NHL Playoff Bracket Set After Final Regular Season Games

NHL Playoff Bracket Set After Final Regular Season Games...

The 2026 NHL playoff bracket is officially locked in after Sunday's dramatic conclusion to the regular season. The matchups were finalized late last night when the Vegas Golden Knights secured the final Western Conference wild card spot with a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

This year's playoff picture features several surprises, including the Carolina Hurricanes claiming the Presidents' Trophy and the New York Rangers edging out the Boston Bruins for the Eastern Conference top seed. The defending champion Colorado Avalanche enter as the #3 seed in the West after a late-season surge.

The bracket is trending today as fans across North America analyze potential paths to the Stanley Cup. Social media is buzzing with predictions, particularly about first-round matchups like Oilers vs. Kings and Rangers vs. Panthers. ESPN and TNT will announce broadcast schedules later today.

Notable absences include the 2025 finalist Tampa Bay Lightning, who missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The Detroit Red Wings return to postseason play for the first time since 2016, earning a tough first-round series against the Hurricanes.

Playoff hockey begins Wednesday night with four Game 1 matchups. The complete bracket is available on NHL.com, where fans can track results throughout what promises to be a highly competitive postseason.