NHL · Postseason
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026
First Round · Semifinals · Conference Finals · Stanley Cup Finals
The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin with the First Round on April 18, 2026. Sixteen teams (8 per conference) compete in best-of-7 series. The Conference Semifinals start May 6, the Conference Finals May 22, and the Stanley Cup Finals begin June 4, 2026. All games air on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS in the US. SportBusy tracks every NHL playoff series with live scores, standings, and schedule updates.
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule
First Round
April 18 – May 5, 2026
Top 8 seeds from each conference compete. All series best-of-7.
Series
8
Best-of-7 (16 teams, 8 series)
Conference Semifinals
May 6 – May 22, 2026
4 series across East and West conferences.
Series
4
Best-of-7 (8 teams remain)
Conference Finals
May 22 – June 5, 2026
East and West winners determined — both advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Series
2
Best-of-7 (4 teams remain)
Stanley Cup Finals
June 4 – June ~24, 2026
Eastern Conference Champion vs. Western Conference Champion. Series can go up to 7 games.
Series
1
Best-of-7 (2 teams)
Playoff Format
Total Teams
16 teams (8 from each conference)
Format
Single-elimination series (best-of-7 each round)
Seeding
Top 3 division winners + 5 wild cards per conference
Home Ice
Higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7
Trophy
The Stanley Cup — awarded to champion on home ice
TV
ESPN / ABC / TNT / TBS / Max
Recent Stanley Cup Champions
| Season | Champion | Opponent | Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | TBD | TBD | — |
| 2023-24 | Florida Panthers | Edmonton Oilers | 7 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | Florida Panthers | 5 |
| 2021-22 | Colorado Avalanche | Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 |
| 2020-21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Montreal Canadiens | 5 |
| 2019-20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Dallas Stars | 6 |
| 2018-19 | St. Louis Blues | Boston Bruins | 7 |
| 2017-18 | Washington Capitals | Vegas Golden Knights | 5 |
Stanley Cup Playoffs FAQ
When do the NHL Playoffs 2026 start?
The 2026 NHL Playoffs begin with the First Round on April 18, 2026. The First Round features 8 best-of-7 series across the Eastern and Western Conferences.
When are the Stanley Cup Finals 2026?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals are scheduled to start on June 4, 2026. The series can go up to 7 games, potentially extending to late June.
How many teams make the NHL Playoffs?
16 teams qualify for the NHL Playoffs — 8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference. Each conference qualifies 3 division winners (seeds 1–3) plus 5 wild card teams (seeds 4–8).
How does the NHL playoff format work?
The NHL Playoffs are entirely best-of-7 series. In the first two rounds, the top 3 division winners are re-seeded (1–3) against wild cards (4–8) within each conference. Starting in the Conference Finals, the remaining four teams play best-of-7 for the championship.
What channel are the NHL Playoffs on?
In the United States, the NHL Playoffs air on ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS, and stream on Max (HBO Max) and ESPN+. The Stanley Cup Finals alternate between ABC and TNT year to year.
Who won the Stanley Cup most recently?
The Florida Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in 7 games. It was Florida's first Stanley Cup championship. The Oilers came back from a 3-0 deficit to force Game 7 before the Panthers won.
How does the Stanley Cup finals home ice work?
The team with the better regular season record gets home ice advantage, hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The away team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6.
What is the Presidents' Trophy in the NHL?
The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the NHL team with the best regular season record. Presidents' Trophy winners receive the #1 seed and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs in their conference.