NHL playoff bracket 2026: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for hockey's road to Stanley Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.For hockey fans, it’s the best time of the year. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here, and after a regular season defined by historic turnarounds and shifting divisional powers, the 2026 bracket is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.In the Eastern Conference, the field is a mix of battle-tested giants and long-awaited homecomings.

The headline is the Buffalo Sabres, who not only snapped an NHL-record 14-season postseason drought but did so by capturing the Atlantic Division title. They’ll open against a Boston Bruins squad that returned to form after a year away, setting up a clash between Buffalo’s high-octane offense and Boston’s elite defensive structure. Meanwhile, the Battle of Pennsylvania is back, as the Penguins and Flyers renew their fierce rivalry in a first-round series for the first time since 2018.Over in the West, the Colorado Avalanche have secured the Presidents’ Trophy, ensuring the road to the Cup runs through Denver.

However, they face a gauntlet of contenders, including a Dallas Stars team that looks dangerous after a franchise-record winning streak and a Vegas Golden Knights squad that has found a new gear since John Tortorella took over the bench.From the emergence of young stars like Cole Caufield to the enduring brilliance of veterans like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, the stage is set for two months of high-stakes, sudden-death drama. With six teams qualifying for the postseason after missing out last year, the hunger for a deep run has never been higher. Let the chase for 16 wins begin.The Sporting News has the complete bracket and schedule throughout the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Check it out below.NHL playoff bracket 2026Click here for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, updated live as series are completed. SN First RoundEastern ConferenceMatchupSeries(A1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston BruinsTied 0-0(A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Montreal CanadiensMontreal leads 1-0(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa SenatorsCarolina leads 1-0(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia leads 1-0Western ConferenceMatchupSeries(C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Los Angeles KingsColorado leads 1-0(C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota WildMinnesota leads 1-0(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Utah MammothTied 0-0(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Anaheim DucksTied 0-0NHL playoffs schedule, scores 2026First RoundSabres vs.

BruinsDateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 19Game 1: Bruins at Sabres7:30 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN appApril 21Game 2: Bruins at Sabres7:30 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appApril 23Game 3: Sabres at Bruins7:00 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 26Game 4: Sabres at Bruins2:00 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 28Game 5*: Bruins at SabresTBDTBDMay 1Game 6*: Sabres at BruinsTBDTBDMay 3Game 7*: Bruins at SabresTBDTBD*If necessaryLightning vs. Canadiens - Montreal leads 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 19Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT)——April 21Game 2: Canadiens at Lightning7:00 p.m.ESPN2, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appApril 24Game 3: Lightning at Canadiens7:00 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 26Game 4: Lightning at Canadiens7:00 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appApril 29Game 5*: Canadiens at LightningTBDTBDMay 1Game 6*: Lightning at CanadiensTBDTBDMay 3Game 7*: Canadiens at LightningTBDTBD*If necessaryHurricanes vs.

Senators - Carolina leads 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 18Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Senators 0——April 20Game 2: Senators at Hurricanes7:30 p.m.ESPN2, DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN appApril 23Game 3: Hurricanes at Senators7:30 p.m.TBS, DIRECTVApril 25Game 4: Hurricanes at Senators3:00 p.m.TBS, truTV, DIRECTVApril 27Game 5*: Senators at HurricanesTBDTBDApril 30Game 6*: Hurricanes at SenatorsTBDTBDMay 2Game 7*: Senators at HurricanesTBDTBD*If necessaryPenguins vs. Flyers - Philadelphia leads 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 18Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2——April 20Game 2: Flyers at Penguins7:00 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN appApril 22Game 3: Penguins at Flyers7:00 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 25Game 4: Penguins at Flyers8:00 p.m.TBS, truTV, DIRECTVApril 27Game 5*: Flyers at PenguinsTBDTBDApril 29Game 6*: Penguins at FlyersTBDTBDMay 2Game 7*: Flyers at PenguinsTBDTBD*If necessaryAvalanche vs.

Kings - Colorado leads 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 19Game 1: Avalanche 2, Kings 1——April 21Game 2: Kings at Avalanche10:00 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV, fubo, ESPN appApril 23Game 3: Avalanche at Kings10:00 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 26Game 4: Avalanche at Kings4:30 p.m.TNT, truTV, DIRECTVApril 29Game 5*: Kings at AvalancheTBDTBDMay 1Game 6*: Avalanche at KingsTBDTBDMay 3Game 7*: Kings at AvalancheTBDTBD*If necessaryStars vs. Wild - Minnesota leads 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchApril 18Game 1: Wild 6, Stars 1——April 20Game 2: Wild at Stars9:30 p.m.ESPN, DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN appApril 22Game 3: