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2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2 preview hub

Daily Faceoff
May 3, 2026, 21:00 EDTUpdated: May 5, 2026, 15:42 EDT
Nathan MacKinnon and Joel Eriksson Ek
Credit: Nov 28, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) skates with the puck as Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) defends during the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

No time to waste. Round 1 isn’t officially done yet but, with three matchups set, the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs push onward Saturday with the second round launching, and Daily Faceoff is here to get you ready with all the preview coverage you can consume.

Our in-depth list of stories, features and previews can be found below, with links to each article, and will be updated continuously in the coming days.

2025-26 ROUND 2 PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

2026 Stanley Cup playoffs Round 2 schedule – By Tyler Kuehl

2025-26 ROUND 2 SERIES PREVIEWS

Western Conference

(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild – By Scott Maxwell
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Anaheim Ducks – By Mike Gould

Eastern Conference

(A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens – By Anthony Trudeau
(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers – By Kyle Morton

SPECIAL FEATURES

Breaking down every goalie matchup in Round 2 – By Scott Maxwell
Conn Smythe Trophy Power Rankings – By Scott Maxwell & Hunter Crowther
The top storylines of Round 2 – By Anthony Trudeau
A need to fill for each of Round 1’s eliminated teams – By Matt Larkin

PREDICTIONS

Round 2 series picks – By DFO Staff

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POST SPONSORED BY bet365

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