NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026: Schedule & Predictions.

The 2026 National Hockey League playoffs are at one of the most important stages. Each NHL game played will be significant for those competing for the Stanley Cup. As the NHL playoff series enter their second round, the struggle for not only victory but also momentum continues. The fact is that some teams prove themselves to be real threats by impressive attack and excellent defense. There is no doubt that the upcoming games of the NHL playoffs will be filled with dramatic rivalries.

advertisement

Avalanche and Wild Among the Strongest Teams in Western Conference

Both the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild had solid records in the NHL Western Conference. The Avalanche consistently took the top spot in the NHL division, demonstrating their dominance.

As for the Minnesota Wild, they posted a decent 104 points, finishing below the Colorado team. However, they remained competitive throughout the year.

One key difference between these two teams is consistency. The Avalanche managed to deliver consistent results throughout the year and continued doing so during the playoffs. Their winning streaks further prove why they are among the strongest Stanley Cup contenders. Nevertheless, the Minnesota Wild try to keep up with their NHL rivals using disciplined play and effective attacks when needed.

Sabres & Canadiens Maintain Dominance in Atlantic Division

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens were the two most dominant teams in the NHL Atlantic Division. The Sabres secured first place in the division by gathering 109 points with 50 wins throughout the regular season.

At the same time, the Montreal Canadiens ranked third in the division with 106 points and 48 wins. Despite lower points and wins, Montreal’s outstanding NHL playoff performance earned them a spot against the Sabres. The playoff potential of both teams keeps the series exciting.

Upcoming NHL Schedule

1. Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

Date: 13 May 2026 (Wednesday)

Time: 08:00 PM ET | 05:00 PM PT | 05:30 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver

2. Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Date: 14 May 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 09:30 PM ET | 06:30 PM PT | 07:00 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim

3. Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: 14 May 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 07:00 PM ET | 04:00 PM PT | 04:30 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo

Expected Lineup and Predictions:

Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

Date: 13 May 2026 (Wednesday)

Time: 08:00 PM ET | 05:00 PM PT | 05:30 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver

Colorado Avalanche Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Nečas
Defensemen	Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Goaltender	Scott Wedgewood

Minnesota Wild Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Kirill Kaprizov — Ryan Hartman — Mats Zuccarello
Defensemen	Quinn Hughes — Brock Faber
Goaltender	Jesper Wallstedt

Prediction:

The Colorado Avalanche are favored to beat the Minnesota Wild in Game 5, backed by their strong home record. Colorado has a great home advantage, and they certainly showed it in Games 1 and 2, where they won easily.

The Colorado Avalanche also has more depth than their opponents, and they have played consistently well throughout the season. Players such as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have performed well on offense for Colorado.

Although Minnesota managed to bounce back with an impressive Game 3 victory, facing Colorado in Denver remains a completely different challenge. The Wild will need exceptional defensive discipline and goaltending to compete.

The pick: Colorado Avalanche

Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Date: 14 May 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 09:30 PM ET | 06:30 PM PT | 07:00 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim

Anaheim Ducks Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Cutter Gauthier — Leo Carlsson — Troy Terry
Defensemen	Pavel Mintyukov — Radko Gudas
Goaltender	Lukáš Dostál

Vegas Golden Knights Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Mark Stone
Defensemen	Noah Hanifin — Alex Pietrangelo
Goaltender	Adin Hill

Prediction:

Although the Ducks will play at Honda Center, the Golden Knights will still be slight favorites in this matchup. The Golden Knights have the experience and team depth to handle the pressure of playoff hockey.

So far, neither side has managed to build any momentum with a winning streak. Both teams have been exchanging wins, showing just how close and competitive this matchup really is.

An obvious advantage of the Golden Knights has been their consistent scoring in tough games. The balance and movement of their line-up have enabled them to keep putting on pressure, which often leads to scoring. If Vegas is able to maintain this level of play, they stand to get the better of this game.

The pick: Vegas Golden Knights

Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Date: 14 May 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 07:00 PM ET | 04:00 PM PT | 04:30 AM IST (Next day)

Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo

Buffalo Sabres Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Peyton Krebs — Tage Thompson — Alex Tuch
Defensemen	Mattias Samuelsson — Rasmus Dahlin
Goaltender	Alex Lyon

Montreal Canadiens Expected Lineup:

Category	Players
Forwards	Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovský
Defensemen	Mike Matheson — Noah Dobson
Goaltender	Jakub Dobeš

Prediction:

The Montreal Canadiens seem to have the advantage going into their next game against the Sabres. They’re ahead 2-1 in the NHL series and have really picked up momentum after winning two games back-to-back. Their offense has looked much sharper and more effective at scoring, while Buffalo’s defense has struggled to handle consistent pressure.

The main factors in the Canadiens’ success are strong individual performances from Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield. Jakub Dobes’s goaltending has been reliable, helping the team gain momentum at home.

The Sabres will have to stop missing goals as they did in the previous two games to defeat the Canadiens. Although Buffalo has the offensive capacity to compete with Montreal, it will need to improve its defense. However, the Canadiens are expected to come in with a solid game plan to beat the Sabres.

The pick: Montreal Canadiens

Final Thoughts:

The playoff races in the National Hockey League are intensifying as teams battle for a place in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Avalanche, Golden Knights, and Canadiens are leading the NHL playoffs with their strong performance under pressure.

But the playoffs have always demonstrated how quickly the tide can shift. The Wild, Ducks, and Sabres have the talent to upset their opponents and make a difference in the NHL playoffs.