2026 Stanley Cup playoff picks: Every first-round series - ESPN

The 2025-26 NHL regular season is officially in the books. Sixteen of the league's teams have made the postseason bracket, and 16 have been eliminated.

Before the first-round series begin, ESPN's experts have identified their picks for each matchup, along with the team that will win the Stanley Cup in June and the player who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

More: Full schedule
Mega-preview
Lapsed fan's guide
Stanley Cup odds
Flaws for each team

Sean Allen: Bruins in six
John Buccigross: Sabres in seven
Stormy Buonantony: Sabres in seven
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Sabres in six
Sachin Chandan: Sabres in seven
Meghan Chayka: Bruins
Ryan S. Clark: Sabres in seven
Gregg Colli: Sabres in six
Ray Ferraro: Sabres in seven
Erik Johnson: Bruins in six
Emily Kaplan: Sabres in seven
Tim Kavanagh: Sabres in five
Rachel Kryshak: Sabres in six
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Bruins in seven
Steve Levy: Sabres in seven
Vince Masi: Bruins in seven
Victoria Matiash: Bruins in seven
Sean McDonough: Sabres in six
Mark Messier: Sabres in six
Arda Öcal: Sabres in six
T.J. Oshie: Sabres in six
Kristen Shilton: Sabres in six
Bob Wischusen: Sabres in six
Greg Wyshynski: Sabres in five

Consensus prediction: Sabres (18 of 24 picks)

Sean Allen: Lightning in five
John Buccigross: Lightning in seven
Stormy Buonantony: Lightning in seven
Cassie Campbell-Pascall: Lightning in seven
Sachin Chandan: Lightning in six
Meghan Chayka: Lightning
Ryan S. Clark: Lightning in six
Gregg Colli: Canadiens in seven
Ray Ferraro: Lightning in six
Erik Johnson: Canadiens in seven
Emily Kaplan: Lightning in six
Tim Kavanagh: Canadiens in six
Rachel Kryshak: Lightning in seven
Peter Lawrence-Riddell: Lightning in six
Steve Levy: Lightning in seven
Vince Masi: Ligh