We are officially onto the second-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens were the final team to clinch their spot in the next round, dispatching the Tampa Bay Lightning in a wildly entertaining Game 7 on Sunday. That sets up an Atlantic Division clash with the Buffalo Sabres, joining six other teams as they continue their quest for Lord Stanley’s Mug.
We’re previewing each series, looking at the betting odds and analytics to see which teams have the best chance of advancing to the Conference Finals.
Western Conference
(C3) Minnesota Wild vs (C1) Colorado Avalanche
Series Winner: Wild +340 | Avalanche -450
Stanley Cup Odds: Wild +1400 | Avalanche +195
The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild got down to business on Sunday, with the Presidents Trophy winners taking a high-octane series opener. Therein lies Colorado’s advantage, and it looks to assert its offensive dominance over its Central Division rivals.
The Avs’ offensive firepower was on full display in their 9-6 win in Game 1. That’s the standard they set throughout the 2025-26 campaign, and Minnesota’s defense-first structure did nothing to limit Colorado’s attack. The Avalanche put up 32 scoring and 16 high-danger chances on Sunday night, marking the third time in four games that they have reached double-digit quality chances.
Defensive regression was inevitable after the Wild’s stout first-round performance. They held the Stars to just four goals at five-on-five, precipitating an unsustainable 97.0% save percentage. Assuredly, that mark will tick down against the Avs; however, it won’t be as bad as the 82.1% save percentage we saw in Game 1.
The Avalanche are Stanley Cup co-favorites for a reason. Expect more on-ice dominance against the Wild, as they inevitably punch their way into the next round.
Predictions: Avalanche in 5
(P3) Anaheim Ducks vs (P1) Vegas Golden Knights
Series Winner: Ducks +164 | Golden Knights -200
Stanley Cup: Ducks +2000 | Golden Knights +700
The Anaheim Ducks pulled off one of the more prominent opening-round upsets, dethroning the two-time defending Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers. Next up, they’ll be looking to skate past the Vegas Golden Knights in Round 2.
Low-key, Anaheim was one of the best analytics teams in the first round. The Ducks enter their second-round matchup versus the Knights with the third-best expected goals-for rating and one of the best defensive profiles. They held the Oilers to just 17.2 scoring and 6.3 high-danger chances per game, stats they’ll be hoping to replicate against Vegas.
The Golden Knights stood on business against the Mammoth, but they did show some cracks in their metrics. The Pacific Division winners gave up 10 or more high-danger chances in three straight to close out the series. Moreover, goaltending was a bit of a concern from start to finish, with Carter Hart posting a 86.8% save percentage at five-on-five.
The Ducks are primed for another upset in Round 2. They can get production out of all four lines, and we don’t trust Carter Hart to be the difference. Their magical run extends to the Conference Finals.
Predictions: Ducks in 6
Eastern Conference
(M3) Philadelphia Flyers vs (M1) Carolina Hurricanes
Series Winner: Flyers +570 | Hurricanes -850
Stanley Cup: Flyers +3000 | Hurricanes +195
The Philadelphia Flyers may have been able to get past the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1, but they face an entirely new challenge in trying to escape their second-round clash versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Backed by a resurgent Frederik Andersen, the Canes are a wagon that can’t be stopped.
The Hurricanes have not trailed at any point in the 2025-26 playoffs. Only the Avs have a better expected goals-for rating, but Carolina has several more distinguished metrics. Specifically, they have held opponents to just three goals at five-on-five, and have given up just 13 high-danger chances over their last two games.
Analytically, Philadelphia is in a much worse position. The Flyers bested the Pens despite being outplayed in all but two of those contests. Worse, they put up a 38.8% eGF rating in Game 1, underscoring the massive gap between these two teams.
This is nothing more than a formality. The Canes are the better team in every facet of the game, and we’re just getting a taste of how easy this will be for them.
Predictions: Hurricanes in 4
(A3) Montreal Canadiens vs (A1) Buffalo Sabres
Series Winner: Canadiens -113 | Sabres -106
Stanley Cup: Canadiens +1000 | Sabres +1100
No one could have predicted this would be the Atlantic Division matchup. The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens both wildly exceeded expectations, ensuring one of these two beleaguered franchises will be skating in the Eastern Conference Final. Our money will be on the Habs.
Thanks in large part to Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens were able to weather the Lightning’s storm. Montreal held the heavily-favored Bolts to one or fewer goals at five-on-five in six of their seven opening-round games. More importantly, Montreal gave up a combined 29 high-danger chances in six of those seven contests, using their opportunistic offense to turn-and-go when needed. That defensive structure and scoring depth will be an issue for Buffalo.
The Sabres weren’t as dominant as their 4-2 series win implies. At various points in the series, Buffalo was at a significant disadvantage. In Game 1, they found themselves in a 3-0 hole before digging themselves out. They struggled to consistently produce and were prone to several defensive miscues. The Atlantic Division winners may have been able to offset those shortcomings against the wild card Bruins, but they can’t play the same game and expect to beat the Canadiens.
Even without home-ice advantage, the Habs are favored in this one. We’re hopping on that bandwagon, expecting Montreal to represent the Atlantic Division in the next round.
Predictions: Canadiens in 7
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