NHL PLAYOFFS 2026

[xXx..CK..xXx]

I might be jumping the gun a little with this thread but the playoffs should be starting within a week and as I was looking at the standings last night, I thought to myself that I sure miss the old playoff format.

 

Things changed a little bit over night but we went from facing Boston to Pittsburgh with the old format. As it stands, we will be facing Tampa. If Buffalo manages to get a single point over their final two games, our matchup with Tampa Bay will become official. It’s just a matter of who will start with home ice advantage.

 

A few weeks ago, when the standings were once again different than they are now, I did a mock bracket that had Minnesota facing Tampa in the final, so clearly I think highly of their chances. With that being said, the Habs have a great team this year and if anyone can give them a run for their money, it’s these Habs. I think a key to the series will be whether or not our goaltending can compete with Vasilevskiy. If we can come close to keeping up in that category, we have a great chance. 
 

It should be interesting and if they were to get out of that series, the sky is the limit with this team. 

 

 

Anyway, feel free to use this thread for anything playoff related. What an exciting time of year! 
 

The only series’ that are so far official are Dallas vs Minnesota as well as Philly vs Pittsburgh.

 

Two very interesting series’ of their own. While I don’t love the format, I can’t argue against the fact that the first round does have some intriguing matchups. 
 

 

Go Habs Go!

 

 

 

As I’m writing this, it looks as though Tampa vs Montreal is the third official series. Buffalo is leading 4-1 against Chicago and about to clinch the division. Let’s go Habs. We got this. 
 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

[DON]

Sure wish the PEI d-man was playing, without him the d is pretty thin.

I guess Carrier might be back?

Will the Habs be able to limit the damage Kucherov does?

 

Canadiens will play Lightning in Eastern Conference 1st Round | NHL.com

 

The Lightning have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons, though they haven't won a series since losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final in 2022.

 

 

The Canadiens went 2-1-1 against the Lightning this season, including winning the last two. Juraj Slafkovsky led the team with seven points (four goals, three assists) in those four games,...

[Commandant]

The biggest thing for me about this series is that we need to find a way to limit the damage Kucherov can do.  We need a real plan for how to defend him. 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

 

Looking at the graphic, playoffs are a different animal but it looks as though we can keep up with Tampa offensively in general. Although it’s a team defense stat, the goals against shows the Vasilevskiy effect in my opinion. 
 

With that being said, our goaltending has gotten better as of late but I still see that category as being a differentiator. We did beat Tampa 2-1 & 4-1 recently, although 2 of the goals in the 4-1 victory were without Vasilevskiy in net. 
 

In order to win this series, we may have to win some low scoring games. 
 

I would be perfectly fine with our offensive skill making Vasilevskiy look human throughout the series, though. That would be nice for a change.  
 

The other area that stands out is our power play versus their penalty kill. We haven’t been sharp as of late but special teams look to be an important factor in both our success, as well as theirs. 

[GHT120]

 

Veleno is the name blocked by the "button" ... In the clip he says he considers Veleno and Gallagher interchangeable ... doesn't think Dach has done anything to warrant being in the lineup

 

The interesting choice is Bolduc on the second line ... in the clip he gets challenged that Bolduc has not even played on the Newhook - Demidov ... his response is <that doesn't mean it couldn't work, what is wrong with a line made up of an offensive player, a speedster and a physical player with one of the best shots on the team> ... Bolduc does bring physicality (2nd in Hits/60 amongst the roster forwards) and against a team like TBL that may be important.

 

It is disappointing that after 82 games they still haven't settled on a second line

 

 

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Well, they have a 2nd-line duo (Kapanen + Demidov). It's not all that unusual to have lines like that, two stable pieces and a rolling option in the third slot.

 

I'd use Newhook there myself, because of his speed, which seems to be an advantage we have over TB. Lean into it, I say.

[GHT120]

17 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Well, they have a 2nd-line duo (Kapanen + Demidov). It's not all that unusual to have lines like that, two stable pieces and a rolling option in the third slot.

 

I'd use Newhook there myself, because of his speed, which seems to be an advantage we have over TB. Lean into it, I say.

