The Stanley Cup on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame
(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Highlights
  • The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday, April 18 with a triple-header
  • All eight first-round matchups now have full schedules through Game 7
  • Jump to any series below for dates, times, and TV info

The NHL released the complete first-round schedule for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday. All eight best-of-seven series now have dates locked in through Game 7.

The action opens Saturday, April 18 with three games. Ottawa visits Carolina at 3 p.m. ET, Minnesota heads to Dallas at 5:30 p.m. ET, and Philadelphia travels to Pittsburgh for the nightcap at 8 p.m. ET.

Games 5, 6, and 7 are if necessary. All times are Eastern. Jump to any series below.

Eastern Conference

Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC2)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Saturday, April 183:00 PM ETOttawa at CarolinaESPN, SN, TVAS
2Monday, April 207:00 PM ETOttawa at CarolinaESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS
3Thursday, April 237:00 PM ETCarolina at OttawaSN, CBC, TVAS, TBS
4Saturday, April 253:00 PM ETCarolina at OttawaSN, TVAS, TBS, truTV
5Monday, April 27TBDOttawa at Carolina*TBD
6Thursday, April 30TBDCarolina at Ottawa*TBD
7Saturday, May 2TBDOttawa at Carolina*TBD

Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (M3)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Saturday, April 188:00 PM ETPhiladelphia at PittsburghESPN, SN, TVAS
2Monday, April 207:00 PM ETPhiladelphia at PittsburghESPN, SN360, TVAS
3Wednesday, April 227:00 PM ETPittsburgh at PhiladelphiaTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN
4Saturday, April 258:00 PM ETPittsburgh at PhiladelphiaTBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN
5Monday, April 27TBDPhiladelphia at Pittsburgh*TBD
6Wednesday, April 29TBDPittsburgh at Philadelphia*TBD
7Saturday, May 2TBDPhiladelphia at Pittsburgh*TBD

Buffalo Sabres (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Sunday, April 197:30 PM ETBoston at BuffaloESPN, SN, TVAS
2Tuesday, April 217:30 PM ETBoston at BuffaloESPN, SN360, TVAS
3Thursday, April 237:00 PM ETBuffalo at BostonTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN360
4Sunday, April 262:00 PM ETBuffalo at BostonTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN
5Tuesday, April 28TBDBoston at Buffalo*TBD
6Friday, May 1TBDBuffalo at Boston*TBD
7Sunday, May 3TBDBoston at Buffalo*TBD

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (A3)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Sunday, April 195:45 PM ETMontreal at Tampa BayTNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
2Tuesday, April 217:00 PM ETMontreal at Tampa BayESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS
3Friday, April 247:00 PM ETTampa Bay at MontrealTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC
4Sunday, April 267:00 PM ETTampa Bay at MontrealESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS
5Wednesday, April 29TBDMontreal at Tampa Bay*TBD
6Friday, May 1TBDTampa Bay at Montreal*TBD
7Sunday, May 3TBDMontreal at Tampa Bay*TBD

Western Conference

Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Sunday, April 193:00 PM ETLos Angeles at ColoradoTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN
2Tuesday, April 2110:00 PM ETLos Angeles at ColoradoESPN, SN360, TVAS
3Thursday, April 2310:00 PM ETColorado at Los AngelesTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN
4Sunday, April 264:30 PM ETColorado at Los AngelesTBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN
5Wednesday, April 29TBDLos Angeles at Colorado*TBD
6Friday, May 1TBDColorado at Los Angeles*TBD
7Sunday, May 3TBDLos Angeles at Colorado*TBD

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Minnesota Wild (C3)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Saturday, April 185:30 PM ETMinnesota at DallasESPN, SN, TVAS
2Monday, April 209:30 PM ETMinnesota at DallasESPN, SN360, TVAS
3Wednesday, April 229:30 PM ETDallas at MinnesotaTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN
4Saturday, April 255:30 PM ETDallas at MinnesotaTBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN
5Tuesday, April 28TBDMinnesota at Dallas*TBD
6Thursday, April 30TBDDallas at Minnesota*TBD
7Saturday, May 2TBDMinnesota at Dallas*TBD

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Utah Mammoth (WC1)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Sunday, April 1910:00 PM ETUtah at VegasESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS
2Tuesday, April 219:30 PM ETUtah at VegasESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS
3Friday, April 249:30 PM ETVegas at UtahTBS, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS
4Monday, April 27TBDVegas at UtahTBD
5Wednesday, April 29TBDUtah at Vegas*TBD
6Friday, May 1TBDVegas at Utah*TBD
7Sunday, May 3TBDUtah at Vegas*TBD

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Anaheim Ducks (P3)

GameDateTime (ET)MatchupTV
1Monday, April 2010:00 PM ETAnaheim at EdmontonESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS
2Wednesday, April 2210:00 PM ETAnaheim at EdmontonTBS, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS
3Friday, April 2410:00 PM ETEdmonton at AnaheimTNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC
4Sunday, April 269:30 PM ETEdmonton at AnaheimESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS
5Tuesday, April 28TBDAnaheim at Edmonton*TBD
6Thursday, April 30TBDEdmonton at Anaheim*TBD
7Saturday, May 2TBDAnaheim at Edmonton*TBD

The Penguins-Flyers series is the one I’m watching closest. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang in a playoff series against Philadelphia with this much on the line is as good as it gets in the first round. The Avalanche are the clear favorites to come out of the West, but Edmonton and Anaheim could be the most entertaining matchup of the bunch.

Jason Clarke
Jason Clarke
Seattle Kraken fan who currently resides in Burnaby, BC. I cover the Kraken and NHL as a whole for Gino Hard. I've previously written for Rotoworld and Bleacher Report among other outlets. Hit me up on Twitter!
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