.png?w=1280 "Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions")
2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Second-Round Predictions: B/R NHL Staff Picks
Editor's note: The Atlantic Division prediction will be added after Game 7 between the Lightning and Canadiens
The field is open as we're guaranteed to have a new conference champion in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Will the Flyers continue to defy the odds and upset the Hurricanes? Can the Avs continue their dominance against the Wild? Will Anaheim find a way and knock off Vegas?
The B/R NHL Staff answered those questions, as we provided our predictions for the second round.
Disagree with our team? Submit your thoughts now in the comments section of the app!
Metropolitan Division: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers
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The Hurricanes reached this round by sweeping the Ottawa Senators, while the Flyers punched their ticket by upsetting the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
This season has been a significant step forward for the rebuilding Flyers. Dan Vladar has given them clutch goaltending. Rasmus Ristolainen has been a standout in his first-ever NHL postseason, while youngsters Porter Martone and Trevor Zegras have performed well despite their lack of playoff experience.
However, that won't be enough to counter the Hurricanes' experienced depth and their physical defensive game. The second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake was lethal against the Senators, providing the Hurricanes with a much-needed extra measure of scoring punch.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 5
-Lyle Richardson
The Brind'ABowl is sure going to be interesting. There's a young Flyers team seeing how far it can take a fast-paced, happy-go-lucky run featuring the immediate impact of Porter Martone. Then, there's a veteran Hurricanes team -- the only Conference Final team from last season to make it to the second round this season -- desperate to seize the opportunity to finally get back to the Cup Final.
I don't see a world in which the Canes don't seize this opportunity. Freddie Andersen is on fire in net, and they finally have their answer on the depth scoring front with Logan Stankoven and the second line.
The Flyers demanded respect from us all in the first round, but their inability to close out the series efficiently reminded us that this is a young team with a few more lessons to learn.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 5
-Sara Civian
This may or may not be the year the Hurricanes finally finish the job they've been doing on the Eastern Conference for years and get back to a Cup Final.
Regardless, their trip won't end here.
They're too good, too deep, too experienced and too well-coached to yet let another opportunity slip away before they at least play to seed.
I picked the Pens in the first round, so suggesting I'm completely over my head here isn't unfair. But I'll ride with Brind'Amour until proven wrong.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 6
-Lyle Fitzsimmons
The story of the Flyers' run to get in and now advance to the second round is genuinely fun. They're young, free and they've got fans fired up in Philly.
It's a shame they've got to deal with the Carolina Hurricanes next.
The 'Canes handled Ottawa with ease in a goalie showdown and while the Flyers have a different edge to them, the Hurricanes look primed to roll on. If Dan Vladař can both remain healthy and on his game, maybe he can help steal some games, but with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis rolling and Frederik Andersen handling his business, it's hard to pick against Carolina here.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 5
-Joe Yerdon
Full credit to the Flyers, who spooked the Penguins early in round 1 and tactically outmatched rookie head coach Dan Muse. In particular, they exploited the Penguins' biggest defensive vulnerabilities. Namely, a slow defense and loose wingers.
It's hard to envision the same effect against the Carolina Hurricanes. Their defense is mobile, their forwards all play a 200-foot game, and I don't think they will be deterred by the 1-1-3 neutral zone forecheck that frustrated the Penguins. The Hurricanes love to dump pucks and turn it into a battle of attrition. They made quick work of the Senators, who play a similar style as the Flyers but with more high-end forward talent.
Prediction: Hurricanes in 4
-Adam Herman
Central Division: Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
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The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, while the Wild defeated the Dallas Stars in six games. This series could be the best of the second round, given how closely matched these clubs are.
Led by superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche pack plenty of scoring punch, but they struggled on the power play against the Kings. Their defensive play remained solid in that series, but they will face a stiffer challenge from the Wild's more potent offense.
The Wild have the scorers in Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes to match up well against the Avalanche. However, their penalty-killing percentage (60.0) was the second-worst in the opening round. If that persists against the Avalanche, it could prove costly.
Prediction: Avalanche in 7
-Lyle Richardson
If you kept up on B/R's Power Rankings all season, you saw that the Avs were at the top of the heap from the fall through the spring, save for one week where they were overtaken by Dallas.
So they've been the favorite for quite a while.
Thing is, Minnesota was never too, too far away from the top tier. And more so than any team still in the field, they got significantly better at the deadline.
Hughes is a difference maker and Boldy is playing like the high first-round pick he was in 2019. The goaltending is sound and their advantage on special teams is real. That's where the upset happens.
