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For hockey fans, it’s the best time of the year. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here, and after a regular season defined by historic turnarounds and shifting divisional powers, the 2026 bracket is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
In the Eastern Conference, the field is a mix of battle-tested giants and long-awaited homecomings. The headline is the Buffalo Sabres, who not only snapped an NHL-record 14-season postseason drought but did so by capturing the Atlantic Division title. They’ll open against a Boston Bruins squad that returned to form after a year away, setting up a clash between Buffalo’s high-octane offense and Boston’s elite defensive structure. Meanwhile, the Battle of Pennsylvania is back, as the Penguins and Flyers renew their fierce rivalry in a first-round series for the first time since 2018.
Over in the West, the Colorado Avalanche have secured the Presidents’ Trophy, ensuring the road to the Cup runs through Denver. However, they face a gauntlet of contenders, including a Dallas Stars team that looks dangerous after a franchise-record winning streak and a Vegas Golden Knights squad that has found a new gear since John Tortorella took over the bench.
From the emergence of young stars like Cole Caufield to the enduring brilliance of veterans like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, the stage is set for two months of high-stakes, sudden-death drama. With six teams qualifying for the postseason after missing out last year, the hunger for a deep run has never been higher. Let the chase for 16 wins begin.
The Sporting News has the complete bracket and schedule throughout the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check it out below.
NHL playoff bracket 2026
Click here for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, updated live as series are completed.
SN
Second Round
Eastern Conference
| (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers | Tied 0-0 |
| (A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning/(A3) Montreal Canadiens | Tied 0-0 |
Western Conference
| (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild | Tied 0-0 |
| (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Anaheim Ducks | Tied 0-0 |
First Round
Eastern Conference
| (A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins | Buffalo wins 4-2 |
| (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Montreal Canadiens | Tied 3-3 |
| (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators | Carolina wins 4-0 |
| (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Philadelphia Flyers | Philadelphia wins 4-2 |
Western Conference
| (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings | Colorado wins 4-0 |
| (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild | Minnesota wins 4-2 |
| (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Utah Mammoth | Vegas wins 4-2 |
| (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Anaheim Ducks | Anaheim wins 4-2 |
NHL playoffs schedule, scores 2026
Second Round
Hurricanes vs. Flyers
| May 2 | Game 1 at Carolina | 8 p.m. | ABC, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 4 | Game 2 at Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 7 | Game 3 at Philadelphia | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 9 | Game 4 at Philadelphia | 6 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 11 | Game 5 at Carolina* | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 13 | Game 6 at Philadelphia* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 16 | Game 7 at Carolina* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
* If necessary
Sabres vs. Lightning/Canadiens
| May 6 | Game 1 at Buffalo | 7 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 8 | Game 2 at Buffalo | 7 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 10 | Game 3 at TB/Montreal | 7 p.m. | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 12 | Game 4 at TB/Montreal | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 14 | Game 5 at Buffalo* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 16 | Game 6 at TB/Montreal* | TBA | ABC or ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 18 | Game 7 at Buffalo* | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
* If necessary
Avalanche vs. Wild
| May 3 | Game 1 at Colorado | 9 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 5 | Game 2 at Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 9 | Game 3 at Minnesota | 9 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 11 | Game 4 at Minnesota | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 13 | Game 5 at Colorado* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 15 | Game 6 at Minnesota* | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 17 | Game 7 at Colorado* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
* If necessary
Golden Knights vs. Ducks
| May 4 | Game 1 at Vegas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 6 | Game 2 at Vegas | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 8 | Game 3 at Anaheim | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 10 | Game 4 at Anaheim | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 12 | Game 5 at Vegas* | TBA | ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