 

We will see ... I don't know whether that duo is together Sunday ... Kapanen seems to have driven into a deep mud hole and has been spinning his wheels for a while ... no points in 10 games ... the jump from his usual 50-ish games in Finland to 82 in the more physical NHL is an adjustment for any 22 yr-old ... I really like the kid but not certain this is his time.

[Commandant]

48 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

Well, they have a 2nd-line duo (Kapanen + Demidov). It's not all that unusual to have lines like that, two stable pieces and a rolling option in the third slot.

 

I'd use Newhook there myself, because of his speed, which seems to be an advantage we have over TB. Lean into it, I say.

 

The duo seems to be more of Newhook and Demidov as Kapanen has been shifted around of late 

 

Still id start the series with those 3 together.

 

Bolduc - Evans - Anderson

Texier - Danault - Dach 

[TheDriveFor25]

Please, for the love of God, play Bolduc.

2nd or 3rd line. 
He needs the experience and he’s a future stud winger on this team. Play him with Demidov. Play him! 

[GHT120]

24 minutes ago, TheDriveFor25 said:

Please, for the love of God, play Bolduc.

2nd or 3rd line. 
He needs the experience and he’s a future stud winger on this team. Play him with Demidov. Play him! 

 

Playoffs are not developmental time ... THAT SAID, he played 78 of 82 games so Bolduc almost certainly plays.

 

I-M-O, the Habs current forward depth is, as yet, mostly filled with 9th-14th type players ... Kapanen and Newhook are 2nd liners on this roster but are ideally 3rd liners; although Kapanen may have 2nd line potential ... Bolduc has 6th-8th upside ... as does Dach ***if*** healthy for a full season

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

1 hour ago, TheDriveFor25 said:

Please, for the love of God, play Bolduc.

2nd or 3rd line. 
He needs the experience and he’s a future stud winger on this team. Play him with Demidov. Play him! 

 

Future stud? Really? 🤔

 

He’s an NHLer and all, will have a nice career, but I think this franchise has progressed way beyond clinging to such hopes for guys like him. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Lines from practice today

 

Hutson - Carrier makes me nervous against a heavy Tampa team. I would strongly prefer Struble but I guess Marty wants Hutson on the left

 

I like the rest of the lines

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Pretty different to how I would have lined them up but I also knew there was no chance my lineup would be the actual roster. It’s simply my fan opinionated preference. Texier/Dach were pretty interchangeable for me but I understand the skill level Dach can bring and he’s also not really a fit on the 4th line. Could also switch Dach & Bolduc & even Newhook within my lineup, I suppose.
 

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky

Newhook - Kapanen - Demidov 

Bolduc - Evans - Anderson

Dach - Danault - Gallagher

 

Hutson - Matheson

Guhle - Reinbacher (Carrier if healthy)

Xhekaj - Struble 

 

Dobeš

Fowler

 

I would have went with a lineup more similar to what we had during our recent 8 game win streak but we have some depth to work with and a few healthy players returning, so that’s a good thing. Yes, there are flaws within the lineup and I’m okay with the D pairings if accurate. Matheson on his off wing isn’t ideal, the pairing just actually had some good underlying numbers together this season, especially when it came to expected goals for. 

 

 

 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Also, when I look over the lineup I “proposed” I think one of the elements that stands out the most is the omission of Texier.

 

With that being said when it comes to someone deserving of a second line position…

 

Over the last 10 games:

 

Demidov: 3G, 3A

Newhook: 2G, 1A

Kapanen: 0G, 0A (1G, 1A the game before)

Texier: 0G, 1A

Dach, 0G, 2A

Bolduc: 2G, 2A

Gallagher: 1G, 1A

Danault: 1G, 0A

Anderson: 1G, 1A

Evans: 1G, 1A

 

Basically, there’s a lot of “meh” there when it comes to offensive production in the recent past. Some of those players were hurt offensively by being placed on the 4th line but it is what it is. Each of those players do bring specific elements to the table outside of offensive production, I’m just saying that unless the second line is 

 

Bolduc - Newhook - Demidov

 

there is a lot left to be desired when it comes to any of those players. Clearly, Marty thinks something highly of Texier, and that’s fine, but it’s not like any of those names are screaming out to us that is “has to be them” who are used in a second line position. Texier’s highlight recently was a shootout goal, and there won’t be much of that in the playoffs. Again, I don’t mind him in the lineup, I just find a few of our players somewhat interchangeable and we can only fit 12.

