apologies for the delay in reporting on the end of the second round, i was occupied with the pwhl finals and also not dying in the unseasonable heatwave that gripped my area over the last few days.
since we were here last, the vegas golden knights made their way out of the pacific pillow fight, but not without their fair share of drama as always- hello, losing a draft pick because you didn’t do a press conference! then in the east, it took montreal and buffalo a full seven games to sort out their mess, ultimately ending with an alex newhook overtime goal. that spelled well for some in the brag-cket, but poorly for a lot of you.
get out your fire extinguishers and go read the commentary under the cut!
144 points
mtl blunt rotation (lil) - i’m sorry for treating you like a stranger! in exchange you get to enjoy first place
125 points
For the le$beans ( @stromesquad ) - shoutout mpp and laura stacey, the w in walter cup stands for wives
119 points
unnatural disaster (me) - i picked two natural disasters for the cup and now the weather won’t let up in my area (it’s supposed to rain all of mdw)
118 points
do it for naz x2 ( @imperatorrrrr )
116 points
i hope they all lose ( @shea-theodore ) -and- Petty B*tches
different brackets, same result. get in the dumpster you two!
113 points
just my luukonen ( @arsonandhockey ) - i think we can solidly say your luck(onen) is turning around!
107 points
idk what is going on ( @ernieclements )
that top spot was not going to be yours for long, but picking vegas to the finals means you haven’t hit your points ceiling (key word) yet.
106 points
Maximum stress (emily) - your bracket name really rang true in avs-wild game 5 and habs-sabres game 7!
perpetual 2nd place (ki) - avs-vgk game 1 on the other hand just evoked anger
111 points
Vibes Hope Narrative (abby)
101 points
here for the vibes ( @circle--of--confusion )
fiery dumpsters are going around today.
EJ’s New Teeth ( @whip-wilson ) - i’m so ready to spend all day sunday watching cars go vroom
94 points
4teeth4furious ( @morganfrost ) - what do you know, the two teeth brackets ended up in adjacent positions!
93 points
curséd bracket (molls) - “he looked at the twenty-seven eight-by-ten color glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one…”
petty and delusional - “…and he looked at the seeing eye dog.”
hello bracketeers! it is a wonderful thursday on several levels. for one, it’s my birthday. for two, my hockey team won and is moving on to the western conference finals!
congratulations to the colorado avalanche for finishing off the minnesota wild, and what a game. coming from losing 3-0 in the first period to two goals within a minute in the third to send it to overtime. depth players were critical, but nothing beats a clutch moment from nathan mackinnon. man, i really do love hockey sometimes.
anyway… commentary under the cut as usual.
119 points
mtl blunt rotation - i need the habs to lose because i have no idea who to congratulate if this bracket wins
unnatural disaster (me) - tied for first on my birthday… this is both auspicious and suspicious.
116 points
Petty B*tches - you’ve picked well for a petty stranger
113 points
just my luukonen ( @arsonandhockey ) - when was the last time you drew a blob goalie?
101 points
here for the vibes ( @circle--of--confusion ) - alas, a second win is not in your future
EJ’s New Teeth ( @whip-wilson ) - may is a good time to be an indycar x hockey fan
100 points
for the le$beans ( @stromesquad ) - i’m jealous you got MUNA tickets
94 points
4teeth4furious ( @morganfrost ) - but only 2/4 conference finalists
93 points
do it for naz x2 ( @imperatorrrrr ) - and you’ve still got 3/4!
91 points
i hope they all lose ( @shea-theodore ) - as a sports psychologist, just how off their rocker are hockey players?
82 points
idk what is going on ( @ernieclements )
81 points
Maximum stress (emily) - i was right with you on the stress front during last night’s game
perpetual 2nd place (ki)
Gritty’s Revenge ( @puck--off ) - gay book purchases are always justifiable
77 points
Vibes Hope Narrative (abby) - the narrative was narrative-ing with nate mack’s goal last night
71 points
the Chaos (kelp)
68 points
curséd bracket (molls) - the accent in your bracket name is a curse on me
petty and delusional - if it weren’t for that pens pick you might have actually been successful here
@drysydevils’s bracket - y’know what, philly should get a pwhl team if they’re just handing them out
65 points
@andreisvechnikov’s bracket - your cup winner is still in play, so you’re not busted yet, but the canes are literally the only team you have left to score points.
62 points
quacksaber ( @patron-saint-of-boston-hockey ) - if both of your finals picks lose tonight, is it time to bring out the sword?
58 points
jtkb by vibes alone ( @assistantcaptainmitchmarner ) - at least the leafs fired their coach
23 points
going for 69 again ( @builthebobder ) - if this was a real bracket, i’d give you your money back
happy sunday, bracketeers! i’m back with you today because we had our first elimination of round 2!
