๐Ÿ’ 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs โ€” Starts April 18

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs โ€” AI Predictions

AI-powered Stanley Cup playoff predictions with series odds, bracket picks, and game-by-game analysis. Updated daily with real-time data.

NHL Record: 27W-14L (66%)Full results โ†’

AI Stanley Cup Prediction

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Colorado Avalanche

25% probability

The Avalanche are consistently favored by oddsmakers and simulations, boasting the highest projected points in the league and a strong roster.

Eastern Conference Winner

Carolina Hurricanes

35%

Western Conference Winner

Colorado Avalanche

30%

First Round Series Predictions

Eastern Conference

#1 Carolina Hurricanes vs #8 Ottawa Senators80%

Hurricanes in 5

The Hurricanes are a top contender with strong projected points, while the Senators, though playing well late, are a wild card team.

#2 Buffalo Sabres vs #7 Boston Bruins68%

Sabres in 6

The Sabres have been strong, leading the Atlantic Division, but the Bruins are a perennial playoff threat and will provide a tough challenge.

#3 Tampa Bay Lightning vs #6 Montreal Canadiens72%

Lightning in 6

Tampa Bay brings deep playoff experience and a talented roster, though Montreal has shown offensive prowess with Cole Caufield's 50-goal season.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Philadelphia Flyers75%

Penguins in 5

Pittsburgh has clinched a playoff berth and has a more established lineup compared to the Flyers, who were in a tight race for their spot.

Western Conference

#1 Colorado Avalanche vs #8 Los Angeles Kings85%

Avalanche in 4

The Avalanche are the top team in the West with overwhelming offensive power, making them heavy favorites against the lower-seeded Kings.

#2 Edmonton Oilers vs #7 Utah Mammoth70%

Oilers in 6

Edmonton, a division leader, possesses elite talent, but the Utah Mammoth have shown resilience as a wild card team.

#3 Dallas Stars vs #6 Minnesota Wild65%

Stars in 7

This Central Division matchup features two strong teams with similar projected points, suggesting a tightly contested series.

#4 Vegas Golden Knights vs #5 Anaheim Ducks70%

Golden Knights in 6

Vegas has a strong playoff pedigree and a slight edge in projected points over an improved Anaheim Ducks team.

Today's NHL Games

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St. Louis Blues vs Winnipeg Jets

Final: 2-3 ยท Picked: Winnipeg Jets

2-3
โœ“
Chicago Blackhawks vs Carolina Hurricanes

Final: 2-7 ยท Picked: Carolina Hurricanes

2-7
โœ—
Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild

Final: 5-4 ยท Picked: Minnesota Wild

5-4

Recent NHL Results

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Buffalo Sabres vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Buffalo Sabres

5-0
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New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Pittsburgh Penguins

2-5
โœ“
New York Islanders vs Toronto Maple Leafs

Apr 9 ยท Picked: New York Islanders

5-3
โœ—
Coyotes vs Oilers

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Oilers

5-2
โœ“
Stars vs Wild

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Wild

2-3
โœ—
Blues vs Avalanche

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Blues

1-3
โœ—
Detroit Red Wings vs Philadelphia Flyers

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Philadelphia Flyers

4-2
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Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Ottawa Senators

4-1
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Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Tampa Bay Lightning

4-1
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San Jose Sharks vs Edmonton Oilers

Apr 9 ยท Picked: Oilers

2-5

Conn Smythe Trophy Prediction (Playoff MVP)

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Nathan MacKinnon

Colorado Avalanche

As a leading scorer for the top-ranked Avalanche, MacKinnon is poised for a dominant playoff performance should his team go deep.

Stanley Cup Playoffs โ€” FAQ

How are Stanley Cup predictions generated?โ–พ
Our AI analyzes regular season performance, goaltender stats, special teams efficiency, injury reports, and historical playoff data to predict series outcomes and Stanley Cup probabilities.
How often are playoff predictions updated?โ–พ
Predictions are refreshed every hour during the playoffs. After each game, series odds and bracket predictions are recalculated with updated data.
Do you predict individual playoff games?โ–พ
Yes โ€” every playoff game gets a full prediction with puck line, moneyline, and totals on our main NHL picks page. This page focuses on series and bracket-level predictions.
How accurate are your NHL playoff predictions?โ–พ
Our regular season NHL model runs at ~63% accuracy. Playoff hockey is notoriously unpredictable due to goaltending variance, but our model accounts for playoff-specific factors.
How important is goaltending in your model?โ–พ
Goaltending is the single biggest factor in our NHL playoff model. We weight goalie save percentage, goals against average, and recent form heavily in series predictions.

See Today's NHL Picks

Full game-by-game predictions with puck lines, totals, and goalie matchups.

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