losses.


The teams split the season series 2-2, with the Lightning holding a 12-11 edge in goals.


On April 19th at 7:30 p.m., the (D1) Buffalo Sabres open at home against the (WC1) Boston Bruins after Buffalo captured the Atlantic Division for the first time in 16 years.


The franchises have met eight times in the playoffs, with their last meeting coming in the 2010 quarter-finals when Boston won in six games, 4-2.




This is the Sabres’ first playoff appearance since 2011, while it’s the Bruins’ 11th trip to the postseason in that same span.


Boston took three of four meetings this season, with both teams scoring 11 goals apiece in the series.


Western Conference

On April 18th at 5:30 p.m., the (D2) Dallas Stars take on the (D3) Minnesota Wild. 


It'll be just the third time in their history that both teams will see each other in the playoffs - all in the first round. Dallas won both series in six games (4-2). 




This is Minnesota's 12th playoff appearance in the last 14 years, losing in the first round in seven of those appearances and four straight. Meanwhile, this is the Stars' seventh appearance in the last eight years, making it out the first round in six of those.


They split the regular season series 2-2, with both teams each scoring 13 goals. 


On April 19th at 3:00 p..m, the NHL's best (D1) Colorado Avalanche begin their series against the (WC2) Los Angeles Kings.

 



Much like the Stars and Wild, this is also the third time the Avs and Kings have met in the playoffs. And, also like the Stars, the Avs have won both of those matchups (2001, 2002), but in the full seven games. 


The Presidents Cup-winning Avs are heading into this game as the best team in the league and boast a 3-0 record against the Kings this season, outscoring them 13-5.




This will be the ninth straight playoff appearance for the Avs and the fifth for the Kings, who are looking to avoid five straight first-round exits.


Later on April 19th at 10:00 p.m., the (D1) Vegas Golden Knights will face the (WC1) Utah Mammoth to start their series.


This game marks the first playoff showdown between the two teams, as it also marks the Utah Mammoth's first time in the playoffs since the teams moved from Phoenix. 




As for Vegas, this is their eighth playoff appearance in the nine seasons they've been a team.


Uath are 2-1 against Vegas this season, outscoring them 10-5.


Then, on April 20th at 10:00 p.m., the (D2) Edmonton Oilers will host the (D3) Anaheim Ducks as they will be the last matchup in the first round to get their series underway.




This will be the first playoff game for the Ducks since the 2017-2018 season. Meanwhile, this is Edmonton's seventh-straight year in the playoffs as they look to make it three straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances. 


The matchup also marks the third between the two in their playoff histories, with Edmonton winning the first in 2001 in five games, then Anaheim winning the second in 2017 in seven games. 


Edmonton took the season series 2-1 and outscored Anaheim 16-12. 




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