2026 Stanley Cup odds: Hurricanes, Avalanche lead the way ahead of Golden Knights, Canadiens

The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway, and a couple of the expected contenders have put themselves in a prime position to make a deep run at the Cup. There are also a couple of unexpected teams that have made their way through and are trying to make a Cinderella run.Out of those two groups, there is no team in the NHL better positioned for a championship run than the Carolina Hurricanes. After their 3-2 overtime win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night, the Hurricanes are already up 2-0 in their second-round series and are a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs. It has been business as usual for the Hurricanes in the way they have played, grinding down both the Ottawa Senators and Flyers with a relentless forechecking game that dominates the offensive zone. Even better for them: They are also starting to find some of the finishing touches they have needed from their top-line goal-scorers in recent years.Advertisement