NHL Network Radio presents the 2026 NHL Fearless Playoff Predictions: The Final

Let the (Final) Games Begin.

Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Who had that matchup for the 2026 Stanley Cup Final?

Actually, I did.  (Victoria and Linda also picked Vegas. Back in October, Peter Berce made us do our 2025-26 NHL playoff predictions. But I foolishly abandoned half of that prediction by the time this esteemed pool rolled around in April. Idiot. So it doesn’t count.

The Golden Knights are 1-for-2 in the Stanley Cup Final, winning it all in 2023.

The Hurricanes are also 1-for-2 in the Stanley Cup Final, winning it all back in 2006…our first year on the air.

For the record, only Jake Hahn and Dave McCarthy initially (back in April) picked the Carolina Hurricanes to win the Stanley Cup this spring.

Nobody picked the Vegas Golden Knights.

POINT STANDINGS AFTER THREE ROUNDS:

Jake Hahn                     
11-for-14   21 points

Anthony Stewart         
11-for-14   20 points

Bernie Corbett             
10-for-14   18 points

Lucas Critelli                 
10-for-14   18 points

Joe Thistel                     
9-for-14     17 points

Martin Biron                 
8-for-14     17 points

Russ Cohen                   
9-for-14     15 points

Linda Cohn                   
8-for-14     15 points

Dennis Bernstein         
8-for-14     15 points

Mikey Bonora              
8-for-14     15 points

Steve Kouleas              
8-for-14     14 points

Bruce Bolton                
8-for-14     14 points

Jonathan Davis            
7-for-14     14 points

Mick Kern                     
9-for-14     13 points

Ryan Paton                   
7-for-14     13 points

Shane Malloy               
8-for-14     12 points

Andrew Raycroft         
6-for-14     12 points

Victoria Matiash          
7-for-14     11 points

Dave McCarthy            
6-for-14     11 points

Gord Stellick                 
6-for-14     11 points

Scott Laughlin              
6-for-14     10 points

Tyler Madarasz            
6-for-14     9 points

Peter Berce                   
6-for-14     8 points               

Remember to listen to all the Stanley Cup Final action on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91, and on the SiriusXM app.

Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge.  We have been submitting 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

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 series correctly chosen back in 2022.

• 1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1^st round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2^nd round series
• 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3^rd round series
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2026 Stanley Cup winner
• 2 points for correctly choosing the 2026 Conn Smythe winner
• 1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2026 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin (no points for choosing the other finalist)
• 3 points for correctly choosing the 2026 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin

and now…Our Fearless Predictions for the Stanley Cup Final:

Jake Hahn 21 Points (11-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6 games
Mitch Marner wins the Conn Smythe Trophy
(Jake picked Carolina to win the Stanley Cup back in April w/ Seth Jarvis winning the Conn Smythe)

Anthony Stewart 20 Points (11-for-14)
Hurricanes in 7
Frederik Andersen

Bernie Corbett 18 Points (10-for-14)
Hurricanes in 5
Frederik Andersen

Lucas Critelli 18 Points (10-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Mitch Marner

Joe Thistel 17 Points (9-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Carter Hart

Martin Biron 17 Points (8-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Mitch Marner

Russ Cohen 15 Points (9-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Jack Eichel

Linda Cohn 15 Points (8-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Mitch Marner

Dennis Bernstein 15 Points (8-for-14)
Hurricanes in 7
Frederik Andersen

Mikey Bonora 15 Points (8-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Frederik Andersen

Steve Kouleas 14 Points (8-for-14)
Hurricanes in 7
Taylor Hall

Bruce Bolton 14 Points (8-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Mitch Marner

Jonathan Davis 14 Points (7-for-14)Golden Knights in 6
Jack Eichel

Mick Kern 13 Points (9-for-14)
Hurricanes in 7
Frederik Andersen

Ryan Paton 13 Points (7-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Frederik Andersen

Shane Malloy 12 Points (8-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Mitch Marner

Andrew Raycroft 12 Points (6-for-14)
Golden Knights in 6
Mitch Marner

Victoria Matiash 11 Points (7-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Frederik Andersen

Dave McCarthy 11 Points (6-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Taylor Hall
(Dave picked Carolina to win the Stanley Cup back in April w/ Seth Jarvis winning the Conn Smythe)

Gord Stellick 11 Points (6-for-14)
Hurricanes in 5
Logan Stankoven

Scott Laughlin 10 Points (6-for-14)
Golden Knights in 7
Mitch Marner

Tyler Madarasz 9 Points (6-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Frederik Andersen

Peter Berce 8 Points (6-for-14)
Hurricanes in 6
Taylor Hall