Four NHL Teams Seek First Stanley Cup Title

Ottawa Senators lead the pack with best odds to win their inaugural championship

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting an abstracted hockey game, with players and the ice broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a dynamic, angular composition using deep blues, bright whites, and metallic silvers.The quest for a first-ever Stanley Cup championship has four NHL teams dreaming of hockey immortality this postseason.Buffalo Today

Four NHL teams - the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, and Utah Mammoth - are vying for their first-ever Stanley Cup championship this postseason. The Senators have the best odds at +800, followed by the Sabres (+1600), Wild (+1500), and Mammoth (+4000) according to BetMGM. Each team has overcome significant challenges this season to reach the playoffs for the first time, setting the stage for a potentially historic run.

Why it matters

For these four franchises, winning the Stanley Cup for the first time would be a monumental achievement, ending decades of futility and bringing long-awaited glory to their fan bases. The race for the Cup is wide open, with no clear favorite, making this an exciting and unpredictable playoff season.

The details

The Ottawa Senators have surged since January, compiling the fourth-best record in the league over that span thanks to a stifling defense and the return of injured stars Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot. The Buffalo Sabres have the fourth-best offense and third-best home record, but face a tough path through the stacked Atlantic Division. The Minnesota Wild have the numbers to make a deep run, but will likely have to get through the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. The Utah Mammoth, in just their second season, have defied expectations to make the playoffs, but may be overmatched against more experienced opponents.

  • The NHL playoffs begin on April 15, 2026.
  • The Stanley Cup Final is scheduled to conclude by June 15, 2026.

The players

Ottawa Senators

A Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The Senators are seeking their first-ever Stanley Cup championship.

Buffalo Sabres

An American professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres are also seeking their inaugural Stanley Cup title.

Minnesota Wild

An American professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild are aiming for their first Stanley Cup win.

Utah Mammoth

An American professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mammoth are making their first-ever playoff appearance in just their second season of existence.

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What they’re saying

“It's amazing how much can change in a few months, with the Senators assembling the fourth-best record since Jan. 25 (20-6-4). Only the Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Stars have a better points percentage in that timeframe.”

— Gary Pearson, USA TODAY Writer

What’s next

The NHL playoffs will begin on April 15, 2026, with the Stanley Cup Final scheduled to conclude by June 15, 2026. The four teams seeking their first championship - the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, and Utah Mammoth - will face off against more experienced playoff contenders in the opening rounds.

The takeaway

This year's NHL playoffs present a rare opportunity for one of the league's long-suffering franchises to finally capture the elusive Stanley Cup. The Senators, Sabres, Wild, and Mammoth have all overcome significant obstacles to reach this point, and their passionate fan bases are eagerly awaiting a potential historic championship run.