NHL · Postseason
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026
First Round · Semifinals · Conference Finals · Stanley Cup Finals
When do the NHL Playoffs 2026 start? The 2026 Stanley Cup Schedule
First Round Starts
April 18, 2026
Stanley Cup Finals Start
June 4, 2026
Teams
16 (8 per conference)
TV (US)
ESPN · ABC · TNT · TBS
The 2026 NHL Playoffs begin Saturday, April 18, 2026 with the First Round. Sixteen teams — 8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference — compete in best-of-7 series across four rounds. The Conference Semifinals start May 6, Conference Finals May 22, and the Stanley Cup Finals begin June 4, 2026. Every game is streamed live on ESPN+ and Max; national TV coverage is split between ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS.
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — First Round Bracket
First Round begins April 18, 2026. All series best-of-7. NHL uses fixed bracket — no reseeding after Round 1. Seedings based on final regular-season standings.
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Eastern Conference
First RoundBest of 7
First RoundBest of 7
First RoundBest of 7
First RoundBest of 7
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Western Conference
* Matchups based on standings as of April 12, 2026. Final seedings determined after April 16 regular season conclusion. A1=Atlantic Div. winner, M1=Metro Div. winner, C1=Central, P1=Pacific. WC=Wild Card.
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)
2026 NHL Playoff Games — Live Schedule & Scores
Full Schedule & TV Times →First Round Eastern Conference
19 gamesSat, Apr 18
Sun, Apr 19
Mon, Apr 20
Tue, Apr 21
Wed, Apr 22
Thu, Apr 23
Fri, Apr 24
Sat, Apr 25
Sun, Apr 26
Mon, Apr 27
Tue, Apr 28
First Round Western Conference
19 gamesSat, Apr 18
Sun, Apr 19
Mon, Apr 20
Tue, Apr 21
Wed, Apr 22
Thu, Apr 23
Fri, Apr 24
Sat, Apr 25
Sun, Apr 26
Mon, Apr 27
Tue, Apr 28
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
2026 NHL Playoff TV Schedule
Every 2026 NHL Playoff game has a national TV home in the US and Canada. First Round games are spread across ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS, with ESPN+ and Max streaming every game. The Stanley Cup Finals return to ABC in 2026 under the current NHL TV deal.
| Round | US TV | Streaming | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round — Games 1–4 | ESPN · ABC · TNT · TBS | ESPN+ · Max · Sling | Sportsnet · CBC |
| First Round — Games 5–7 | ESPN · TNT · TBS · ESPN2 | ESPN+ · Max | Sportsnet |
| Conference Semifinals | ESPN · TNT · TBS · ABC | ESPN+ · Max | Sportsnet · CBC |
| Conference Finals | ESPN · TNT (split by conference) | ESPN+ · Max | Sportsnet · CBC |
| Stanley Cup Finals | ABC · ESPN2 (simulcast) | ESPN+ | Sportsnet · CBC |
* TV assignments finalized by the NHL roughly 48 hours before each game. Puck drop times usually fall between 6:30 PM and 10:30 PM ET, with simultaneous games split across networks.
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 Saturday, April 18, 2026, with the First Round. Game 1 of multiple First Round series will be played on April 18, with the remaining openers stretched across April 19–21 so every series has a standalone national TV window.
When do the NHL Playoffs start in 2026?
NHL Playoff First Round games begin on April 18, 2026 and run through approximately May 5. Series are best-of-7, and most series play every other night once they begin.
When are the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals are scheduled to begin on June 4, 2026. Game 7 (if necessary) would be played around June 22–24, 2026. The home team for Game 1 is determined by the team with the better regular season record, regardless of conference.
What is the full 2026 NHL Playoff schedule?
First Round: April 18 – May 5, 2026 (best-of-7, 8 series). Conference Semifinals: May 6 – May 22, 2026 (4 series). Conference Finals: May 22 – June 5, 2026 (2 series). Stanley Cup Finals: June 4 – late June 2026.
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 channels are the 2026 NHL Playoffs on?
In the United States, the 2026 NHL Playoffs air across four national networks: ESPN, ABC, TNT, and TBS — plus streaming on Max (HBO Max) and ESPN+. First Round games are split between ESPN/ABC and TNT/TBS. In Canada, every playoff game airs on Sportsnet and CBC.
What channel are the Stanley Cup Finals 2026 on?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals will air on ABC and ESPN+ in the United States. Under the current NHL TV deal, the Stanley Cup Finals alternate between ABC (ESPN group) in even years and TNT in odd years — 2026 is an ABC/ESPN year.
Can I stream the NHL Playoffs 2026 online?
Yes. US viewers can stream every 2026 NHL Playoff game on ESPN+, Max (HBO Max), and Sling TV. In Canada, Sportsnet+ streams every playoff game. Internationally, NHL.TV and ESPN+ offer out-of-market streaming.
Who won the Stanley Cup most recently?
The Florida Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first team to repeat as champions since the 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2024 they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in 7 games; in 2025 they beat the Oilers again in 6 games.
How does home ice work in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
The higher-seeded team gets home ice advantage and hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The lower-seeded team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice goes to the team with the better regular-season record regardless of conference.
What is the Presidents' Trophy?
The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the NHL team with the best regular-season record. The Presidents' Trophy winner receives home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, but has only won the Stanley Cup 9 times since the trophy was introduced in 1986.
How many rounds are in the NHL Playoffs?
Four rounds: First Round, Conference Semifinals (Second Round), Conference Finals (Third Round), and the Stanley Cup Finals. Each round is a best-of-7 series. A team must win 16 games total (4 per round) to lift the Stanley Cup.
When will the Stanley Cup be awarded in 2026?
The 2026 Stanley Cup will be awarded at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals, which begin June 4, 2026. If the Finals go the distance, the trophy would be awarded on or around June 22–24, 2026.
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