NHL Playoffs: Who to Root For in the Metropolitan

Last Update: Wed Apr 15, 2026, 6:26 pm ET

Read Time: 8 minutes

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We are officially FOUR days away from NHL playoffs and all their glory. And while we know all 16 teams who will be climbing towards Lord Stanley to hoist the Cup, there are still a couple teams battling for seeding. So while we wait to see exactly who will be playing who (that Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia 1st round match is chef's kiss), let's dig further into the narratives for each team playing in the playoffs. Last article we broke down the Atlantic. Today we are onto the Metropolitan Division.

Here at Betting News we want to ensure that you are ready to pick a team to cheer on. A team to act like an expert in when you're grabbing beers with the boys and/or girls. A team to become obsessed with until June, when one NHL team will hoist Stanley Cup. So if your favorite team isn't making the cut, or you just want a team from the other conference to root for we got you covered in this series.

I'll be breaking down each division, highlighting the narrative of each tea, in a playoff spot,. I'll let you know why you should root for them, or why you should spit on the ground any time you hear their name. Let's get started with the Atlantic Division.

1. Carolina Hurricanes: – 1st Place Record: 53-22-7 | 113 pts | Locked into the top Eastern Spot | Lucky Rebel:

The Hurricanes are ready to show why they are a top team in the NHL.

The Story

Carolina didn't just win the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26 — they steamrolled it, posting the best record in the Eastern Conference at 52-22. Rod Brind'Amour's machine runs the same relentless, possession-suffocating system it always has, but this year there's a deeper belief that a Stanley Cup Final run isn't just possible — it's expected. Frederik Andersen has been on an upswing since the Olympic break, going 9-4-0 across his last 13 outings with a 2.70 GAA, trending back toward the playoff form that has made him one of the most clutch big-game goaltenders of his generation. The Brandon Bussi-Andersen tandem gives Carolina a rare luxury heading into the postseason — two viable options between the pipes.

Now the Hurricanes have also been one of the more system-heavy teams in the NHL for what feels like an eternity (or just since head coach Rod Brind'Amour took the reigns). But this year they have depth up and down the line up and have played a bit looser due to their blueline being a little more green (see what I did there) with some youth who love pinching in the offensive zone and keeping offensive pressure going. So the big story here is a team who would not only like to earn your respect, but also entertain you. They don't want to just be the boring ol' Canes anymore.

Why you should root for them: Because they've been the most complete team in the East all year and have not won the Cup since 2006 despite coming agonizingly close. The Hurricanes are the definition of a team built the right way, and a championship would be one of the most deserved in recent memory. Because they can't seem to get past the Eastern Conference Finals year over year. So it's a chance to root for an underdog that is actually anything but one.

Why you should root against them: Because watching Carolina win is like watching a beautifully efficient corporation beat your favorite local business. Technically flawless, spiritually hollow. Rod Brind'Amour will give a perfectly measured handshake and say the right things. Where's the fire? Will they continue to be known as the dorky boring kid in class? Probably, because that gets them the A+.

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2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 2nd Place Record: 41-25-16 | 98 pts | Lucky Rebel:

Penguins forwards Rickard Rakell and Evgeni Malkin celebrate after scoring a goal against the Islanders.

The Story

Nobody predicted this. Coming off a season where they nearly finished last in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins turned back the clock in 2025-26 with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin doing what they've always done — making everyone around them better, and occasionally rewriting the record books in the process. Malkin reached the 1,400th career point milestone during a five-point game against Florida, becoming just the 23rd player in NHL history and 15th fastest to do so, while Crosby surpassed Steve Yzerman for seventh place on the all-time NHL points list in the same game. Defenseman Erik Karlsson was voted team MVP for a dominant season that kept Pittsburgh's push alive when both Crosby and Malkin missed time with injuries.

But not only are the Penguins Hall of Famers playing like they are back in their prime, the rest of the Penguins roster is a collection of players having career years or breaking out. You have power forwards like Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau having career years. Rookie sensation Ben Kindel learning from one of the best center in the world and giving the Penguins great depth. And then young gun Egor Chinakhov looking like one of the best mid season pickups. Not only do the Penguins look like they belong, they have a bit of magic that could take them on a long run.

Why you should root for them: Because Crosby and Malkin are playing their last great years, and everyone with a pulse should want to see them get one more shot at a championship together. This could genuinely be their last rodeo, and they're still producing at an elite level. Cherish it. Once Crosby and Malkin retire, it could be a long long time before black and yellow are back in the playoffs.

Oh, and did I mention they get to play against their cross state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers in Round One? Absolute cinema, especially if you are a Philly hater.

Why you should root against them: You've been watching Pittsburgh win for 20 years. At some point the hockey gods need to balance the ledger. Crosby and Malkin have three Cups and it's time for the new guard to make waves. Or, you are a Philadelphia Flyers fan who hates the Penguins who would rather watch the world burn than see Crosby get another Cup.

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3. Philadelphia Flyers — 3rd Place Record: 43-27-12 | 98 pts | Lucky Rebel:

Flyers forward Owen Tippett high fives goalie Dan Vladar after a win this season.

The Story

This is the story of the Metropolitan Division and one of the best surprise narratives of the entire 2025-26 NHL season. The Flyers entered the year as a lower-expectations rebuild project and nearly cratered midseason — after limping into the Olympic break as losers of 12 of their last 15, they looked doomed for a franchise-record sixth consecutive season without playoff hockey. Then something clicked. Rick Tocchet, the Jack Adams Award winner who came home to Philadelphia, shook off an online petition demanding his firing and guided a young roster that started the year as the fourth-youngest in the NHL all the way back into contention.

The engine driving the late surge has been Trevor Zegras, a revival story of his own, setting new career highs in goals and points under Tocchet's system. And the wildcard? The Flyers have two young STUDS at wing, in Matvei Michkov (the Russian sensation who has supreme upside, but is still figuring it all out) and Porter Martone (a winger with all the tools in an extra large toolbox who has 10 points in his 9 NHL games played). While younger players can struggle when they first hit the playoffs, these are two of the most exciting prospects in the NHL and could turn heads and move the chain.

This is a collection of players who bring grit (Gritty even), skill and smarts, who have been getting great goaltending and have soaked up Rick Tocchet's system. This is a darkhorse underdog who could surprise the hockey world in a wide open Eastern Conference.

Why you should root for them: Because a city that bleeds orange and black hasn't had playoff hockey in six years, a young core is finally finding itself, and Rick Tocchet deserves to see his work pay off. Love them or hate them, but the playoffs just feel better when the Flyers are making noise in the playoffs. Also, Porter Martone is a name that belongs in a hockey movie.

Why you should root against them: I could make some jokes ragging on Philadelphia sports here, how their fans are some of the most obnoxious in the league, and who so many of their national sports teams are despised. But I will pivot, because you all have heard that one before.

The Battle of Pennsylvania is going to make it impossible to work or sleep for two weeks. Even if your favorite team is playing in the playoffs, this will be must watch-TV, which means you are going to have to come up with your own excuses to your friends and family of why they wont see you for the next two weeks. You've been warned.

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