💰 First-round betting guide

18.04.2026, 11:28 espn.com

The puck is set to drop on the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, as 16 teams will continue on their quest to get their named engraved in Lord Stanley's Cup. The Buffalo Sabres have snapped the longest postseason drought in the NHL on their way to winning the Atlantic Division. They will face the Boston Bruins in the first round.

Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Create up to two brackets today. Create A Bracket

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, we see the battle of Pennsylvania between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final when the Tampa Bay Lightning see the Montreal Canadiens, as well as Brandon Bussi and the Carolina Hurricanes throwing down with Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators

Out West, the Colorado Avalanche have been the frontrunners, leading in Stanley Cup odds all season on their way to winning the President's Trophy. Nathan MacKinnon and co. will take on the Los Angeles Kings. Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the second and third highest point totals collide when Jason Robertson and the Dallas Stars host Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild.

The chaotic Pacific Division has resolved with the Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings making the cut. The Mammoth make the playoffs for the first time since moving from Arizona, and will take on Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights. The Oilers will look to return to the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year -- and they won't have to see Florida this time -- but to do so, their will first have to go through the Ducks.

Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash have the best bets, Conn Smythe Trophy picks, and more from each series as we get set. Follow the action all playoffs long, including the Stanley Cup Final, here at ESPN.

Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook , subject to change. All times Eastern.

Ottawa Senators at Carolina HurricanesGame 1: Lenovo Center, Raleigh; Saturday, 3 p.m.

Game 1 puck line: Senators +1.5 (-198), Hurricanes -1.5 (+164)

Series winner: Senators (+145), Hurricanes (-170)

Series length: Four games (+550), Five Games (+265), Six Games (+205), Seven Games (+215)

Series Spread Ottawa Senators +1.5 (-140). It appears oddsmakers across the board are all over the Senators enjoying success this spring. Despite finishing in the final playoff spot in the East, Travis Green's crew is listed as a sixth favorite to win the Stanley Cup - ahead of the Oilers, Sabres, and Wild. Maybe because they have more regulation wins (18) than any other NHL team since goalie Linus Ullmark returned to play on Jan. 31.

Best Bet: Nikolaj Ehlers Most Points In Series (12-1). Somewhat quietly, the former Jet is storming into the postseason with six points in his past four games, and 28 in 25 contests since the Olympic break. Unlike other high-profile Carolina forwards -- Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis etc. -- Ehlers played the regular season out, even once the Hurricanes had matters wrapped up. Pre-playoff grind, he clearly feels fit enough. Pitted against the Senators' more balanced scoring attack, Ehlers presents as Carolina's hottest scoring individual in the here and now. A worthy play, especially considering the number.

If the Senators win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Linus Ullmark (45-1). As good as the Sens' collective has been defensively -- third in shots-allowed since the Olympic break -- they're not playing in June if Ullmark stumbles and/or sits sidelined. Since returning from a personal absence in late January, the club's No. 1 is 14-4-3 with a 2.41 GAA.

If the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Seth Jarvis (20-1). The multipurpose forward does it all: Contributes to the scoresheet at a greater rate than any other Carolina skater not named Sebastian Aho, leads his club in short-handed and game-winning goals, and defends effectively in all situations. Renowned for his 200-foot game, Jarvis was selected to represent Canada at both the Four Nations tournament and Olympics for good reason. This is the type of skater that serves as a difference-maker when it matters most. Like now.

--Matiash

Minnesota Wild at Dallas StarsGame 1: American Airlines Center, Dallas; Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Game 1 puck line: Wild +1.5 (-245), Stars -1.5 (+200)

Series winner: Wild (+100), Stars (-120)

Series length: Four games (+650), Five Games (+265), Six Games (+200), Seven Games (+210)

Best Bet: Quinn Hughes Most Points In Series (+500). Kirill Kaprizov projects to tuck the puck in the Stars' net a handful of times, as does Matt Boldy. Top center Ryan Hartman should earn his scoring opportunities, along with supporting scoring castmates like Vladimir Tarasenko and others. Guess who's going to be involved in a lot of that scoring, at even-strength and with the extra skater? Just one of the best puck-movers in the biz.

Important development, as of Friday morning: Dealing with an illness, Hughes is considered a game-time decision for Game 1. On the upside, the elite blueliner did fly with the team to Dallas and coach John Hynes suggested he felt relatively positive about Hughes being active in the opener.