🌀🧹🟠
yes, the carolina hurricanes swept the philadelphia flyers. if you are from either carolina or possess any canes affinities, i would avoid philly for the next 3-6 weeks, it’s not safe for you.
considering all other series are at either 2-1 or 1-1 right now, might be a little while again before my next update, so let’s make it count! commentary under the cut as usual.
101 points
here for the vibes ( @circle--of--confusion ) - and the vibes are good when you’re sitting in first!
94 points
4teeth4furious ( @morganfrost ) - don’t get comfortable up here, you’re still walking around with a busted bracket!
mtl blunt rotation - MISSING: fan of blue white red and green
unnatural disaster (me) - i thought i was being so clever with all the movie quotes last time… but it turns out i’ve used them all in previous years!
91 points
Petty B*tches - MISSING: local individual holding several grudges
88 points
just my luukonen ( @arsonandhockey ) - i think this is a new record for you
82 points
idk what is going on ( @ernieclements ) - how are the jays doing these days?
76 points
EJ’s New Teeth ( @whip-wilson ) - i should give you bonus points for actually identifying yourself.
75 points
for the le$beans ( @stromesquad ) - hope your nascar blorbo does well in the race today!
71 points
the Chaos (kelp) - welcome to the points ceiling club! you should get very short party hats.
68 points
curséd bracket (molls) - “why would he steal $1 million in rhinestones?…”
do it for naz x2 ( @imperatorrrrr ) - “…embezzled, not bedazzled!”
66 points
i hope they all lose ( @shea-theodore ) - one more down!
65 points
@andreisvechnikov’s bracket - as the only canes bracket in the pool, things are looking up for you!
62 points
quacksaber ( @patron-saint-of-boston-hockey ) - there goes another one of your final four
58 points
jtkb by vibes alone ( @assistantcaptainmitchmarner )
56 points
Maximum stress (emily) ~and~ perpetual 2nd place (ki) - little avs server party at 17th place
Gritty’s Revenge ( @puck--off )
well, it was fun while it lasted!
52 points
Vibes Hope Narrative (abby)
43 points
@drysydevils’s bracket
what do flyers fans and pens fans have in common? you’re both busted!
petty and delusional- see above.
23 points
going for 69 again ( @builthebobder ) - this is just sad.
we have officially come to the end of round 1 of the 2026 nhl playoffs (even though round 2 has already started). montreal and tampa bay really just wanted to drag it out as long as possible, but eventually, the habs came out on top. thank goodness, we are saved from a seventh straight year of a Florida team in the cup finals.
the other two series finales that happened while we were away were buffalo-boston and vegas-utah. congratulations to the sarbies sabres for finally winning a playoff series! (the last time that happened was 2007) also good news for all you bruins haters out there. meanwhile, we had a much more boring result out west. we have moved past the need for the vegas golden knights… yet here they are anyway. again.
commentary is under the cut, as usual. if you have no idea what i’m talking about, i have likely thrown in a random movie/tv quote for your entry. also if you have not identified your bracket and still don’t by the next update, i’m gonna start putting up missing posters!
82 points
idk what is going on ( @ernieclements ) - in my experience, lack of knowledge is strangely beneficial in bracket competition
76 points
here for the vibes ( @circle--of--confusion ) - how are things with the glam rock satanic popes?
EJ’s New Teeth - what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
69 points
4teeth4furious ( @morganfrost ) ~and~ mtl blunt rotation - this is a nice place to hang out.
unnatural disaster (me) - my joke/bias bracket is somehow it’s doing so much better than my “real” one (i had a stars/bolts final there 😬)
66 points
i hope they all lose ( @shea-theodore ) - stop that rhyming, i really mean it!
Petty B*tches - anybody want a peanut?
63 points
just my luukonen ( @arsonandhockey ) - moose says you’re closed, i say you’re open!
62 points
quacksaber ( @patron-saint-of-boston-hockey ) - may the fourth be with you
56 points
Maximum stress (emily) - “bad sandwiches, neurotic girlfriends, no longer for this man! …
perpetual 2nd place (ki) - …now you, go home! …
Gritty’s Revenge ( @puck--off ) - …and you! clean off my door.”
52 points
Vibes Hope Narrative (abby) - i want you to chop down the tallest tree in the forest with… a herring!
50 points
for the le$beans ( @stromesquad )
46 points
the Chaos (kelp) - you, my friend, are cooked. your only possible points-scoring pick left is if the canes beat the flyers.
43 points
curséd bracket (molls) - see, he’s only mostly dead.
do it for naz x2 ( @imperatorrrrr ) - at least you won’t be last again this year!
petty and delusional - that can’t be good for you.
@drysydevils’s bracket - you stay here and make sure he doesn’t leave!
40 points
@andreisvechnikov’s bracket- is it beer skate time yet?
33 points
jtkb by vibes alone ( @assistantcaptainmitchmarner ) - this isn’t looking good, but it could be worse! (see below)
23 points
going for 69 again ( @builthebobder ) - well, that’s not going to happen, since you hit your points ceiling already! you got exactly two picks right and nothing else. what a truly dismal showing.