 

 

[GHT120]

40 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Hutson - Carrier makes me nervous against a heavy Tampa team. I would strongly prefer Struble but I guess Marty wants Hutson on the left

 

Hutson has shown a remarkable ability to avoid punishment, but Carrier is likely not 100% and at full health he regularly gets pounded ... this also somewhat concerns me ... also very concerned about how much TOI Xhekaj-Struble are likely to get, pressuring the Top 4 even more

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Well, for those of you who don’t think home ice advantage is a big deal, apparently Tampa’s coach Cooper called Tocchet after the Flyers game to thank him for beating us.

 

Kind of seems like a tongue in cheek comment but at the same time there seems to be some truth to the story. 

[DON]

1st games

Saturday, April 18 – Game 1, with Networks

3 p.m. ET, Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes; ESPN, SN, TVAS

5:30 p.m. ET, Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars; ESPN, SN, TVAS

8 p.m. ET, Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins; ESPN, SN, TVAS

Sunday, April 19 – Game 1

Time/TV TBD, +Western Conference Wild Card #2 at Colorado Avalanche

Time/TV TBD, Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning

Time/TV TBD, Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres

Time/TV TBD, Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights

Monday, April 20 – Game 1

Time/TV TBD, +Pacific Division #3 at +Pacific Division #2

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Thanks, I was going to share something similar. I believe it’s official that the Habs first game versus Tampa will be at 1pm. 
 

 

A few games at the same time. Don’t love the afternoon start for our first playoff game but both teams have to do it. 

[Commandant]

26 minutes ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

Thanks, I was going to share something similar. I believe it’s official that the Habs first game versus Tampa will be at 1pm. 
 

 

A few games at the same time. Don’t love the afternoon start for our first playoff game but both teams have to do it. 

 

The day is official

The time is just a place holder.  They wont play all three at the same time.

 

1pm seems likely for the Habs though as i doubt they want a 10/11 am local.start for the western teams and The Boston Celtics also play sunday afternoon.

 

So if the NHL does a triple header, which is what I expect, we are likely to be the earliest game.

[xXx..CK..xXx]

Yeah, I just noticed that our first game is indeed at 5:45pm on Sunday and not 1:00pm.

 

[xXx..CK..xXx]

All the series’ are official:

 

 

Let’s get some predictions:

 

West

Colorado: 6 games

Minnesota: 7 games

Vegas: 6 games 

Edmonton: 7 games

 

East

Buffalo: 6 games

Tampa: 6 games 

Carolina: 7 games 

Philadelphia: 6 games 

 

I decided to be a robot brain and chose Tampa because I had them making the final weeks ago. Perfectly happy to be wrong with that one, and I genuinely believe the Habs have a great shot. I’m sure I’ll be wrong with some of these picks, so hopefully that’s one of them. 

[JoeLassister]

CBC :  Hey, so we have a tradition in Canada on Saturdays, it's called Hockey Night in Canada, been around for quite a few years.  I imagine at least one of the 3 canadian teams could play Saturday night ?

 

NHL : No.

 

CBC : Okay.  What about next Saturday ?

 

NHL : No.

 

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, JoeLassister said:

CBC :  Hey, so we have a tradition in Canada on Saturdays, it's called Hockey Night in Canada, been around for quite a few years.  I imagine at least one of the 3 canadian teams could play Saturday night ?

 

NHL : No.

 

CBC : Okay.  What about next Saturday ?

 

NHL : No.

 

 

Why is the CBC calling, they have no relationship with the NHL  😜

[dlbalr]

2 hours ago, JoeLassister said:

CBC :  Hey, so we have a tradition in Canada on Saturdays, it's called Hockey Night in Canada, been around for quite a few years.  I imagine at least one of the 3 canadian teams could play Saturday night ?

 

NHL : No.

 

CBC : Okay.  What about next Saturday ?

 

NHL : No.

 

Sportsnet has very minimal sway in scheduling.  They got to request that Ottawa and Montreal don't play on the same night and even that was looking like it wasn't going to be granted for a bit.  Saturday night is a national night in the US in the playoffs as well and a Canadian team isn't going to be the top draw so they're going to prioritize an all-American matchup for US viewership purposes.