Lapsed Fan's Crash Course to 2026 Cup Chaos

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs kick off with a bracket that's got more twists than a Cup Final overtime shift, pulling lapsed fans back into the fold with the essentials they need to fake insider status. You've got powerhouse matchups lurking from the jump, and those wild-card spots that always deliver the drama front offices dread and love. Dive in before your bracket gets torched - this postseason shapes legacies and breaks hearts every spring.