The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived, and 16 of the NHL’s top teams will once again hit the ice to take their shot at hoisting the Stanley Cup itself in June.
The NHL has one of the longest postseasons in professional sports, and it can be difficult to keep up with where and when your favorite teams are set to play. Here’s a complete guide to the whole 2026 NHL Playoffs schedule. Plus, we’ll break down some of the biggest storylines leading into the postseason, and who the favorites to win it all are.
Don’t forget: You can watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs every day on DIRECTV! Sign up today and start watching all the action on the ice.
When Do the Stanley Cup Playoffs Start in 2026?
The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on April 18, 2026. They’ll conclude with the Stanley Cup Final in mid-June 2026.
Key Postseason Dates in 2026 NHL Playoffs
Here are the key dates in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for 2026:
First Round: April 18- May 3
Second Round Starts: May 6
Conference Finals Start: May 22
Stanley Cup Final: June 3 – 21
2026 NHL Playoffs Teams: Which Teams Made the Stanley Cup Playoffs This Year?
Sixteen of the NHL’s best teams, eight from each conference, make the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year. Here’s the field for the 2026 NHL playoffs.
2026 Remaining Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
Atlantic Division
- Buffalo Sabres (108 points)
- Montreal Canadiens (106 points)
Metropolitan Division
- Carolina Hurricanes (113 points)
2026 Western Conference Playoff Teams
Central Division
- Colorado Avalanche (119 points)
Pacific Division
- Vegas Golden Knights (93 points)
Full 2026 NHL Playoff Schedule
Here’s the complete NHL Playoffs schedule. Games 5-7 will be scheduled as they become necessary.
2026 NHL Playoffs Conference Final Schedule & Eastern Conference Scenarios
Eastern Conference Final: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres or Montreal Canadiens
If Canadiens–Sabres series is decided in six games
Game 1: Tuesday, May 19 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
Game 2: Thursday, May 21 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
Game 3: Saturday, May 23 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
Game 4: Monday, May 25 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
*Game 5: Wednesday, May 27 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
*Game 6: Friday, May 29 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
*Game 7: Sunday, May 31 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
If Canadiens–Sabres series is decided in seven games
Game 1: Thursday, May 21 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
Game 2: Saturday, May 23 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
Game 3: Monday, May 25 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
*Game 5: Friday, May 29 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
*Game 6: Sunday, May 31 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal)
*Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 — TBD on TNT/truTV/HBO Max (Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina)
Western Conference Final: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1: Wednesday, May 20 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (Vegas at Colorado)
Game 2: Friday, May 22 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (Vegas at Colorado)
Game 3: Sunday, May 24 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (Colorado at Vegas)
Game 4: Tuesday, May 26 — TBD on ESPN (Colorado at Vegas)
*Game 5: Thursday, May 28 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (Vegas at Colorado)
*Game 6: Saturday, May 30 — 8 p.m. ET on ABC (Colorado at Vegas)
*Game 7: Monday, June 1 — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (Vegas at Colorado)
2026 NHL Playoffs Round 2 Schedule
Eastern Conference
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens (Montreal leads 3-2)
Game 1: Buffalo 4, Montreal 2
Game 2: Montreal 5, Buffalo 1
Game 3: Montreal 6, Buffalo 2
Game 4: Buffalo 3, Montreal 2
Game 5: Montreal 6, Buffalo 3
Game 6: May 16 — 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN (Buffalo at Montreal)
Game 7*: May 18 — 7:30 p.m. on ESPN (Montreal at Buffalo)
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Carolina wins 4-0)
Game 1: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 0
Game 2: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT)
Game 3: Carolina 4, Philadelphia 1
Game 4: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild (Colorado wins 4-1)
Game 1: Colorado 9, Minnesota 6
Game 2: Colorado 5, Minnesota 2
Game 3: Minnesota 5, Colorado 1
Game 4: Colorado 5, Minnesota 1
Game 5: Colorado 4, Minnesota 3
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks (Vegas wins 4-2)
Game 1: Vegas 3, Anaheim 1
Game 2: Anaheim 3, Vegas 1
Game 3: Vegas 6, Anaheim 2
Game 4: Anaheim 4, Vegas 3
Game 5: Vegas 3, Anaheim 2
Game 6: Vegas 5, Anaheim 1
2026 NHL Playoffs Round 1 Results
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres (Buffalo wins 4-2)
- Game 1: Buffalo 5, Boston 2
- Game 2: Boston 4, Buffalo 2
- Game 3: Buffalo 3, Boston 1
- Game 4: Buffalo 6, Boston 1
- Game 5: Boston 2, Buffalo 1 (OT)
- Game 6: Buffalo 4, Boston 1
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (Series tied 3-3)
- Game 1: Montreal 4, Tampa Bay 3 (OT)
- Game 2: Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Montreal 3, Tampa Bay 2 (OT)
- Game 4: Tampa Bay 3, Montreal 2
- Game 5: Montreal 3, Tampa Bay 2
- Game 6: Tampa Bay 1, Montreal 0 (OT)
- Game 7: May 3 — 6 p.m. on TNT
Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Hurricanes win 4-0)
- Game 1: Carolina 2, Ottawa 0
- Game 2: Carolina 3, Ottawa 2 (2OT)
- Game 3: Carolina 2, Ottawa 1
- Game 4: Carolina 4, Ottawa 2
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Flyers win 4-2)
- Game 1: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 2
- Game 2: Philadelphia 3, Pittsburgh 0
- Game 3: Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 2
- Game 4: Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 2
- Game 5: Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2
- Game 6: Philadelphia 1, Pittsburgh 0
Western Conference
Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche (Avalanche wins 4-0)
- Game 1: Avalanche 2, Kings 1
- Game 2: Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT)
- Game 3: Avalanche 4, Kings 2
- Game 4: Avalanche 5, Kings 1
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars (Wild wins 4-2)
- Game 1: Minnesota 6, Dallas 1
- Game 2: Dallas 4, Minnesota 2
- Game 3: Dallas 4, Minnesota 3 (2OT)
- Game 4: Minnesota 3, Dallas 2 (OT)
- Game 5: Minnesota 4, Dallas 2
- Game 6: Minnesota 5, Dallas 2
Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Vegas wins 4-2)
- Game 1: Vegas 4, Utah 2
- Game 2: Utah 3, Vegas 2
- Game 3: Utah 4, Vegas 2
- Game 4: Vegas 5, Utah 4 (OT)
- Game 5: Vegas 5, Utah 4 (2OT)
- Game 6: Vegas 5, Utah 1
Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers (Anaheim wins 4-2)
- Game 1: Edmonton 4, Anaheim 3
- Game 2: Anaheim 6, Edmonton 4
- Game 3: Anaheim 7, Edmonton 4
- Game 4: Anaheim 4, Edmonton 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Edmonton 4, Anaheim 1
- Game 6: Anaheim 5, Edmonton 2
2026 NHL Playoffs Bracket
Here’s the full bracket for the 2026 NHL postseason:
Eastern Conference
- Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
- Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth
- Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings (likely)
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks (likely)
Watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs on DIRECTV
Don’t miss any playoff hockey during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sign up for DIRECTV and watch every game of every series.
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