NHL Playoff Scoring Leaders: Who Has the Most Goals This Year?

With the NHL playoffs in full swing, now’s a good time to check in on the scoring leaders of this year’s postseason. 

The scoring leaderboard is much different from the race for the Conn Smythe Trophy, the NHL’s playoff MVP award. Oftentimes the guy’s leading in scoring are on that list because their team needs them to be scoring at a high clip in order to survive. 

Almost all the players on the upcoming list are in lengthy, competitive playoff series. 

Here’s a look at the league’s playoff scoring leaders as of April 30. 

NHL Playoff Scoring Leaders 2026

2026 NHL Playoff Goal Leader

Brandon Hagel, LW, Lightning

Tampa’s Brandon Hagel is the current scoring leader. The 27-year-old forward has six goals through five games played. 

The Lightning are facing elimination after the Canadiens took a 3-2 series lead. The team is going to need Hagel to continue contributing at this pace in order to keep their title hopes alive. 

Hagel had at least one goal through the first four games of the series. He scored twice in Game 1 – a 4-3 overtime loss for Tampa — and scored twice again in Game 4 — a tight 3-2 win for Tampa. 

In the Lightning’s Game 5 loss, Hagel was shut out despite having more shots on goal than he had in the previous four games.

Due in part to the lack of scoring from Hagel, Montreal was able to win Game 5 and put Tampa on the ropes. 

Hagel, an eight-year league veteran, was not part of the Lightning’s two Stanley Cup winning teams, having started his career in Chicago. Hagel joined the Lightning in 2022 when the team lost to Colorado in the Finals.

For his career, Hagel has 42 playoff games played and has 12 goals and 23 points overall.