How the playoffs work

Seeds 1–8 — Playoffs

The top eight in each conference reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs — four best-of-seven rounds to the Cup. (Officially: three per division plus two wild cards.)

Seeds 9–16 — Out

Below the cut line — the season ends, with eyes turning to the draft lottery.

Next up

The next NHL season drops the puck September 15, 2026 — this race goes live again then.

NHL 2025-26

Final Standings

Complete · …

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0 games · NHL

No games today — check the standings and bracket for what’s next.

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Stanley Cup 2025-26 · Champions

CAR

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2025-26.

The Latest

ChampionsThe Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2025-26.

Top of the leagueHurricanes topped the East with 113 points; Avalanche led the West with 121 points.

Next seasonThe next NHL season drops the puck September 15, 2026 — this race goes live again then.

The bracket

Full Stanley Cup bracket — First Round to the Final

View →

Eastern Conference

Diff · Pts

1CARHurricanes53–22–7 · 82 GP · clinched+56113

2BUFSabres50–23–9 · 82 GP · clinched+47109

3TBLightning50–26–6 · 82 GP · clinched+59106

4MTLCanadiens48–24–10 · 82 GP · clinched+27106

5BOSBruins45–27–10 · 82 GP · clinched+22100

6OTTSenators44–27–11 · 82 GP · clinched+3299

7PITPenguins41–25–16 · 82 GP · clinched+2598

8PHIFlyers43–27–12 · 82 GP · clinched+798

Outmissed the cut

9WSHCapitals43–30–9 · 82 GP+1995

10DETRed Wings41–31–10 · 82 GP-1792

11CBJBlue Jackets40–30–12 · 82 GP092

12NYIIslanders43–34–5 · 82 GP-891

13NJDevils42–37–3 · 82 GP-2487

14FLAPanthers40–38–4 · 82 GP-2584

15TORMaple Leafs32–36–14 · 82 GP-4678

16NYRRangers34–39–9 · 82 GP-1277

Western Conference

Diff · Pts

1COLAvalanche55–16–11 · 82 GP+99121

2DALStars50–20–12 · 82 GP · clinched+53112

3MINWild46–24–12 · 82 GP · clinched+32104

4VGKGolden Knights39–26–17 · 82 GP · clinched+1595

5EDMOilers41–30–11 · 82 GP · clinched+1393

6UTAMammoth43–33–6 · 82 GP · clinched+2892

7ANADucks43–33–6 · 82 GP · clinched-1592

8LAKings35–27–20 · 82 GP · clinched-2290

Outmissed the cut

9STLBlues37–33–12 · 82 GP-2786

10NSHPredators38–34–10 · 82 GP-2286

11SJSharks39–35–8 · 82 GP-4186

12WPGJets35–35–12 · 82 GP-2982

13SEAKraken34–37–11 · 82 GP-3779

14CGYFlames34–39–9 · 82 GP-4777

15CHIBlackhawks29–39–14 · 82 GP-6272

16VANCanucks25–49–8 · 82 GP-10058

How the playoffs work

Seeds 1–8 — Playoffs

The top eight in each conference reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs — four best-of-seven rounds to the Cup. (Officially: three per division plus two wild cards.)

Seeds 9–16 — Out

Below the cut line — the season ends, with eyes turning to the draft lottery.

Next up

The next NHL season drops the puck September 15, 2026 — this race goes live again then.