Well, that was fun. And so far, Round Two is off to a sizzling start!
Okay, back to Round One. The Senators and Kings were swept aside, but at least they made an effort during their brief foray into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Which has been outstanding so far. The first round always is. Somewhere, the Lightning and Canadiens are still going at it, separated by one goal.
Can that high level of play be maintained here in the Second Round?
Only 8 teams out of the current 32 NHL teams win at least a playoff round each season. And now we know our 8. There will be a fresh Stanley Cup Final matchup this June, after the Oilers fell to the Ducks, and of course, the Panthers sat this one out.
How did your First-Round predictions go?
Here at Sirius XM NHL Network Radio, we didn’t fare that badly. Everybody picked the Avalanche (good), and everybody but Linda Cohn picked the Edmonton Oilers (bad). It happens.
Remember to listen to all the action on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, and on the SiriusXM app.
A quick glance at the last time the remaining 8 NHL playoff teams held a Stanley Cup championship parade:
Vegas Golden Knights 2023
Colorado Avalanche 2022
Anaheim Ducks 2007
Carolina Hurricanes 2006
Montreal Canadiens 1993
Philadelphia Flyers 1975
Minnesota Wild never*
Buffalo Sabres never
(*have yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Final)
Keep in mind, this is not a bracket challenge. We will submit our predictions round-by-round. Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific, for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.
ALL-TIME FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
2026 Champion ????
2025 Champions – Ryan Paton, Scott Laughlin (3), & Mick Kern (5)
2024 Champion – Shane Malloy
2023 Champion – Dennis Bernstein (2)
2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas
2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern
REMEMBER: This is not a bracket challenge. We make subsequent picks every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016. Steve Kouleas went 15-for-16 for the series correctly chosen back in 2022.
And Now…Our 2026 Fearless Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions
For the Second Round
Joe Thistel 10 Points (6-for-8)
Sabres in 7
Flyers in 7
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Jake Hahn 9 POINTS (6-for-8)Canadiens in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 7
Golden Knights in 6
Linda Cohn 9 Points (5-for-8)Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 7
Avalanche in 7
Ducks in 6
Anthony Stewart 8 Points (6-for-8)
Canadiens in 7
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Lucas Critelli 8 Points (6-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Martin Biron 8 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Mick Kern 7 Points (6-for-8)Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 7
Ducks in 6
Jonathan Davis 7 Points (4-for-8)
Canadiens in 7
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 6
Russ Cohen 7 Points (5-for-8)Sabres in 7
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 7
Golden Knights in 7
Bernie Corbett 7 Points (5-for-8)
Canadiens in 7
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 7
Golden Knights in 7
Ryan Paton 7 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 7
Peter Berce 6 Points (5-for-8)
Sabres in 7
Flyers in 6
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 6
Dennis Bernstein 6 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 7
Golden Knights in 6
Mikey Bonora 6 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 5
Steve Kouleas 5 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 6
Golden Knights in 6
Victoria Matiash 4 Points (4-for-4)
Sabres in 7
Hurricanes in 5
Wild in 7
Golden Knights in 6
Bruce Bolton 4 Points (4-for-4)
Canadiens in 7
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 7
Ducks in 6
Shane Malloy 4 Points (4-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 7
Golden Knights in 7
Andrew Raycroft 4 Points (3-for-8)
Canadiens in 7
Hurricanes in 5
Wild in 6
Ducks in 6
Scott Laughlin 4 Points (3-for-8)
Sabres in 7
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 7
Dave McCarthy 4 Points (3-for-8)Sabres in 7
Hurricanes in 6
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 7
Tyler Madarasz 3 Points (3-for-8)
Sabres in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 7
Gord Stellick 3 Points (2-for-8)
Canadiens in 6
Hurricanes in 5
Avalanche in 6
Ducks in 6
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