NHL · Hockey

OLC Bracketology

Stanley Cup Playoff Field (16 Teams) Updated Oct 10, 2026, 2:48 AM PT

NHL Predicted Bracketology

Seeded off the projected final regular-season standings (rest-of-season games predicted); every series uses today’s Composite Ratings.

Playoff Field

Eastern Conference Field

Seed	Team	Points	OLC Rating
ATL 1	Tampa Bay Lightning	139.6	57.81
ATL 2	Florida Panthers	134.65	54.70
ATL 3	Montreal Canadiens	121.75	53.35
MET 1	Carolina Hurricanes	140.25	58.08
MET 2	Washington Capitals	139.6	56.95
MET 3	Pittsburgh Penguins	88.75	49.32
WC1	Buffalo Sabres	119.45	53.26
WC2	Ottawa Senators	116.5	52.67

ATL 1

Tampa Bay Lightning57.81

Points 139.6

ATL 2

Florida Panthers54.70

Points 134.65

ATL 3

Montreal Canadiens53.35

Points 121.75

MET 1

Carolina Hurricanes58.08

Points 140.25

MET 2

Washington Capitals56.95

Points 139.6

MET 3

Pittsburgh Penguins49.32

Points 88.75

WC1

Buffalo Sabres53.26

Points 119.45

WC2

Ottawa Senators52.67

Points 116.5

Western Conference Field

Seed	Team	Points	OLC Rating
CEN 1	Colorado Avalanche	151.15	60.35
CEN 2	Minnesota Wild	135.3	56.15
CEN 3	Dallas Stars	131	55.96
PAC 1	Vegas Golden Knights	137.95	56.49
PAC 2	Edmonton Oilers	135.65	55.46
PAC 3	Anaheim Ducks	126.4	53.85
WC1	Utah Mammoth	126.05	54.02
WC2	San Jose Sharks	104.95	51.18

