The 2025-2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing as the second round of the postseason just concluded. The first round already passed with eight teams getting eliminated: the Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, Utah Mammoths, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The second round was surrounded with intense, well-played matchups: the Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights, Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers.
The Hurricanes vs. The Flyers series was much less competitive than people expected, with Carolina dominating the entire series and sweeping the Flyers four games to none.
The Vegas Golden Knights, led by winger Mitch Marner, used their experience and strength to eliminate a less experienced and younger Anaheim Ducks team, taking the series four games to two. The Avalanche continued their dominant run in the playoffs fighting off Quinn Hughes’ team the Minnesota Wild four games to one.
The Sabres vs. Canadiens series delivered beyond expectations, going all the way to the maximum seven games, which was ultimately won by Canadiens’ forward Alex Newhook in overtime.
Jordan Guzman, a senior in QUEST, states, “My favorite team is the Anaheim Ducks. Unfortunately, they lost in Round 2, but they put up a fight against the Golden Knights.”
In regards to the Avalanche vs. Golden Knights series, Guzman says, “The Avalanche have shut down the Wild and the Kings, including stars Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, and Adrian Kempe. The Avalanche should be able to contain Mitch Marner. Also, I’m a little biased because I’m hoping the Golden Knights fall short to the Avalanche because they knocked out the Ducks.”
The Western Conference Finals started on May 20 and ended on May 26, where the Golden Knights completely shocked both the Avalanche, the NHL’s best team in the regular season, and the NHL as a whole. The Golden Knights completed a sweep of the Avalanche, the 2026 NHL President’s Trophy winners (an award given to the team with the best season record) and have returned to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2023, which they won that season.
The Eastern Conference Finals began on May 21 between Montreal and Carolina. After the Canadiens surprised and dominated the Hurricanes in game one, Carolina took the next three games, leading the series three games to one and are one win away from making it to the Stanley Cup Final. Game five of the East Final is on May 29.
