2026 NHL and AHL Postseason Tournaments Feature Multiple Series in Progress and Assured New Calder Cup Champion

Apr 24, 2026, 11:43

Introduction

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Calder Cup Playoffs have commenced, with the National Hockey League (NHL) bracket featuring several first-round series already underway and the American Hockey League (AHL) tournament guaranteeing a new champion after the previous titleholder failed to qualify for the postseason.

Main Body

In the NHL, the Eastern Conference includes the Buffalo Sabres, who ended a 14-season postseason absence—a league record—and secured the Atlantic Division title. They currently hold a 2–1 series lead over the Boston Bruins. The Carolina Hurricanes lead the Ottawa Senators 3–0, and the Philadelphia Flyers hold a 3–0 advantage over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche, winners of the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record, lead the Los Angeles Kings 3–0. The Dallas Stars lead the Minnesota Wild 2–1, while the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are tied 1–1 in their respective series against the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks. Six teams that missed the 2025 postseason qualified this year. The NHL uses a fixed division-based bracket with no reseeding; the conference champions will meet in the Stanley Cup Final, broadcast on ESPN and TNT platforms. In the AHL, 23 teams are competing for the Calder Cup. The Abbotsford Canucks, who won the championship in 2025, did not qualify for the 2026 playoffs, ensuring a new champion. The Providence Bruins and Grand Rapids Griffins, along with Laval, Ontario, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, earned first-round byes after posting the best records in their respective conferences. In completed series, the Hershey Bears defeated the Bridgeport Islanders 2–0. Other series in progress include the Charlotte Checkers leading the Springfield Thunderbirds 1–0, the Toronto Marlies leading the Rochester Americans 1–0, and the Milwaukee Admirals leading the Manitoba Moose 1–0. The Colorado Eagles lead the San Diego Gulls 1–0, and the Henderson Silver Knights lead the San Jose Barracuda 1–0. The Bakersfield Condors lead the Coachella Valley Firebirds 1–0. Several series are scheduled to continue in the coming days. All AHL playoff games are available via AHLTV on FloHockey.

Conclusion

As of the current reporting, multiple NHL and AHL playoff series are in progress, with some teams holding commanding leads and others tied. The NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes are among those on the verge of advancing, while the AHL’s top-seeded teams await their first opponents after first-round byes. The postseason in both leagues is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup champions to be determined.

Vocabulary Learning

absence
The state of being away or not present.缺席，不在場
Example:The Buffalo Sabres ended a 14-season postseason absence by qualifying for the playoffs.
commanding
Very strong and likely to succeed; dominating.壓倒性的，主導的
Example:Some teams have commanding leads in their playoff series.
lead
An advantage over opponents in a competition.領先優勢
Example:The Carolina Hurricanes hold a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators.
secure
To obtain or achieve something, especially after effort.獲得，確保
Example:The Sabres secured the Atlantic Division title with a strong regular season.
verge
The edge or brink of something; a point at which something is about to happen.邊緣，臨界點
Example:The Colorado Avalanche are on the verge of advancing to the next round.

Sentence Learning

In the NHL, the Eastern Conference includes the Buffalo Sabres, who ended a 14-season postseason absence—a league record—and secured the Atlantic Division title.
This sentence uses a non-restrictive relative clause introduced by 'who' to provide additional information about the Buffalo Sabres. The clause 'who ended... and secured...' describes the team's achievements. The use of dashes adds emphasis to 'a league record'. This structure helps organize the idea by giving background details within the same sentence.這個句子使用由「who」引導的非限制性關係從句，提供關於水牛城軍刀隊的額外資訊。從句「who ended... and secured...」描述了球隊的成就。使用破折號強調「a league record」。這種結構有助於在同一句子中提供背景細節，使信息組織清晰。
Six teams that missed the 2025 postseason qualified this year.
This sentence uses a restrictive relative clause 'that missed the 2025 postseason' to specify which six teams are being referred to. The clause is essential for identifying the subject. This structure efficiently conveys a contrast between past failure and current success.這個句子使用限制性關係從句「that missed the 2025 postseason」來指定所指的六支球隊。該從句對於識別主語是必不可少的。這種結構有效地傳達了過去失敗與當前成功之間的對比。
The Abbotsford Canucks, who won the championship in 2025, did not qualify for the 2026 playoffs, ensuring a new champion.
This sentence combines a non-restrictive relative clause ('who won...') with a present participle phrase ('ensuring a new champion') that shows the result of the main clause. The relative clause provides background, and the participle phrase explains the consequence, creating a cause-effect relationship.這個句子結合了非限制性關係從句（「who won...」）和現在分詞短語（「ensuring a new champion」），後者顯示主句的結果。關係從句提供背景，分詞短語解釋後果，形成因果關係。
Several series are scheduled to continue in the coming days.
This sentence uses the passive voice ('are scheduled') to emphasize the action (scheduling) rather than the agent. The infinitive 'to continue' indicates purpose. This structure is common in formal reporting to focus on events.這個句子使用被動語態（「are scheduled」）來強調動作（安排）而非執行者。不定式「to continue」表示目的。這種結構在正式報導中常見，以聚焦於事件本身。
The postseason in both leagues is expected to continue over the coming weeks, with the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup champions to be determined.
This sentence uses passive voice ('is expected') and a passive infinitive ('to be determined') to convey future events in a formal tone. The preposition 'with' introduces an accompanying circumstance. This structure organizes the idea by stating the main expectation and then adding a related detail.這個句子使用被動語態（「is expected」）和被動不定式（「to be determined」）以正式語氣傳達未來事件。介詞「with」引入伴隨情況。這種結構通過陳述主要預期然後添加相關細節來組織想法。