2026 NHL Playoff Schedule: Stanley Cup Finals
The NHL Playoffs, are commonly known as the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2025-2026 National Hockey League (NHL) postseason tournament begins on April, 2025 and ends after the Stanley Cup Finals. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket is set with the 16 teams in two conferences.
2026 NHL Playoff Bracket:
Eastern Conference:
- Capitals
- Leafs
- Lightning
- Hurricanes
- Panthers
- Senators
- Devils
- Canadiens
Western Conference
- Jets
- Knights
- Stars
- Kings
- Avalanche
- Oilers
- Wild
- Blues
When do the NHL playoffs start in 2026?
The 2025 NHL playoffs’ tentative schedule of the round 1 game is on Saturday, April, 2026, and is expected to end the Stanley Cup finals on June, 2026.
2026 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule:
| Date | Games | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Wed, June 4 | 1 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Fri, June 6 | 2 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Mon, June 9 | 3 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Thu, June 12 | 4 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Sat, June 14 | 5 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Tue, June 17 | 6 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
| Fri, June 20 | 7 | TBD | TBD | TNT |
Who is the defending champion of the 2026 Stanley Cup finals?
Florida Panthers wins the 2025 Stanley Cup finals over the Edmonton Oilers by a 4-3 series.
2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are on what TV channel?
According to the broadcast rights, ESPN and Turner Sports show NHL games live in the U.S. Canadian fans can stream NHL’s Out-of-market games on Sportsnet Now Premium and the entire season exclusively on the Sportsnet media network, but a deal with Sportsnet that Saturday Hockey Night in Canada will air on CBC Television.
How NHL playoffs format does work?
In each conference, 8 teams qualify for the playoffs. The first, second, and third rank teams are automatically selected for the playoffs. The two highest records of additional teams will be played in the wild cards. The most points-taking team will earn the home-field advantage from each conference in the playoffs. Each round will be the best-of-seven series that needs 4 wins.
Please Note: All the NHL game schedules you see here are unofficial and subject to change. Get the official NHL games schedule by visiting nhl.com/schedule.