Prediction: Wild in 6
-Lyle Fitzsimmons
This may not be a rivalry a lot of people have at the front of their minds, but make no mistake, these teams and fan bases loathe each other.
Minnesota talked the talk and walked the walk against Dallas while Colorado made quick work of the Kings. This series is bound to be an absolute slog, though.
The Avs have the firepower and speed, while the Wild have a ferocious front line. Most importantly, we get to see two of the best defensemen in the NHL work their magic with Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. Both blueliners will be electric and tough to stop.
The same goes for Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Boldy. Scott Wedgewood and Jesper Wallstedt have also been superb goalies. Minnesota finally escaping the first round gives them a bit of a secret boost, while Colorado has the power of being the league's best team on their side.
This series will be must-see and it will be nasty. It will also go seven games.
Prediction: Colorado in 7
-Joe Yerdon
The Wild are a legitimate Stanley Cup-caliber team, which is why it's so crazy that the Avalanche are clearly better. It's asking a lot of Michael McCarron to center a third line against Nazem Kadri. Colorado's third defensive pairing is better than Minnesota's; the Brodin injury is brutal for the Wild, who could use a veteran suppressor against the Avs' waves of speed.
The Wild's six-game victory over the Stars was a revelation, but it was also a slog. The Avalanche, meanwhile, practically slept through four games against the Kings. That freshness should give Colorado an even bigger edge. If anyone in the West can take down the Presidents' Trophy winners, though, it's Minnesota. Especially if Matt Boldy continues to play like a superstar.
Prediction: Avalanche in 6
-Adam Herman
Pacific Division: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks
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The Golden Knights advanced to the second round by eliminating the Utah Mammoth in six games in their first-round series. Meanwhile, the Ducks upset the Edmonton Oilers in six games.
Despite a difficult regular season, the Golden Knights' experience and two-way play shone through in their series against the Mammoth. Goaltender Carter Hart has been steady, while veteran stars such as Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone should continue to lead the way.
The Ducks' speed and scoring ability were key factors in reaching this round. Jackson LaCombe, Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier played well against the Oilers. However, the Ducks' 3.50 goals-against per game is the worst among teams in this round, and that could prove fatal if it doesn't improve.
Prediction: Golden Knights in 6
-Lyle Richardson
The Oilers fan in me would just as soon pretend this series wasn't happening.
Anaheim was the better team for all but maybe three or four periods across six games with the two-time defending Western champs, and Joel Quenneville has to be given huge credit for flipping the switch after a sluggish 2-6-2 finish.
They're good. And they're going to be good for a while going forward.
But Vegas went nose to nose with another young team in its first round and handled business. They've got enough star power and experience to handle the difficult moments and their health seems better than Edmonton's was, too.
Put it all together and it's another conference final in the Nevada desert.
Prediction: Golden Knights in 7
-Lyle Fitzsimmons
Last round, I was spot on right about Vegas and wildly underestimated what a mess the Oilers were in dealing with the Ducks. Notice served.
Vegas had their hands full with Utah and the Mammoth gave them everything they had, but the Golden Knights showed their veteran wiles in outlasting them.
This series could be a bit sketchy for Vegas. As much as Utah brought the pressure, Anaheim will bring more, which means the pressure won't ease up on Carter Hart in goal. If Lukáš Dostal is back on his roll while Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry can get to the net and bring pressure, the Ducks can win this.
But, with Mark Stone and Jack Eichel looking classically dangerous and Vegas having so much experience throughout their lineup and Torts pushing them from the bench, this feels like it's up to Vegas.
Prediction: Vegas in 6
-Joe Yerdon
Good for the Ducks to have made it this far, and there are a number of developments to be excited about. Jackson Lacombe was a revelation on the first defensive pairing, Leo Carlsson looked like a veteran, and some of the veterans whom they hoped would steady the ship in the playoffs did their jobs; Alex Killorn and Jacob Trouba among them.
One also shouldn't invest too much hype in a team that beat an abysmal Edmonton Oilers team with a half-broken Connor McDavid. Vegas has some question marks of its own, and goaltending could implode its hopes and dreams, but John Tortorella runs a tight ship, and Vegas looked a lot closer to what one would expect, dictating the six-game series against Utah. Jack Eichel is playing some of his best hockey at the moment and I don't think the Ducks have the strength at center to deal with it, let alone Hertl down the lineup. Anaheim's time is coming, but it's not yet.
Prediction: Vegas in 6
-Adam Herman
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.jpeg?w=600 "Updated Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket")