2026 NHL playoffs schedule, bracket, Dates, times, TV channels for first round games, scores for postseason matchups.

The NHL's regular season is over, and the 2026 playoff field is set.

The Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings entered their regular-season finales with a chance to finish second or third in the Pacific Division or in the second wild-card spot in the West.

The Oilers and Ducks won and the Kings lost, so everything held serve. The Oilers will open at home against the Ducks on Monday. The Kings avoid a fifth consecutive playoff meeting with the Oilers but they will play the No. 1 overall Colorado Avalanche, starting in Denver on Sunday.

The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks will open their Western series Mondayk (10 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS). They were the second- and third-place finishers in the Pacific.

Here's Sportshistori.com brings the everything you need to know about the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Here are the dates and times for each series, including national network coverage in Canada and the United States. Times are listed in Eastern time (ET) and are subject to change.

When do the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs start?

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 18, 2026, with the Final expected to conclude no later than June 21, 2026.

Dates, times and TV for all eight series:

How can I watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TV?

The NHL playoffs will be split airing on both ESPN or TNT in the United States.

ESPN and TNT will split the first three rounds with the exception being that games on Saturday night will air on ABC.

Sunday's games will be shown on ESPN.

The big difference this year is that while TNT had the Stanley Cup Final in 2026, this year's final will be on ESPN.

Stanley Cup Playoff coverage will be available for Canadian viewers via Sportsnet.

NHL playoff bracket 2026

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is the Eastern Conference playoff bracket with the season ended on April 16:

Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)

Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Philadelphia (M3)

Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)

Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)

Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is the Western Conference playoff bracket with the season ended on April 16:

Colorado (C1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)

Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)

Vegas (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)

Edmonton (P2) vs. Anaheim (P3)

Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card

2026 NHL playoffs tv schedule, results, Stanley Cup first-round matchups, start-time, scores, tv info.

Here is the full schedule for the first round of the NHL playoffs (all series best of seven,

Here is the complete schedule for the first round of the playoffs:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston Bruins (WC1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)

Game 1: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 19 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 2: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 21 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m. ET April 23 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Buffalo at Boston, 2 p.m. ET April 26 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS)

*Game 5: Boston at Buffalo, April 28 TBD

*Game 6: Buffalo at Boston, May 1 TBD

*Game 7: Boston at Buffalo, May 3 TBD

*- If necessary

Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)

Game 1: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 5:45 p.m. ET April 19 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 2: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET April 21 (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 3: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 24 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 4: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 26 (ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS)

*Game 5: Montreal at Tampa Bay, April 29 TBD

*Game 6: Tampa Bay at Montreal, May 1 TBD

*Game 7: Montreal at Tampa Bay, May 3 TBD

*- If necessary

Ottawa Senators (WC2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (M1)

Game 1: Ottawa at Carolina, 3 p.m. ET April 18 (ESPN, SN, OMNI TVAS)

Game 2: Ottawa at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN2, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC TVAS)

Game 3: Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. ET April 23 (TBS, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 4: Carolina at Ottawa, 3 p.m. ET April 25 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS, OMNI)

*Game 5: Ottawa at Carolina, April 27 TBD

*Game 6: Carolina at Ottawa, April 30n TBD

*Game 7: Ottawa at Carolina, May 2 TBD

*- If necessary

Philadelphia Flyers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

Game 1: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET April 18 (ESPN, SN, TVAS)

Game 2: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET April 22 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET April 25 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS)

*Game 5: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, April 27 TBD

*Game 6: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, April 29 TBD

*Game 7: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, May 2 TBD

*- If necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Los Angeles Kings (WC2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C1)

Game 1: Los Angeles at Colorado, 3 p.m. ET April 19 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNO,

SNW, SNP, TVAS)

Game 2: Los Angeles at Colorado, 10 p.m. ET April 21 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Colorado at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. April 23 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Colorado at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m. ET April 26 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNW, SNP, SN360, TVAS)

*Game 5: Los Angeles at Colorado, April 29 TBD

*Game 6: Colorado at Los Angeles, May 1 TBD

*Game 7: Los Angeles at Colorado, May 3 TBD

*- If necessary

Minnesota Wild (C3) vs. Dallas Stars (C2)

Game 1: Minnesota at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. ET April 18 (ESPN, SNO, SNW, SNP,

TVAS)

Game 2: Minnesota at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Dallas at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET April 22 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS)

Game 4: Dallas at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. ET April 25 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS)

*Game 5: Minnesota at Dallas, April 28 TBD

*Game 6: Dallas at Minnesota, April 30 TBD

*Game 7: Minnesota at Dallas, May 2 TBD

*- If necessary

Utah Mammoth (WC1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P1)

Game 1: Utah at Vegas, 10 p.m. ET April 19 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 2: Utah at Vegas, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 3: Vegas at Utah, 9:30 p.m. ET (TBS, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Vegas at Utah, April 27 TBD (ESPN)

*Game 5: Utah at Vegas, April 29 TBD

*Game 6: Vegas at Utah, May 1 TBD

*Game 7: Utah at Vegas, May 3 TBD

*- If necessary

Anaheim Ducks (P3) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2)

Game 1: Anaheim at Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 2: Anaheim at Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET April 22 (TBS, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 3: Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m. ET April 24 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN,

CBC, TVAS)

Game 4: Edmonton at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. ET April 26 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)

*Game 5: Anaheim at Edmonton, April 28 TBD

*Game 6: Edmonton at Anaheim, April 30 TBD

*Game 7: Anaheim at Edmonton, May 2 TBD

*- If necessary

How to stream the 2026 NHL playoffs

Live stream (U.S.): ESPN+, SlingTV, Fubo
Live stream (Canada): SN NOW, CBC Gem

Fans in the United States looking to stream the NHL playoffs have options. Games on ESPN's platforms can be streamed through ESPN+ or through Fubo, while those on TNT can be streamed through the TNT app and SlingTV.

For the Canadian audience, games on Sportsnet are available to stream on SN NOW. Any contests on CBC can be streamed through CBC Gem.

When is the 2026 Stanley Cup Final?

The Stanley Cup Final has a tentatively scheduled start date of June 3. This could change based on how long the Eastern and Western Conference finals take as well.