Stanley Cup Playoffs Set to Begin April 18 as Vegas Secures Pacific Division Title

The 2026 NHL playoffs begin April 18. Vegas clinches the Pacific Division to face Utah, while Colorado secures the Presidents' Trophy heading into the postseason.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 10:29 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from USA TODAY and the National Hockey League.

Postseason Schedule and Eastern Conference Lock

The National Hockey League has confirmed that the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs will officially commence on April 18, just two days after the conclusion of the 82-game regular season. All four first-round series in the Eastern Conference were finalized earlier this week, providing a clear path for the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions. The Carolina Hurricanes, having secured the Eastern Conference title with 113 points, will face the Ottawa Senators, while the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche await their confirmed opponent in the West. According to league officials, the staggered start times for the opening weekend will be released following the final slate of games on Thursday night.

Vegas Secures Pacific Division Crown

The Vegas Golden Knights finalized their postseason positioning on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. By securing at least one point in their season finale, the Golden Knights officially locked up the Pacific Division title with 95 points. This victory ensures home-ice advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs within their bracket. Vegas is now locked into a first-round series against the Utah Mammoth, who secured the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. According to team analysts, the Golden Knights' late-season surge has positioned them as the primary threat to Colorado’s dominance in the West.

Western Conference Seeding Scenarios

While much of the bracket is settled, the final night of the regular season on April 16 will determine the remaining seeds in the Pacific Division and the final wild card placement. The Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings are all in action, with only one point separating the second and third seeds in the Pacific. Edmonton currently holds the advantage for the second seed, which would grant them home-ice advantage in a projected first-round series against Anaheim. The Los Angeles Kings remain in the second wild card position, currently slated to face the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche, though final results could still shift these placements based on tiebreaker outcomes.