Who will make the biggest upset?
Who will be a huge disappointment?
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs!
When the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in June, they captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Following the win, analysts and fans immediately began talking about the possibility of a dynasty in Florida. But they missed the playoffs. Here’s what to know about the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
GUIDE: World Cup of Hockey 2028: Everything you need to know
NHL 2025–2026 regular season schedule
The regular season leading up to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled from October 7 to April 16, with a total of 1,312 games.
Two games will be played in Sweden on November 14 and 16, featuring the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The season will include two nights when all NHL teams are in action: October 11 and October 28.
There was a 19-day Olympic break from February 6 to February 24.
The No. 1 draft pick, Matthew Schaefer, made his NHL debut on October 9. The New York Islanders faced the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Outdoor games NHL 2025-2026
January 2: The NHL Winter Classic was held at loanDepot Park in Miami. The Florida Panthers hosted the New York Rangers. The Rangers won the game 5-1.
February 1: The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium. It was a part of the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. The Lightning won the game 6-5.
When do the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs start?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begun on April 18. Below you will find the matchups and current standings.
Eastern Conference Round 1
Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins: 4-2.
April 19: Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins 4-3
April 21: Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins 2-4
April 23: Boston Bruins – Buffalo Sabres 1-3
April 26: Boston Bruins – Buffalo Sabres 1-6
April 28: Buffalo Sabres – Boston Bruins 1-2 OT
May 1: Boston Bruins – Buffalo Sabres 1-4
Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens: 3-4.
April 19: Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens 3-4 OT
April 21: Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens 3-2 OT
April 24: Montreal Canadiens – Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 OT
April 26: Montreal Canadiens – Tampa Bay Lightning 2-3
April 29: Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens 2-3
May 1: Montreal Canadiens – Tampa Bay Lightning 0-1 OT
May 3: Tampa Bay Lightning – Montreal Canadiens 1-2
Carolina Hurricanes – Ottawa Senators: 4-0.
April 18: Carolina Hurricanes – Ottawa Senators 2-0
April 20: Carolina Hurricanes – Ottawa Senators 3-2 2OT
April 23: Ottawa Senators – Carolina Hurricanes 1-2
April 25: Ottawa Senators – Carolina Hurricanes 2-4
Pittsburgh Penguins – Philadelphia Flyers: 2-4.
April 18: Pittsburgh Penguins – Philadelphia Flyers 2-3
April 20: Pittsburgh Penguins – Philadelphia Flyers 0-3
April 22: Philadelphia Flyers – Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2
April 25: Philadelphia Flyers – Pittsburgh Penguins 2-4
April 27: Pittsburgh Penguins – Philadelphia Flyers 3-2
April 29: Philadelphia Flyers – Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0
Eastern Conference Round 2
Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens 3-3.
May 6: Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens 4-2
May 8: Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens 1-5
May 10: Montreal Canadiens – Buffalo Sabres 6-2
May 12: Montreal Canadiens – Buffalo Sabres 2-3
May 14: Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens 3-6
May 16: Montreal Canadiens – Buffalo Sabres 3-8
May 18: Buffalo Sabres – Montreal Canadiens 2-3 OT
Carolina Hurricanes – Philadelphia Flyers 4-0.
May 2: Carolina Hurricanes – Philadelphia Flyers 3-0
May 4: Carolina Hurricanes – Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 OT
May 7: Philadelphia Flyers – Carolina Hurricanes 1-4
May 9: Philadelphia Flyers – Carolina Hurricanes 2-3 OT
May 11: Carolina Hurricanes – Philadelphia Flyers
May 13: Philadelphia Flyers – Carolina Hurricanes
May 16: Carolina Hurricanes – Philadelphia Flyers
Eastern Conference Round 3
Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens 0-1.
May 21: Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens 2-6
May 23: Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens 3-2 OT
May 25: Montreal Canadiens – Carolina Hurricanes
May 27: Montreal Canadiens – Carolina Hurricanes
May 29: Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens
May 31: Montreal Canadiens – Carolina Hurricanes
June 2: Carolina Hurricanes – Montreal Canadiens
Western Conference Round 1
Colorado Avalanche – Los Angeles Kings: 4-0.
April 19: Colorado Avalanche – Los Angeles Kings 2-1
April 21: Colorado Avalanche – Los Angeles Kings 2-1 OT
April 23: Los Angeles Kings – Colorado Avalanche 2-4
April 26: Los Angeles Kings – Colorado Avalanche 1-5
Dallas Stars – Minnesota Wild: 2-4.
April 18: Dallas Stars – Minnesota Wild 1-6
April 20: Dallas Stars – Minnesota Wild 4-2
April 22: Minnesota Wild – Dallas Stars 3-4 2OT
April 25: Minnesota Wild – Dallas Stars 3-2 OT
April 28: Dallas Stars – Minnesota Wild 2-4
April 30: Minnesota Wild – Dallas Stars 5-2
Vegas Golden Knights – Utah Mammoth: 4-2.
April 19: Vegas Golden Knights – Utah Mammoth 4-2
April 21: Vegas Golden Knights – Utah Mammoth 2-3
April 24: Utah Mammoth – Vegas Golden Knights 4-2
April 27: Utah Mammoth – Vegas Golden Knights 4-5 OT
April 29: Vegas Golden Knights – Utah Mammoth 5-4 OT
May 1: Utah Mammoth – Vegas Golden Knights 1-5
Edmonton Oilers – Anaheim Ducks: 2-4.
April 20: Edmonton Oilers – Anaheim Ducks 4-3
April 22: Edmonton Oilers – Anaheim Ducks 4-6
April 24: Anaheim Ducks – Edmonton Oilers 7-4
April 26: Anaheim Ducks – Edmonton Oilers 4-3 OT
April 28: Edmonton Oilers – Anaheim Ducks 4-1
April 30: Anaheim Ducks – Edmonton Oilers 5-2
Western Conference Round 2
Colorado Avalanche – Minnesota Wild 4-1.
May 3: Colorado Avalanche – Minnesota Wild 9-6
May 5: Colorado Avalanche – Minnesota Wild 5-2
May 9: Minnesota Wild – Colorado Avalanche 5-1
May 11: Minnesota Wild – Colorado Avalanche 2-5
May 13: Colorado Avalanche – Minnesota Wild 4-3 OT
Vegas Golden Knights – Anaheim Ducks 4-2.
May 4: Vegas Golden Knights – Anaheim Ducks 3-1
May 6: Vegas Golden Knights – Anaheim Ducks 1-3
May 8: Anaheim Ducks – Vegas Golden Knights 2-6
May 10: Anaheim Ducks – Vegas Golden Knights 4-3
May 12: Vegas Golden Knights – Anaheim Ducks 3-2 OT
May 14: Anaheim Ducks – Vegas Golden Knights 1-5
Western Conference Round 3
Colorado Avalanche – Vegas Golden Knights 0-3.
May 20: Colorado Avalanche – Vegas Golden Knights 2-4
May 22: Colorado Avalanche – Vegas Golden Knights 1-3
May 24: Vegas Golden Knights – Colorado Avalanche 5-3
May 26: Vegas Golden Knights – Colorado Avalanche
May 28: Colorado Avalanche – Vegas Golden Knights
May 30: Vegas Golden Knights – Colorado Avalanche
June 1: Colorado Avalanche – Vegas Golden Knights
Where can I watch NHL?
The NHL’s national broadcast partners for the 2025–26 season are:
The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC).
TNT Sports (TNT/HBO Max).
Sportsnet.
Prime Video.
TVA Sports.
GUIDE: Hockey World Championship 2026: Everything you need to know
