Welcome to the madness, new hockey fans.
It’s the most wonderful (and stressful) time of year for hockey fans: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs kicks off this weekend after one of the wildest endings to the regular season. I’m still flabbergasted that the Buffalo Sabres are at the top of the Atlantic division and that the Philadelphia Flyers managed to clinch a playoff berth with only 26 regulation wins.
The best ways to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a glance:
It’s been a pretty exciting year for hockey in general. Team USA bringing home the gold at the Olympics brought the NHL many new spectators. Beyond that, the smash hit Heated Rivalry also put a surprising spotlight on the league. New fans are in for a treat this postseason, as playoff hockey takes the action and the energy to new heights.
Veteran hockey fans know that anything can happen in the battle for the Stanley Cup. If you want to witness the excitement (and extreme frustration) of playoff hockey live, here’s everything you need to know.
When do the Stanley Cup playoffs start?
The first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs kicks off on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m. ET. Teams generally play every other day, with games scheduled through May 3 if necessary. The dates for the second round, third round (conference finals), and Stanley Cup final will depend on how the first series pans out. The final will take place no later than June 21. You can check out the full schedule on the official NHL website.
What channels are the NHL playoffs on?
If you have cable or access to a cable login, live games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks throughout the postseason. Each series is not strictly designated to one broadcaster — for example, games in a series could air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN within the same week.
Check out the official hockey playoffs schedule on NHL.com to find out which channel to tune into for specific games.
How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs without cable?
As always, here’s where things get complicated. If you don’t have cable access or a cable login, you’ll need at least one streaming service to catch all the hockey playoff games live in 2026.
To watch games that air on the TNT family of networks, you can either tune in through the HBO Max app ($18.49 per month for the Standard plan) or via a live TV streaming provider like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV. To catch all of the games that air live on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, you can subscribe to ESPN Unlimited ($29.99 per month) or a live TV streaming provider.
Subscribing to a live TV streaming service will definitely get you the most bang for your buck, despite the cost being a bit higher (most are between $65 and $85 per month). But you can also choose to subscribe to both HBO Max and ESPN Unlimited for a combined $48.48 per month for access to every game. It’s all up to preference.
Different from cable, live TV streamers rely on the internet and offer you a live channel lineup without a monthly contract. You can cancel any time it no longer suits you — no strings attached. These services aren’t cheap, but many offer introductory rates and are still generally more affordable than a monthly cable bill. Plus, you get your money’s worth with access to live and local channels spanning news, sports, and entertainment. It’ll serve you long after a team is awarded the coveted Stanley Cup, should you choose to keep your subscription.
Here’s a breakdown of your streaming service options to watch the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs live, as well as the best deals available for each.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the Stanley Cup playoffs?
A total of 16 out of 32 NHL teams make it to the playoffs. That’s eight teams per conference — the three top teams in each of the four divisions, plus two Wild Card teams in each conference.
How does the first round of the NHL playoffs work?
To kick things off, the first round of the playoffs features eight different seven-game series. The division winner with the most points in each conference plays the second Wild Card team in the first round. In other words, the team with the most points will face off against the team with the fewest points in the regular season. The division winner with fewer points in each conference will play the top Wild Card team in the first round. Each series is a best-of-seven format, where the winner moves on to the second round, bracket-style.
Who won the Stanley Cup in 2025?
The most recent winners of the Stanley Cup are the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win their second consecutive NHL championship title.
Can I watch the NHL playoffs for free?
Penny pinchers