NHL playoff predictions 2026: Conference final winners, Stanley Cup champion and MVP

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksLatest NHL mock draftUFA big boardPlayoff bracketRed Light NewsletterStanley Cup How long can the Carolina Hurricanes continue their undefeated run? Josh Lavallee / NHLI via Getty Images Share articleThe NHL’s final four is set. The Colorado Avalanche continue their quest to win another Stanley Cup title on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final, and the Carolina Hurricanes continue their dominance on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference final. The Avalanche opened the second round as The Athletic NHL staff’s favorite to win the Cup. Are they still our top pick? And how much more confidence does our staff have in the Hurricanes — our pre-playoff pick — after an undefeated run? What about Conn Smythe favorites? Here are the results of our staff survey after the second round, with analysis and critique from national writers Shayna Goldman, Harman Dayal, Sean Gentille, Mark Lazerus and James Mirtle. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-sffKT']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Lazerus: Somebody had to emerge from the “pillow fight” in the Pacific, and good on Vegas for getting this far. The Golden Knights are stacked down the middle, unlike Minnesota, but there were stretches of this season during which they were truly awful. The only thing that can prevent Colorado from cruising here is an absolute goaltending meltdown. Dayal: It’s scary how easily the Avalanche took care of the Wild, who were an elite team on paper (albeit missing Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin), in just five games. Vegas’ best shot at upsetting Colorado probably hinges on special teams — the Golden Knights’ PK has been elite all year, and their power play can get red-hot at any moment too. Colorado’s power play finally got going in Round 2 against Minnesota, but it was against a dreadful Wild penalty kill. Ultimately, it feels like the Avs will still overpower the Golden Knights, especially with Mark Stone’s injury. Mirtle: Vegas’ underlying numbers were excellent almost all year, and it was really some very tough performances in net that mostly held them back from having a much better record. I'm on Team Avalanche here, for sure, but if Carter Hart can continue to hold up, I think they give Colorado a longer, harder-fought series than Minnesota did. Gentille: Yeah, I’m with Harm here. Did I pick the Wild to beat Colorado almost solely to look smart in case they pulled it off? Sure, but I wasn’t expecting it to be a laugher, either, and that’s basically what we got. The Avalanche have stars who can win series on their own and, if not, the depth necessary to handle business. It’s borderline impossible to pick against them using any logic other than “goaltending is unpredictable.” Goldman: Credit to Vegas for getting back on track after a rough go down the stretch, but this is a different ballgame. The Golden Knights can’t get outplayed at five-on-five here and then flip the switch for quick scoring plays as they did at times last round. Colorado is star-powered, deep and winning games in all different ways. And it has had an answer each round as the matchups have gotten progressively harder. Maybe the Golden Knights push the series longer and give them a little more trouble. But it’s getting harder and harder to pick against the Avalanche. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-WuqDA']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Lazerus: Frederik Andersen is 4-10 in the conference final, giving up four or more goals in eight of those 14 games. This is where he usually turns into a pumpkin. But I still think he’ll have to be really bad for Carolina to lose this one. The Canes finally break through. Dayal: I’ve long thought that this is the year that Carolina's core finally advances to the Stanley Cup Final, so I’m gonna stick with that. It won’t be easy, though. The Hurricanes will almost certainly have the upper hand in controlling play and shots, but this Habs team has shown a tendency to win games they’re outplayed in, and this Canes squad has a history of continually stumbling in this round, especially against top-tier goaltending, which Jakub Dobeš is providing right now. Mirtle: If the argument in the past has been that Carolina has been bettered only by the highest of high-end competition (i.e., Florida) in the past, there's an opening here. The Hurricanes have loads more experience in these situations; they have been planning for this round all season, and they will be the more rested team by a large margin. The Canadiens are the underdogs, no question. But that means all the pressure is on the Hurricanes to prove they're something new this year. Gentille: We should know pretty early whether this will be a competitive one or not. Montreal is going to have to hope Carolina is rusty enough to come out flat in Game 1, and I wouldn’t bet on that happening. One thing to watch, though: Carolina’s top line (Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov) isn’t scoring. They’re getting chances, but if they don’t start making their way onto the scoresheet, it’s going to leave a lot of pressure on Logan Stankoven, Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall. Goldman: It’s going to be so interesting to see how 1) the Hurricanes adapt to a totally different stylistic opponent from the opening rounds and 2) how much the time off helps. The Canes' high-pressure game obviously comes with a lot of wear and tear, so in theory, this should help them keep it up in Round 3 better than years past. Plus, Montreal has played a lot of hockey through two rounds. As much as the Canadiens have been rising to the occasion this postseason, how much gas is realistically left in the tank at this point? Carolina should be able to take advantage. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-1j364']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Lazerus: Somewhere, Mikko Rantanen is peeking through a set of vertical blinds, staring off into the rain (but wiping his tears with hundred-dollar bills). Dayal: It’s Colorado’s Cup to lose — it’s been years since I’ve seen a team this dominant. Mirtle: The fact the Avs had the historic start they did and then added considerably at the deadline makes them the favorites for me. Their high-end talent is the best left playing — and MacKinnon has been on a mission this entire year. Gentille: Again, I’m just not going to pick against a team based solely on the possibility that goofy goalie stuff goes down. Goldman: The Central was such a gauntlet and the Avs pretty much got through it unscathed. They’re going all the way. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("[id='datawrapper-chart-KErlq']");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Lazerus: Mitch Marner winning the Conn Smythe (which he almost certainly would if the Golden Knights win the Cup) is objectively the funniest possible outcome to this hockey season. Dayal: On the flip side, can you imagine how hilariously every Leafs fan is gonna clap back if Marner goes silent in the conference final? Like it or not, a lot of people are diminishing Marner’s hot playoff start by pointing out that Vegas hasn’t actually played against any elite teams in the playoffs yet. One way or another, this matchup against Colorado is gonna write a lot of narratives about Marner. Mirtle: Hey, what was Andersen’s previous team? Gentille: This isn’t about them, James. Goldman: Speaking of wearing a Maple Leaf, remember that time MacKinnon was handed a stuffed animal with his silver medal? “Nate Dogg” isn’t losing again after that, and he’s taking home MVP honors along the way. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms