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Andy's NHL power rankings for all all seven remaining playoff teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Where does each NHL team stand during the second round of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs?
With the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs officially in the books and nearly half of the second round as well, it's time to update our power rankings with the remaining seven teams.
In Round 1, we saw both top seeds in each representative conference take care of business in a perfect four-game sweep, while some teams needed to go to seven games to punch their ticket to Round 2. Over the weekend, we saw our first of the final eight teams being eliminated from Stanley Cup contention and the President's Trophy winner suffer its first loss of the postseason.
All statistics and team records mentioned are updated as of Monday, May 11. Who were the biggest risers and fallers from this past week? Let's dive in!
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No. 7 - Vegas Golden Knights
Last Week Ranking - 7
After getting out to a 1-0 series victory after a 3-1 effort in Game 1, the Golden Knights took a step back in Game 2, losing home ice advantage in the series.
In this contest, they fell to the Ducks (3-1) with Carter Hart stopping only 25 of the 27 shots he saw. However, the Golden Knights quickly rounded into form, taking a crucial Game 3 on Friday night in dominating 6-2 fashion.
In this victory, the Knights were led by a hat trick/four-point effort by star forward Mitch Marner. On Sunday, the Knights took a slight step back as they fell to the Ducks (4-3), which put the series at a 2-2 tie. This tightly contested matchup will likely go to seven games.
BRETT HOWDEN CONTINUES HIS GREAT PLAYOFFS AND WE ARE TIED!!! 🔥🚨 pic.twitter.com/YSobcWsMeI
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 11, 2026
No. 6 - Anaheim Ducks
Last Week Ranking - 6
Sitting alongside the Golden Knights toward the bottom of our rankings are their current opponents, the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks dropped Game 1 of the series but rebounded well in Game 2, taking down the Golden Knights by a 3-1 score to put them back in the driver's seat of the series.
Their return to California did not go as planned, as they dropped Game 3 in a tough 6-2 loss. In this contest, netminder Lukas Dostal lasted just one period before handing over goaltending duties to backup Ville Husso after allowing three goals on his first eight shots.
On Sunday, the Ducks bounced back massively, winning 4-3 and evening the series. Young winger Cutter Gauthier sparked much of the offense in this game, tallying three helpers.
ALEX KILLORN PUTS THE DUCKS BACK ON TOP ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/lt9Jsz4myZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 11, 2026
No. 5 - Minnesota Wild
Last Week Ranking - 5
Offense was not the issue in Minnesota in the first two games of its second-round series. Facing the high-flying Avalanche, the Wild put eight pucks behind the net in the first two games but were unable to pick up a victory, allowing an even higher 14 goals over this stretch, including a nine-goal effort in Game 1.
However, in Game 3, the Wild turned back to Jesper Wallstedt, who led them in the opening round and bounced back with a massive victory in Game 3. On Saturday night, Wallstedt stopped 35 of the 36 shots he saw to keep Minnesota out of a 3-0 deficit. The Wild fell behind 3-1 after Monday's loss.
Jesper Wallstedt drops to the ice in EXHAUSTION after shutting the door on a FLURRY of shots from the Avs in the final minute of play 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/5isvIfluvp
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 10, 2026
No. 4 - Buffalo Sabres
Last Week Ranking - 3
After taking down the Bruins in six games in its long-awaited return to the playoffs, Buffalo put together a hot start to begin Round 2. Hosting the Montreal Canadiens, the Sabres put four goals behind the net en route to taking an early 1-0 series lead. In this contest, Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, and Zach Benson all led the offense, totaling two points each.
However, their two-game winning streak would be snapped on Friday evening as they dropped Game 2 in Western New York, a tough 5-1 loss. On Sunday night, they traveled to Montreal and took a second straight loss, falling 6-2.
After posting an elite 1.36 GAA over his first five games, Alex Lyon has taken a massive step back, holding a 4.62 GAA over his last two games. The Sabres will need Lyon to round back into form to win this series.
DAHLIN PICKS HIS SPOT ON THE POWER PLAY 🎯
The Sabres stop the bleeding and trail by 2 👀 pic.twitter.com/flm6rPo1yh
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 11, 2026
No. 3 - Montreal Canadiens
Last Week Ranking - 4
After a thrilling seven-game series against the Lightning in Round 1, the Canadiens showed some growing pains to begin the second round. Playing in Buffalo, the Habs fell 1-0 to the Sabres in a 4-2 loss. However, the Canadiens quickly bounced back in Game 2, which secured them home-ice advantage in the series.
On Friday night, they took care of the Sabres in a statement 5-1 victory. Forward Alex Newhook enjoyed a productive showing, netting two goals and logging four total shots on goal. Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes enjoyed a strong bounce-back effort as well, allowing just one goal on 29 shots.
On Sunday, Montreal continued to find its footing, picking up its second straight victory and taking a massive 2-1 series lead. Newhook once again put two goals in the back of the net while Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson both added two points to their playoff tally.
NewHOOK is HOOKED in all alone on the empty net so it counts!!!! 🚨
His 2nd of the game and it's 6-2!!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/603mQgauM4
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 11, 2026
No. 2 - Colorado Avalanche
Last Week Ranking - 1
The top two teams on our list are nearly interchangeable for the top spots. Moving down to the No. 2 spot will be the Colorado Avalanche, who suffered their first postseason loss on Saturday night to the Minnesota Wild. After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round and jumping to an early 2-0 lead over the Wild, they were unable to extend their winning streak to seven games.
Despite the loss, the Avalanche remain the favorites to represent the West in the Stanley Cup Final and are the overall favorites to lift Lord Stanley in the coming weeks. After tallying just one point over his first three games this postseason, MVP favorite Nathan MacKinnon has quickly flipped the script, totaling 10 points over four games, with three of these games being three-point efforts.
NATHAN MACKINNON GETS THE AVS ON THE BOARD 🗻
📺: Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/d2Cg1OQtFJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 10, 2026
No. 1 - Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week Ranking - 2
Moving up to the No. 1 spot on our list is the lone team with its ticket punched to the Eastern Conference Final. The Carolina Hurricanes are on pace to make history as they took care of their first two series in dominating fashion, winning eight straight games.
In the opening round, they swept the Ottawa Senators, and on Saturday night, they capped off another sweep, this time against the Flyers.
During these eight games, the Hurricanes outscored their opponents 24-10. Netminder Frederik Andersen has been nothing short of dominant and has established himself as an elite Conn Smythe favorite, posting a 1.12 GAA with an elite .950% SV%. They will await the winner of the Sabres/Canadiens series in the Eastern Conference Final.
JACKSON BLAKE WITH THE OVERTIME GAME-WINNING GOAL!
Taylor Hall and Jaccob Slavin get the assists as the Hurricanes sweep the Flyers in Game 4!#SoundTheSiren #IgniteTheOrange #NHL #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/S1yioLjGVx— Queen of the Puck (@rbarkleyhockey) May 10, 2026
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