2026 Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule – The Hockey Writers –

Follow every game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with insightful opinions, highlights, and breaking news.

Eastern Conference Round 1

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 30 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 Round 1

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