2026 Division Finals Preview

So we are now fully in Round 2 mode--two days after it started. An occurence like this hasn't happened (Round 2 beginning before Round 1 ending) since the 2021 playoffs, and I remember why that was. The North Division finished their regular season late because the Vancouver Canucks were hit with COVID. So the North still had postponed regular seasons to play while the East, Central, and West Divisions were in Round 1. The first second round game--Game One of the East Division Final between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders--started on the same day as the memorable Game Six of the North Division Semifinals between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montréal Canadiens.

This year, the second round (Division Finals) began a day before the final first round game took place and completed the Elite Eight field. Two Division Final series have already started, but now is a good time to discuss and preview these series:

Atlantic Division Final

For the first time since 2007, the Buffalo Sabres are among the NHL's Elite Eight. Think about how long ago that was. The Atlanta Thrashers reached the playoffs for the very first time (and the only time as the Thrashers). The Carolina Hurricanes were the defending champions (and missed the playoffs). The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim removed "Mighty" from their name (and won the Stanley Cup that same year). This year, the Sabres ousted the Boston Bruins in a six-game Atlantic Division Semifinal series, and they were led by Alex Tuch (4G/3A) and Tage Thompson (2G/5A), who each have seven points. In net, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, was their starter, only for Alex Lyon to take over in the third period of Game Two, and never look back. Lyon's numbers in four starts: 3-1, .955 SV%, 1.14 GAA.

Their opponents, the Montréal Canadiens, looked to prove that last year's playoff appearance was no fluke, and they are succeeding so far. The Habs survived a thrilling seven-game Atlantic Division Semifinal against the Tampa Bay Lightning; a series where all of the games were one-goal games, and four of the seven games went to OT. Regarding the leaders on offense, Lane Hutson (2G/4A) and Nick Suzuki (G/5A) each have six points, with Suzuki's lone goal coming in Game Seven. Cole Caufield, who finished second in goals behind Nathan MacKinnon, has only four points, and just one went in the net. Juraj Slavkovsky leads the Habs with three goals, but they all came in Game One and he hasn't had a point since then. Jakub Dobes has been amazing in net; a 4-3 record with a GAA barely over 2.00.

The Nordiques fan in me loves this because it's another classic Adams Division rivalry. The Avs fan in me loves this because it's a battle between 2022 champions Bowen Byram (Sabres) and Alex Newhook (Canadiens--scored the series clincher in Game Seven). This is the eighth meeting between the clubs, and the first since 1998. Montréal won five of the previous seven meetings, but the last one in 1998 was won by Buffalo.

Metropolitan Division Final

This series got underway on Saturday, kicking off the second round. Game One of that series marked the Carolina Hurricanes' first action in a week, as they swept their Metropolitan Division Semifinal series over the hapless Ottawa Senators. It was a true team effort, but the two true leaders in this thing so far are Logan Stankoven and Frederik Andersen. I had no idea who Stankoven even was before that trade. Yes, I knew he was with Dallas, but that's all I knew. He was overshadowed. Now? He's basically the star. He had four goals in Round 1. If you add Game One of this series, he has six! Regarding Frederik Andersen, he entered this series with a 1.10 GAA. It's now under 1.00 (0.90) thanks to the Game One shutout--his second of the playoffs.

The Philadelphia Flyers weren't exactly expected to be part of the Sweet 16, let alone the Elite Eight, but here they are, having defeated their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Battle of PA. This was a true team effort for sure. Cam York only has two points, but one of them was the OT series clinching goal in Game Six. Porter Martone, Philly's young game stealer, has three points, two of them are goals, and both were game winners. The points leader for Philly right now is Rasmus Ristolainen, who is finally getting his first taste of playoffs. Risto has five points (G/4A). In net, Dan Vladar has a pair of shutouts from Round 1, one of them being the OT shutout in Game Six.

This is the first time that these two teams are meeting in the playoffs. The Hurricanes are looking to reach the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth time during this run, and for the third time in the last four years. As for the Flyers, they are looking to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2010.

Central Division Final

This series started on Sunday, and because the goaltending decided to take an extra day off, I really have to include updated stats in this one. Similar to the Hurricanes, the Colorado Avalanche were also off for a week after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the Central Division Semifinals. That was a series that really didn't see our offense-laden flex, but we would show it in Game One in spades! A number of our players ended the first round tied with four points. Now? Six players have at least five points each. Cale Makar is one of them, and four of his five points went in the net. Nathan MacKinnon (3G/4A) and Devon Toews (2G/5A) are the points leaders with seven each. Martin Necas also has five points, but is still looking for his first goal. Scott Wedgewood is still unbeaten, but Sunday's outing increased his GAA to 2.15, which is still low!

As for the Minnesota Wild, they defeated the Dallas Stars in a six game Central Division Semifinal series, their first playoff series win since 2015. Including Sunday, the stats show three Wild players with at least 10 points. The leader: Quinn Hughes with 11 points (3G/8A). Matt Boldy (6G/4A) and Kirill Kaprizov (2G/8A) also have 10 each, but a funny thing. In Game One against the Avs, 14 different players had a goal. You know who didn't? Kirill the Thrill. In net, the Wild have Jesper Wallstedt, who has been good as always, but he was clobbered in Game One. His GAA is now up to 2.81 thanks to giving up eight goals, and chances are, Filip Gustavsson might takeover in net.

This is the fourth meeting between those teams, and here's the thing. We were going to face a team we have bad history against anyway--especially bad Game Seven history. You would think we would have worse history against Dallas. We don't. We've lost a lot of Game Sevens to Dallas. However, against Minnesota, while we only lost two Game Sevens to the Wild, we lost them both in OT... at home. Yeah. Our history against the Wild is worse, but this Avs team is good enough and strong enough to exorcise that demon this year.

Pacific Division Final

The Pacific Division has been interesting this year, and in spite of, well, themselves, the Vegas Golden Knights not only finished first in the division, they defeated the Utah Mammoth in a six game Pacific Division Semifinal series. This was despite having third period deficits in the first five games. Jack Eichel has been leading with nine points (G/8A), but you know who else has been leading the way? None other than Mitch Marner. Seven points, and a lot of them were vital. He assisted on both shorties they scored, including the one in OT in Game Five, and he had two goals in Game Six--one of them being the series clincher. But remember, ungrateful Leafs fans say that Marner doesn't show up in the playoffs. He had 13 points in 13 playoff games for Toronto last year, but that's "not showing up." Leafs fans owe that man an apology.

Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks continue to ride high during their best season in eight years. An eight year playoff drought ended, and a nine year playoff series victory drought ended as well. The Ducks eliminated the Edmonton Oilers in a six game Pacific Division Semifinal series, and they really poured it on! Granted, it's kinda easy to pour it on against Edmonton, but it's still amazing. Two Ducks had four goals each: Ryan Poehling (including his OT goal), and Cutter Gauthier. Jackson LaCombe led the way with nine points (G/8A), while Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson have eight points each (both 3G/5A).

This is the first meeting between these clubs. The Ducks are looking to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2017--a year before the Golden Knights even existed. As for the Golden Knights, they're looking for their fifth Final Four appearance in their nine seasons of play.

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The Division Finals locked in, after it started, too! ESPN and TNT will have the second round fully covered here in the States, as the RSNs are finished for the season. Of course, Sportsnet will have the games in Canada. This will be an amazing Elite Eight this year, especially if the first two games are any indication!