| May 14 | Game 6 at Anaheim* | TBA | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| May 16 | Game 7 at Vegas* | TBA | ABC or ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN app |
* If necessary
First Round
Sabres vs. Bruins - Buffalo wins 4-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 19 | Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3 | — | — |
| April 21 | Game 2: Bruins 4, Sabres 2 | — | — |
| April 23 | Game 3: Sabres 3, Bruins 1 | — | — |
| April 26 | Game 4: Sabres 6, Bruins 1 | — | — |
| April 28 | Game 5: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT) | — | — |
| May 1 | Game 6: Sabres 4, Bruins 1 | — | — |
Lightning vs. Canadiens - Tied 3-3
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 19 | Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | — | — |
| April 21 | Game 2: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | — | — |
| April 24 | Game 3: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT) | — | — |
| April 26 | Game 4: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 | — | — |
| April 29 | Game 5: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 | — | — |
| May 1 | Game 6: Lightning 1, Canadiens 0 (OT) | — | — |
| May 3 | Game 7: Canadiens at Lightning | 6 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
Hurricanes vs. Senators - Carolina wins 4-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 18 | Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Senators 0 | — | — |
| April 20 | Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2 (2 OT) | — | — |
| April 23 | Game 3: Hurricanes 2, Senators 1 | — | — |
| April 25 | Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Senators 2 | — | — |
Penguins vs. Flyers - Philadelphia wins 4-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 18 | Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | — | — |
| April 20 | Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins | — | — |
| April 22 | Game 3: Flyers 5, Penguins 2 | — | — |
| April 25 | Game 4: Penguins 4, Flyers 2 | — | — |
| April 27 | Game 5: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | — | — |
| April 29 | Game 6: Flyers 1, Penguins 0 (OT) | — | — |
Avalanche vs. Kings - Colorado wins 4-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 19 | Game 1: Avalanche 2, Kings 1 | — | — |
| April 21 | Game 2: Avalanche 2, Kings 1 (OT) | — | — |
| April 23 | Game 3: Avalanche 4, Kings 2 | — | — |
| April 26 | Game 4: Avalanche 5, Kings 1 | — | — |
Stars vs. Wild - Minnesota wins 4-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 18 | Game 1: Wild 6, Stars 1 | — | — |
| April 20 | Game 2: Stars 4, Wild 2 | — | — |
| April 22 | Game 3: Stars 4, Wild 3 (2 OT) | — | — |
| April 25 | Game 4: Wild 3, Stars 2 (OT) | — | — |
| April 28 | Game 5: Wild 4, Stars 2 | — | — |
| April 30 | Game 6: Wild 5, Stars 2 | — | — |
Golden Knights vs. Mammoth - Vegas wins 4-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 19 | Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Mammoth 2 | — | — |
| April 21 | Game 2: Mammoth 3, Golden Knights 2 | — | — |
| April 24 | Game 3: Mammoth 4, Golden Knights 2 | — | — |
| April 27 | Game 4: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (OT) | — | — |
| April 29 | Game 5: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 4 (2 OT) | — | — |
| May 1 | Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Mammoth 1 | — | — |
Oilers vs. Ducks - Anaheim wins 4-2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Watch |
| April 20 | Game 1: Oilers 4, Ducks 3 | — | — |
| April 22 | Game 2: Ducks 6, Oilers 4 | — | — |
| April 24 | Game 3: Ducks 7, Oilers 4 | — | — |
| April 26 | Game 4: Ducks 4, Oilers 3 (OT) | — | — |
| April 28 | Game 5: Oilers 4, Ducks 1 | — | — |
| April 30 | Game 6: Ducks 5, Oilers 2 | — | — |
Where to watch NHL playoffs 2026
The Stanley Cup Playoffs will be broadcast across ESPN and TNT Sports platforms, with six different channels being destinations for games. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC.
Fans can live stream every game from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV. Games appearing on ESPN networks, including ABC, can also be streamed live on fubo and the ESPN app.
Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.
Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.
How will the 2026 NHL playoffs work?
Sixteen teams qualify for the NHL playoffs, eight from each conference. This includes the top three seeds from each division, who earn automatic berths. The remaining four spots are filled by the two highest-placed finishers in each conference outside of the automatic qualifiers, regardless of their division.
The NHL uses a fixed, division-based bracket. There is no reseeding between rounds, meaning teams can map out their potential path to the Final from Day 1. The division winner with the best record in the conference plays the wild card with the fewer points. The other division winner plays the wild card with more points. Meanwhile, the teams that finished second and third in each division face off against one another. The winners of the first-round series within each divisional bracket meet to determine who moves on to the Conference Finals, then the final four teams battle for their respective conference titles.
The Eastern Conference champion and Western Conference champion then meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
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