PWHL Playoffs 2026: Schedule, Teams, Format & How to Watch Live

The PWHL finals are in full swing, and this year, no matter the outcome, the league is guaranteed to crown a new Walter Cup Champion from Canada. The Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge are battling in a best-of-five championship series, and we’ve got everything you need to know about the PWHL Finals schedule, TV channels and streaming options right here.

PWHL Finals Schedule & TV Information

The Victoire and Charge will compete in a best-of-five series to determine who the new Walter Cup Champion will be for the 2026 season.

Fans can stream every game live on national television, with coverage on ION in the US and TSN and RDS in Canada.

• Game 1: Thursday, May 14 – Montreal Victoire 3, Ottawa Charge 2 (OT1)
• Game 2: Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Monday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET
• Game 4*: Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. ET
• Game 5*: Date & Time TBD

*If necessary

This guide breaks down everything you need to know — including the playoff format, current matchups and exactly how to watch every game live in the US.

PWHL Playoffs 2026: What to Know

• The playoffs feature the top four teams competing in best-of-five series
• The winner receives the Walter Cup
• The No. 1 seed chooses its semifinal opponent (unique rule)
• For US viewers, can stream games for free on PWHL’s YouTube channel and at thepwhl.com
• Regional US TV coverage includes: NESN (Boston) and FOX 9 (Minnesota)
• Walter Cup Finals will air nationally on ION
• The 2026 semifinals include:
• Montréal Victoire (No. 1) vs. Minnesota Frost (No. 3) (2-time defending champions)
• Boston Fleet (No. 2) vs. Ottawa Charge (No. 4)

How to Watch the PWHL Playoffs (2026)

Fans can watch all the action live across a number of platforms, depending on where they are located. Check out all the options below:

• Free streaming: Every 2026 PWHL playoff game is available for free on the league’s official YouTube channel and at thepwhl.com.
• U.S. TV coverage:
• Boston Fleet games will air on NESN or NESN+
• Minnesota Frost games will air on FOX 9+
• Games also available via Scripps Sports Network
• Championship series: The Walter Cup Finals will air nationally in the U.S. on ION

Canadian fans can catch the action on Prime Video (French language coverage), TSN and RDS

PWHL Playoffs 2026 Schedule

The 2026 PWHL Playoffs begin with two best-of-five semifinal series. The first team to win three games advances to the Walter Cup Finals.

Boston Fleet vs. Ottawa Charge (Semifinal Series)

• Game 1: April 30 – Boston 2, Ottawa 1
• Game 2: May 2 – Ottawa 3, Boston 1
• Game 3: May 8 – Ottawa 2, Boston 1
• Game 4 (if necessary): May 10 – Ottawa 4, Boston 3 (OT2)

Ottawa Charge win semifinal series 3-1.

Montréal Victoire vs. Minnesota Frost (Semifinal Series)

• Game 1: May 2 – Minnesota 5, Montreal 4 (OT)
• Game 2: May 5 – Montreal 1, Minnesota 0 (OT3)
• Game 3: May 7 – Montreal 2, Minnesota 1
• Game 4 (if necessary): May 8 – Minnesota 3, Montreal 1
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 12 – Minnesota 1, Montreal 2

Montreal Victoire win semifinal series 3-2.

Walter Cup Finals

• Start Date: Thursday, May 14
• Format: Best-of-five series
• TV: ION (U.S.)

Looking for a breakdown of how the PWHL playoff format works and what makes it unique? Here’s what to know.

PWHL Playoff Format (2026 Explained)

The PWHL playoff format is simple: four teams, two rounds decided by best-of-five series.

The top four teams in the regular-season standings qualify for the playoffs. The semifinals and the Walter Cup Finals are both played as best-of-five series, meaning the first team to win three games advances.

Unlike many other hockey leagues, the PWHL does not use shootouts in the playoffs.

During the regular season, games tied after overtime go to a shootout. But in the playoffs, teams play continuous 5-on-5 sudden-death overtime until a goal is scored, no matter how long it takes.

This rule had a major impact in the 2025 Walter Cup Finals, when every game went to overtime — including the championship-clinching Game 4.

Teams are seeded 1 through 4 based on regular-season points using a 3-2-1-0 system:

• 3 points for a regulation win
• 2 points for an overtime or shootout win
• 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss
• 0 points for a regulation loss

This system rewards teams that win in regulation while still keeping games competitive.

The Unique Rule: No. 1 Seed Chooses Its Opponent

One rule makes the PWHL playoffs different from every other major North American hockey league: the No. 1 seed chooses its semifinal opponent.

After the regular season ends, the top-seeded team has 24 hours to select whether it wants to face the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. The remaining team then plays the No. 2 seed.

This format adds a strategic layer you won’t see in the NHL or AHL. Instead of a fixed bracket, the best team in the league has to make a public decision about its preferred matchup — and live with it.

In the 2026 PWHL Playoffs, the Montréal Victoire used that advantage to select the Minnesota Frost, the two-time defending Walter Cup champions. That decision left the Boston Fleet to face the Ottawa Charge in the other semifinal.

Choosing a proven champion over a lower seed is unusual, but it shows just how competitive the league has become — and adds extra intensity to an already high-stakes series.

PWHL Playoffs 2026 Bracket: Teams & Matchups

Two semifinal series are locked in and will begin on Thursday, April 30, kicking off the 2026 PWHL Playoffs:

Boston Fleet (No. 2) vs. Ottawa Charge (No. 4)

• Series start: April 30 (Lowell, MA)
• Boston enters with home-ice advantage after finishing with one of the league’s top records (16 regulation wins, 5 OT wins, 4 OT losses, 5 regulation losses; 62 points)
• Ottawa secured a playoff spot late in the season with a strong final stretch

Montréal Victoire (No. 1) vs. Minnesota Frost (No. 3)

• Series start: May 2 (Laval, QC)
• Montréal earned the No. 1 seed and chose Minnesota as its opponent
• Minnesota is the two-time defending Walter Cup champion

Players to Watch in the 2026 PWHL Playoffs

These are just a few of the players expected to make a huge impact for their teams this post season.

Aerin Frankel (Boston Fleet, G)

Frankel recorded a PWHL-record eight shutouts in 26 games and enters the playoffs as a leading MVP candidate. If Boston makes a deep run, the success will likely start in net.

Alina Müller (Boston Fleet, F)

Müller set a league record with 17 assists this season and plays a key role in Boston’s offense as an alternate captain.

Kelly Pannek (Minnesota Frost, F)

The league leader in goals and points (16 goals, 33 points), Pannek is central to Minnesota’s push for a third straight Walter Cup.

Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal Victoire, F)

One of the biggest names in women’s hockey, Poulin’s health remains a major storyline heading into the series.

Laura Stacey (Montréal Victoire, F)

Stepped up during Poulin’s absence with 21 points in 27 games and remains a key offensive contributor.

Ann-Renée Desbiens (Montréal Victoire, G)

Provides elite goaltending stability and gives Montréal a strong chance in any series.

About the PWHL

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) launched in 2024 and has quickly grown into one of the most competitive leagues in women’s sports.

The league expanded to eight teams for the 2025–26 season, adding Seattle and Vancouver, and continues to build momentum with strong viewership and investment.

Minnesota has won the first two Walter Cup championships, making the 2026 playoffs a key moment as other teams look to break through.

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