CEN 1

Colorado Avalanche60.35

Points 151.15

CEN 2

Minnesota Wild56.15

Points 135.3

CEN 3

Dallas Stars55.96

Points 131

PAC 1

Vegas Golden Knights56.49

Points 137.95

PAC 2

Edmonton Oilers55.46

Points 135.65

PAC 3

Anaheim Ducks53.85

Points 126.4

WC1

Utah Mammoth54.02

Points 126.05

WC2

San Jose Sharks51.18

Points 104.95

First Round — Eastern Conference

Best-of-7 Series · Higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 & 7

Eastern Series A -- Better Division Leader vs. Weaker Wild Card

MET 1

Carolina HurricanesOLC 58.08

WC2

Ottawa SenatorsOLC 52.67

Home Ice: Carolina Hurricanes

Games at Carolina Hurricanes

39%

61%

Likely

Games at Ottawa Senators

50%

Toss-Up

Projected Series ResultCarolina Hurricanes wins 4-0 sweep

Eastern Series B -- Other Division Leader vs. Stronger Wild Card

ATL 1

Tampa Bay LightningOLC 57.81

WC1

Buffalo SabresOLC 53.26

Home Ice: Tampa Bay Lightning

Games at Tampa Bay Lightning

40%

60%

Lean

Games at Buffalo Sabres

50%

Toss-Up

Projected Series ResultTampa Bay Lightning wins 4-3, 7 games

Eastern Series C -- Atlantic #2 vs. #3

ATL 2

Florida PanthersOLC 54.70

ATL 3

Montreal CanadiensOLC 53.35

Home Ice: Florida Panthers

Games at Florida Panthers

43%

57%

Lean

Games at Montreal Canadiens

46%

54%

Lean

Projected Series ResultFlorida Panthers wins 4-3, 7 games

Eastern Series D -- Metropolitan #2 vs. #3

MET 2

Washington CapitalsOLC 56.95

MET 3

Pittsburgh PenguinsOLC 49.32

Home Ice: Washington Capitals

Games at Washington Capitals

37%

63%

Likely

Games at Pittsburgh Penguins

53%

47%

Lean

Projected Series ResultWashington Capitals wins 4-0 sweep

First Round — Western Conference

Best-of-7 Series · Higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5 & 7

Western Series A -- Better Division Leader vs. Weaker Wild Card

CEN 1

Colorado AvalancheOLC 60.35

WC2

San Jose SharksOLC 51.18

Home Ice: Colorado Avalanche

Games at Colorado Avalanche

36%

64%

Likely

Games at San Jose Sharks

54%

46%

Lean

Projected Series ResultColorado Avalanche wins 4-0 sweep

Western Series B -- Other Division Leader vs. Stronger Wild Card

PAC 1

Vegas Golden KnightsOLC 56.49

WC1

Utah MammothOLC 54.02

Home Ice: Vegas Golden Knights

Games at Vegas Golden Knights

42%

58%

Lean

Games at Utah Mammoth

47%

53%

Lean

Projected Series ResultVegas Golden Knights wins 4-3, 7 games

Western Series C -- Central #2 vs. #3

CEN 2

Minnesota WildOLC 56.15

CEN 3

Dallas StarsOLC 55.96

Home Ice: Minnesota Wild

Games at Minnesota Wild

45%

55%

Lean

Games at Dallas Stars

45%

55%

Lean

Projected Series ResultMinnesota Wild wins 4-3, 7 games

Western Series D -- Pacific #2 vs. #3

PAC 2

Edmonton OilersOLC 55.46

PAC 3

Anaheim DucksOLC 53.85

Home Ice: Edmonton Oilers

Games at Edmonton Oilers

43%

57%

Lean

Games at Anaheim Ducks

46%

54%

Lean

Projected Series ResultEdmonton Oilers wins 4-3, 7 games

Second Round — Eastern Conference

Projected Series · Division bracket paths do not reseed

Eastern Division Final -- Better Leader's Bracket Half

MET 1

Carolina HurricanesOLC 58.08

MET 2

Washington CapitalsOLC 56.95

Home Ice: Carolina Hurricanes

Games at Carolina Hurricanes

44%

56%

Lean

Games at Washington Capitals

46%

54%

Lean

Projected Series ResultCarolina Hurricanes wins 4-3, 7 games

Eastern Division Final -- Other Leader's Bracket Half

ATL 1

Tampa Bay LightningOLC 57.81

ATL 2

Florida PanthersOLC 54.70

Home Ice: Tampa Bay Lightning

Games at Tampa Bay Lightning

42%

58%

Lean

Games at Florida Panthers

48%

52%

Toss-Up

Projected Series ResultTampa Bay Lightning wins 4-3, 7 games

Second Round — Western Conference

Projected Series · Division bracket paths do not reseed

Western Division Final -- Better Leader's Bracket Half

CEN 1

Colorado AvalancheOLC 60.35

CEN 2

Minnesota WildOLC 56.15

Home Ice: Colorado Avalanche

Games at Colorado Avalanche

40%

60%

Lean

Games at Minnesota Wild

49%

51%

Toss-Up

Projected Series ResultColorado Avalanche wins 4-3, 7 games

Western Division Final -- Other Leader's Bracket Half

PAC 1

Vegas Golden KnightsOLC 56.49

PAC 2

Edmonton OilersOLC 55.46

Home Ice: Vegas Golden Knights

Games at Vegas Golden Knights

44%

56%

Lean

Games at Edmonton Oilers

46%

54%

Lean

Projected Series ResultVegas Golden Knights wins 4-3, 7 games

Eastern Conference Final

MET 1

Carolina HurricanesOLC 58.08

ATL 1

Tampa Bay LightningOLC 57.81

Home Ice: Carolina Hurricanes

Games at Carolina Hurricanes

45%

55%

Lean

Games at Tampa Bay Lightning

45%

55%

Lean

Projected Series ResultCarolina Hurricanes wins 4-3, 7 games

Western Conference Final

CEN 1

Colorado AvalancheOLC 60.35

PAC 1

Vegas Golden KnightsOLC 56.49

Home Ice: Colorado Avalanche

Games at Colorado Avalanche

41%

59%

Lean

Games at Vegas Golden Knights

49%

51%

Toss-Up

Projected Series ResultColorado Avalanche wins 4-3, 7 games

Stanley Cup Final — Projected

Stanley Cup Final

MET 1

Carolina HurricanesOLC 58.08

CEN 1

Colorado AvalancheOLC 60.35

Home Ice: Colorado Avalanche

Games at Colorado Avalanche

42%

58%

Lean

Games at Carolina Hurricanes

47%

53%

Lean

Projected Series ResultColorado Avalanche wins 4-3, 7 games

OLC Projected Stanley Cup Champion

Colorado Avalanche

How OLC NHL Playoff Projections Work. OLC projects the remaining regular season to build the 16-team field (top 3 in each division, plus two wild-card teams per conference), determines home ice for every series, calculates a separate win probability for games at each team’s own rink, and applies the NHL’s 2-2-1-1-1 best-of-seven format to project each series’ winner and length. Projected winners advance through the fixed division bracket path — Round 2 does not reseed — until the Eastern and Western champions meet in the Stanley Cup Final.