The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs have officially begun. The Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Philadelphia Flyers have already won Game 1 of their respective series’ so far, with the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montréal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, and Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights set to begin their series’ today. The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/] - Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] Site Editors have put together their predictions for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs: here are our picks. First Round Results Adam Kierszenblat [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/author/adam-kierszenblat], Site Editor: Eastern Conference: Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] over Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators] Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres] over Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins] Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] over Montréal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] over Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] Western Conference: Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/] over Los Angeles Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars] over Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/] Utah Mammoth [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah] over Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/] Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] over Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] Izzy Cheung [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/author/izzy-cheung], Deputy Site Editor: Eastern Conference: Hurricanes over Senators Sabres over Bruins Lightning over Canadiens Penguins over Flyers Western Conference: Avalanche over Kings Stars over Wild Golden Knights over Mammoth Oilers over Ducks Second Round Results AK: Eastern Conference: Hurricanes over Penguins Lightning over Sabres Western Conference: Avalanche over Stars Mammoth over Oilers IC: Eastern Conference: Hurricanes over Penguins Lightning over Sabres Western Conference: Avalanche over Stars Oilers over Golden Knights Third Round Results AK: Hurricanes over Lightning Avalanche over Mammoth IC: Hurricanes over Lightning Avalanche over Oilers Stanley Cup Final Result AK: Hurricanes over Avalanche IC: Avalanche over Hurricanes Who Will Win The Conn Smythe? AK: Sebastian Aho IC: Nathan MacKinnon Who Will Finish Playoffs With The Most Points? AK: Nathan MacKinnon IC: Nathan MacKinnon Who Will Finish Playoffs With The Most Goals? AK: Nathan MacKinnon IC: Andrei Svechnikov Which Goaltender Will Have The Strongest Post-Season? AK: Frederik Andersen IC: Frederik Andersen Which Former Canuck Will Have The Best Performance? AK: Jalen Chatfield IC: Vasily Podkolzin Jan 3, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) gets the shot away past Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b76c882c-b416-4575-8931-4417574d1236.jpeg] Jan 3, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) gets the shot away past Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwr-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks]. 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