2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: The Eastern Conference

Everyone take a breath – the chaotic wild card race is over, the eight teams are set, and it's time to finally enjoy the best time of the year. 

The Eastern Conference is anything but chalk: you could argue that five of the teams here were not expected to qualify for the postseason. That means some new faces, the return of some legends, and potentially the most unpredictable first round in a while. I'm going to break down these series using data from HockeyStats as well as tracked stats from AllThreeZones, matching up teams by evaluating the offence versus defence matchups, seeing where stylistic advantages might lay and mapping out what the series might look like. 

Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)

After a 14-year absence, the Sabres are back in the playoffs with home-ice advantage