If the Wild win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Quinn Hughes (55-1). Difference-maker. Gamechanger. GM Bill Guerin didn't make the biggest transactional splash of the season in acquiring one of the league's elite defensemen just to make the playoffs. Able to dictate play and pace with the best of them -- he leads the NHL in puck possession time -- the 26-year-old projects to log approximately 30 minutes in contests that don't reach overtime.

If the Stars win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Jake Oettinger (35-1). If able to survive what portends to be a grueling set with the Wild, the Stars are next likely to earn a date with the Avalanche. Then -- if able to slay the NHL's most intimidating dragon of 2025-26 -- maybe the Oilers or Golden Knights thereafter. To run such a vicious gauntlet, Glen Gulutzan's crew will need excellent goaltending. Like they got from Oettinger in the 2024 playoffs before falling to the Oilers in the conference final.

--Matiash

Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh PenguinsGame 1: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh; Saturday, 8 p.m.

Game 1 puck line: Flyers +1.5 (-205), Penguins -1.5 (+170)

Series winner: Flyers (+140), Penguins (-170)

Series length: Four games (+550), Five Games (+265), Six Games (+205), Seven Games (+215)

Series Spread Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (+120). The hottest squad outside of Buffalo since the Olympics, the Flyers are a great story this second half of the campaign. But it's also difficult to disregard the experience Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Karlsson, Letang and other Penguins bring to the table when it's a case of loser-goes-home. Plus, goaltender Stuart Skinner knows how to win in the postseason, while Dan Vladar has all of 19 saves to his credit through two partial playoff contests, and none since 2022.

Best Bet: Porter Martone Series Total Shots 20+ (+330). This young fella certainly isn't shy about shooting on net. Since making his post-collegiate Flyers debut Mar. 31, the towering teen is averaging 3.6 shots/game through nine contests, including one uncharacteristic goose egg versus the Hurricanes. If the battle of Pennsylvania goes at least six, Martone should have little difficulty hitting that mark. Maybe even otherwise, considering he rifled off 20 in his first four NHL games.

Fun fact: scrambled, Porter Martone spells out the anagram "a pro tormenter". Which feels about right, so far.

If the Flyers win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Dan Vladar (180-1). The Flyers playoff run won't last without the club's MVP performing at his very best.

If the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Sidney Crosby (45-1). Is it possible to even picture any other skater lifting this trophy than the Penguins' captain, perennial heartbeat, points-leader, and previous two-time Conn Smythe winner (2016, 2017)? Didn't think so.

--Matiash

Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado AvalancheGame 1: Ball Arena, Denver; Sunday, 3 p.m.

Game 1 puck line: Kings +1.5 (-125), Avalanche -1.5 (+105)

Series winner: Avalanche (-380), Kings (+300)

Series length: Four games (+370), Five Games (+225), Six Games (+235), Seven Games (+275)

Series spread: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 games (−170). The Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche enter the postseason as the heaviest favorites on the board for a reason. Colorado swept the season series against L.A., outscoring them 13-5 while showcasing a level of transition speed the Kings simply couldn't track. While the Kings added veteran scoring depth, their penalty kill remains a significant liability against a Colorado power play that has feasted on them all year. Expect the Avs to leverage their special teams to wrap this up in five or six games.

If the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Cale Makar (12-1). While Nathan MacKinnon is the engine, Makar is the cheat code. If Colorado repeats their 2022 success, it will be because Makar dominated both ends of the ice, eating 25-plus minutes a night and neutralizing the opposition's top stars while providing elite offensive production.

If the Kings win the Stanley Cup, who wins the Conn Smythe? Anze Kopitar (250-1). It's the ultimate "legacy" play, and while we are high-rolling here, we might as well go all in. If the Kings manage to suffocate MacKinnon and Makar -- and then manage to keep going and win 16 total games in the playoffs -- it will be because Kopitar delivered a masterclass in two-way playoff hockey. He's already led this franchise to two Cups; a third would require him to play in a fashion deserving of a second Conn Smythe for the captain in his final season.

--Allen

Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay LightningGame 1: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa; Sunday, 5:45 p.m.

Game 1 puck line: Canadiens +1.5 (-162), Lightning -1.5 (+136)

Series winner: Canadiens (+205), Lightning (-250)

Series l