The 2026 NHL Playoff schedule start in late April 2026. The playoffs wrap up with the Stanley Cup Finals in June 2026. The NHL playoff rounds are all best-of-seven match affairs. All dates are based on the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff schedule until the NHL confirms the dates for us later in the season. It’s never too early to plan though from my experience. The 2025-26 NHL regular season is underway, running from October 7, 2025, to April 16, 2026, with a mid-season break (February 6-24, 2026) for NHL players participating in the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.
Update: The 2025-26 NHL regular season is in full swing (as of January 16, 2026), with teams battling for positioning ahead of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The postseason kicks off shortly after the regular season wraps on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The schedule is expected start Saturday, April 18. The Stanley Cup Finals in early-to-mid June. All series are best-of-seven, featuring 16 teams (8 per conference) in a division-based bracket with no re-seeding. With the Olympic break (Feb 6-24) shaking up momentum, the race is heating up. Check our printable 2026 NHL Playoff bracket below to project your picks!
When do the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Start?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs start up on or around April 19th, 2026 with the first round of play. We’ll likely see a lot of movement right up to the end of the 2025-26 NHL regular season for the 2026 NHL Playoff picture. They always start a few weeks after college basketball fans finish up with March Madness. The opening round of play will go through May 3rd, 2026. The Stanley Cup Finals will start on or around June 9th, 2026, and go until a team wins four games. The start date of the playoffs can change a big based on when the league decides to start up the postseason fun for us. You can look at the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff bracket as well to get a feel for 2026. We also have the blank, printable 2026 NHL Playoff bracket up here for you.
2026 NHL Playoff Schedule
There are four rounds of play in the 2026 NHL Playoff schedule. If you want to see which teams won (and came in second) for the Stanley Cup winners list, we have that posted up for you. Here’s the 2026 NHL Playoff schedule.
| Round | Expected Dates | Notes |
| First Round | April 18–May 3, 2026 (start window April 18-25) | Best-of-7; higher seed hosts Games 1,2,5,7 |
| Second Round (Division Finals) | Early-mid May 2026 | Winners advance within divisions |
| Conference Finals | Late May 2026 | Eastern vs. Western champs decided |
| Stanley Cup Finals | Early June 2026 (Game 1 ~June 3-9; Game 7 possible ~June 23) | ABC/ESPN broadcast; potential venue TBD |
- Exact game-by-game times/TV assigned post-regular season.
When do the Stanley Cup Finals 2026 Take Place?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals start on or around June 9th, 2026. If the series goes to a game seven, the last possible date for a game is June 23rd, 2026.
When is the 2026 NHL Olympic Break?
The 2026 NHL Olympic Break is: Feb. 6-24, 2026. There are no games in this timeframe, and there is no All Star game this season.
What is the 2026 NHL Playoff TV Schedule?
The 2026 NHL Playoff TV schedule varies depending on if you live in the U.S. or Canada. We’ll get specific game assignments closer to the playoffs starting from the NHL and TV networks. We have confirmation that we will get games on TNT, TBS, TruTV, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Hulu, and ESPN+ for the American fans. For those who live in Canada, the games will be shown on CBC and Sportsnet. We also may see additional streaming options put into place before we hit the postseason.
2026 NHL Playoff Schedule
The 2026 NHL Playoff schedule starts on April 19th, 2026. There are 16 teams who earn spots in the playoffs. This breaks down to eight teams from each conference. The two dates that are confirmed by the league are the start date (April 19th), and the date of a game seven (if required) for the Stanley Cup Finals (June 23rd).
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – First Round
| MATCHUP | DATE | TIME (ET) | TV |
| Seed 1 vs. Seed 8 | April 19- May 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Seed 2 vs. Seed 7 | April 19- May 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Seed 3 vs. Seed 6 | April 19- May 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Seed 4 vs. Seed 5 | April 19- May 4 | TBD | TBD |
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Second Round
| MATCHUP | DATE | TIME (ET) | TV |
| Winner of 1-8 vs. Winner of 4-5. | May 5- TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Winner of 2-7 vs. Winner of 3-6. | May 5 – TBD | TBD | TBD |
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Conference Finals
| MATCHUP | DATE | TIME (ET) | TV |
| Winner of 1-4-5-8 vs. Winner of 2-3-6-7. | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Stanley Cup Finals Schedule – 2026
| MATCHUP | DATE | TIME (ET) | TV |
| Game 1 | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 2 | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 3 | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 4 | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 5* | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 6* | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 7* | June TBD – 23 | TBD | TBD |
Teams to Watch / Early Playoff Picture (Jan 16, 2026)
As of mid-January 2026, the 2025-26 NHL regular season is heating up, with the playoff race wide open and the Olympic break (Feb. 6-24) looming as a major momentum-shifter. The Colorado Avalanche have been an absolute wagon, leading the league with elite depth, Nathan MacKinnon’s MVP-caliber play, and strong goaltending-positioned as the top Cup contender in many projections and power rankings.
In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers (defending champs) are getting healthier (Matthew Tkachuk nearing return) and climbing, while the Carolina Hurricanes remain a consistent threat with their structured play. Surprises include the Buffalo Sabres riding a hot streak into contention and the New York Islanders benefiting from young talent like rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
Out West, the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights have fluctuated but stay dangerous with stars like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. The San Jose Sharks, powered by Macklin Celebrini, have defied expectations and are in the wild-card mix-potentially clinching their first playoff spot since 2020. The Minnesota Wild made a blockbuster move acquiring Quinn Hughes, bolstering their defense for a deep run.
