Fans participate in playoff pickem contest

The Canes Country Playoff Pickem Contest for 2026 is now underway, inviting fans to make selections for each first-round playoff series. Participants need to predict the winning team and the number of games each series will last.

In the first round, fans will earn one point for each correct team they select. Points double in each successive round: two points for the second round, four for the conference final, and eight for the Cup final.

Additionally, five bonus points are awarded if a participant correctly identifies both the winning team and the series length. Importantly, points for picking winners increase in each round, while the bonus points remain constant.

The maximum possible score across the contest is 107 points, although achieving even half that score is considered strong. Fans must submit their picks in the comments before the start of the Hurricanes versus Senators Game 1 on Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern.