The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, and the bracket already shows how tight the race is in both conferences. In the West, the Colorado Avalanche have already moved past the Los Angeles Kings, while the Dallas Stars are battling the Minnesota Wild, the Vegas Golden Knights are meeting the Mammoth, and the Edmonton Oilers are facing the Anaheim Ducks. In the East, the Boston Bruins are trying to hold off the Buffalo Sabres, the Tampa Bay Lightning are locked with the Montreal Canadiens, the Carolina Hurricanes have already finished the Ottawa Senators, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are in a close fight with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Florida Panthers added another chapter in June 2025 when they beat the Edmonton Oilers in six games to win their second Stanley Cup title. Now the focus shifts back to the teams in the 2026 field, from the Cup-heavy Canadiens and Bruins to clubs still searching for their first title. Colorado and Carolina have already advanced from their opening series, while Los Angeles and Ottawa are out. That leaves a mix of proven winners, former champions, and teams still trying to break through. Here is a look at every playoff team in the bracket and the last time each one won the Stanley Cup.
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Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche- last Cup: 2022
The Avalanche swept the Kings in the image, and they remain one of the league’s most successful modern teams. Colorado has won the Stanley Cup 3 times, with names like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar tied to that run.
Los Angeles Kings- last Cup: 2014
The Kings are already eliminated after the sweep by Colorado. Los Angeles has won the Stanley Cup 2 times, and its best-known stars include Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Jonathan Quick.
Dallas Stars- last Cup: 1999
Dallas is still in the fight against Minnesota. The Stars have won 1 Stanley Cup, and their history includes Mike Modano, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Roope Hintz.
Minnesota Wild- last Cup: none
The Wild are still chasing their first Stanley Cup title. Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Marc-Andre Fleury have been key names for Minnesota, but the franchise is still looking for a breakthrough.
Vegas Golden Knights- last Cup: 2023
Vegas is back in the bracket after winning its first title in 2023. The Golden Knights have 1 Stanley Cup, with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, and Adin Hill central to that success.
Utah Mammoth- last Cup: none
The Mammoth have never won the Stanley Cup. As shown in the bracket, they are still trying to build their own playoff history and chase a first championship.
Edmonton Oilers- last Cup: 1990
Edmonton is one of the biggest names in NHL history, and its rivalry with Anaheim is still live in the bracket. The Oilers have won the Stanley Cup 5 times, led across eras by Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl.
Anaheim Ducks- last Cup: 2007
Anaheim leads Edmonton in the series shown on the image. The Ducks have won the Stanley Cup 1 time, with Teemu Selanne, Corey Perry, and Ryan Getzlaf among their most recognizable players.
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins- last Cup: 2011
Boston is in a tight series with Buffalo. The Bruins have won the Stanley Cup 6 times, and their history is built around players like Bobby Orr, Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, and David Pastrnak.
Buffalo Sabres- last Cup: none
Buffalo is still chasing its first Stanley Cup. Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Ryan Miller have been major names for the Sabres, but the title has never come.
Tampa Bay Lightning- last Cup: 2021
Tampa Bay is tied with Montreal in the bracket. The Lightning have won the Stanley Cup 3 times, with Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Andrei Vasilevskiy leading the way.
Montreal Canadiens- last Cup: 1993
Montreal is the most decorated team in the information provided, with 23 Stanley Cup titles. Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price are among the names most often tied to the Canadiens’ long history.
Carolina Hurricanes- last Cup: 2006
Carolina has already advanced after sweeping Ottawa. The Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup 1 time, and their title run is still remembered through Rod Brind’Amour, Eric Staal, and Cam Ward.
Ottawa Senators- last Cup: none
Ottawa is out after the sweep by Carolina. The modern Senators have not won the Stanley Cup, even though players like Daniel Alfredsson, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stützle, and Erik Karlsson have shaped the franchise.
Pittsburgh Penguins- last Cup: 2017
Pittsburgh is still battling Philadelphia in the series shown. The Penguins have won the Stanley Cup 5 times, with Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang defining their success.
Philadelphia Flyers- last Cup: 1975
Philadelphia is still in the bracket, but it trails Pittsburgh. The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup 2 times, and their most famous names include Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Claude Giroux, and John LeClair.
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Conlusion
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to blend history with opportunity. Established winners and title-hungry teams remain in contention, keeping every series competitive. With past champions and first-time hopefuls still alive, the race for the Stanley Cup stays open, making this postseason one to watch closely for fans and analysts alike.
