Second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs

The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs has delivered drama, upsets, and dominant performances across both conferences. As of May 13, two series have wrapped up with the Carolina Hurricanes sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0, the Colorado Avalanche edging the Minnesota Wild 4-1, and the Vegas Golden Knights outlasting the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. The lone remaining matchup pits the Montreal Canadiens against the Buffalo Sabres, where Montreal holds a 3-2 edge heading into Game 6 on Saturday.[1]

Fans are buzzing about the resilience shown by underdogs like the third seeds, who pushed top teams to the brink in several cases. With the Eastern Conference final and Western Conference final on the horizon, momentum could prove decisive. For a recap of how these teams advanced, check the first-round results.[1]

Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres

The Atlantic Division clash has been a rollercoaster, with the Canadiens seizing a 3-2 series lead after a convincing 6-3 victory in Game 5 on May 14. Buffalo struck first through Jason Zucker early, but Montreal responded with goals from Cole Caufield, Alexandre Texier, Josh Anderson, Jake Evans, Nick Suzuki, and Ivan Demidov to pull away.[2]

Here’s the series breakdown:

• Game 1: Buffalo 4, Montreal 2
• Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1
• Game 3: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2
• Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2
• Game 5: Montreal 6, Buffalo 3
• Game 6: Buffalo at Montreal, 8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 16
• Game 7*: Montreal at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET, Monday, May 18 (if necessary)[1]

Suzuki shone brightest with a goal and two assists, while Juraj Slafkovsky dished three helpers and Demidov notched his first playoff goal on the power play. Goaltender Dobes stood tall despite Buffalo’s 36 shots, underscoring Montreal’s depth. The Sabres, who dominated early in Game 5, now face elimination on the road.[2]

This series echoes past playoff thrillers, like Montreal’s 2021 run, where home-ice grit turned tides. Buffalo’s power play faltered at 0-for-2 in Game 5, a stark contrast to their regular-season form. Coach Martin St. Louis praised his team’s faceoff wins (55.9%) post-game, hinting at tactical edges for Game 6.

Game 6 at Bell Centre could be electric, with Montreal’s fans fueling a closeout. A Sabres win forces a decisive Game 7, testing Buffalo’s resilience after dropping three of five. Whichever team advances will carry momentum into a matchup with Carolina.

Philadelphia Flyers vs Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes delivered a clinical 4-0 sweep, capping it with a 3-2 overtime thriller in Game 4 on May 9. Jackson Blake’s wrist shot at 5:31 of OT, off a Taylor Hall pass, sealed the series after Philadelphia tied it late via Alex Bump.[3]

Full series results:

• Game 1: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 0
• Game 2: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2
• Game 3: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 1
• Game 4: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)[1]

Blake’s two goals highlighted Carolina’s opportunism, with Hall earning three assists and Frederik Andersen stopping 37 shots. Flyers captain Sean Couturier noted, “It was tighter than a 4-0 series. If we get a couple bounces our way… we maybe pull out a win or two.”[3]

Coach Rod Brind’Amour lauded his squad’s collective effort: “Everybody is doing it. It’s how we have to get it done.” This marks Carolina’s second straight sweep, building on their Metropolitan Division dominance. Philadelphia’s youth showed promise but couldn’t overcome Carolina’s forecheck.

The Hurricanes now await the Buffalo-Montreal winner, positioned as East favorites with their balanced attack. For Philly, the sweep stings but offers lessons in finishing chances— they hit posts repeatedly. Expect Brind’Amour’s crew to carry this poise forward.

Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche

Colorado overcame a wild 15-goal Game 1 to claim a 4-1 series win, clinching with a 4-3 OT victory in Game 5 on May 13. Brett Kulak’s overtime tally erased a 3-0 deficit, showcasing the Avs’ comeback pedigree.[4]

Series scores:

• Game 1: Colorado 9, Minnesota 6
• Game 2: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2
• Game 3: Minnesota 5, Colorado 1
• Game 4: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2
• Game 5: Colorado 4, Minnesota 3 (OT)[1]

The Central Division battle featured offensive fireworks, with Game 1’s 15 goals rivaling historic outbursts. Minnesota stole Game 3 at home, but Colorado’s depth prevailed. Kulak’s heroics mirrored Nathan MacKinnon’s regular-season leadership.

This advances Colorado to the Western Final for the third straight year, hungry for a Cup run. The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov dazzled but couldn’t extend the series. Analytics highlight Colorado’s edge in high-danger chances.

Anaheim Ducks vs Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas grinded out a 4-2 series victory, dominating Game 6 with a 5-1 win where Mitch Marner dazzled with a between-the-legs goal. The Golden Knights closed strong after splitting the first four games.[1]

Game log:

• Game 1: Vegas 3, Anaheim 1
• Game 2: Anaheim 3, Vegas 1
• Game 3: Vegas 6, Anaheim 2
• Game 4: Anaheim 4, Vegas 3
• Game 5: Vegas 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)
• Game 6: Vegas 5, Anaheim 1[1]

Anaheim’s resilience forced OT in Game 5, but Vegas’ experience shone in the clincher. Marner’s flair evoked Vegas’ 2023 Cup magic. The Ducks, a young Pacific squad, gained valuable playoff reps.

Vegas now eyes a Western Final rematch with Colorado, promising neutral-zone battles. For Anaheim, Leo Carlsson’s emergence signals future contention.

Two elite series await: Carolina versus the East survivor and Colorado-Vegas out West. The NHL’s deepest playoff run yet hinges on execution, with champions forged in these fires. Stay tuned for conference final schedules on NHL.com.[1]