Stanley Cup playoffs 2026: Bracket, schedule, scores, news

ByESPN Staff ESPN logo
Friday, April 17, 2026 5:12AM
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The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us. Sixteen teams enter, one leaves with the greatest trophy in the world of sports.

With the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers outside the playoff field this season, that means there will be a new team atop the pedestal for the first time since 2023.

This page will be your home throughout the postseason, featuring schedule and broadcast details, scores, highlights and other intel on every series, updated continually through the Stanley Cup Final.

Read more:

Full schedule

Stanley Cup odds

Flaws for each team

Player, coach, GM predictions

Offseason guide for eliminated teams

First round


Atlantic Division

A1 Buffalo

Sabres

vs.

WC1 Boston

Bruins


Regular-season records:

Sabres: 50-23-9, 109 points

Bruins: 45-27-10, 100 points

Leading scorers:

Sabres: Tage Thompson (40 goals, 41 assists)

Bruins: David Pastrnak (29 goals, 71 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Bruins at Sabres | April 19, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Bruins at Sabres | April 21, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Sabres at Bruins | April 23, 7 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Sabres at Bruins | April 26, 2 p.m. (TNT)

Game 5: Bruins at Sabres | TBD

Game 6: Sabres at Bruins | TBD

Game 7: Bruins at Sabres | TBD

A2 Tampa Bay

Lightning

vs.

A3 Montreal

Canadiens


Regular-season records:

Lightning: 50-26-6, 106 points

Canadiens: 48-24-10, 106 points

Leading scorers:

Lightning:Nikita Kucherov (44 goals, 86 assists)

Canadiens: Nick Suzuki (29 goals, 72 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Canadiens at Lightning | April 19, 5:45 p.m. (TNT)

Game 2: Canadiens at Lightning | April 21, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 3: Lightning at Canadiens | April 24, 7 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Lightning at Canadiens | April 26, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5: Canadiens at Lightning | TBD

Game 6: Lightning at Canadiens | TBD

Game 7: Canadiens at Lightning | TBD

Metropolitan Division

M1 Carolina

Hurricanes

vs.

WC2 Ottawa

Senators


Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 53-22-7, 113 points

Senators: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho (27 goals, 53 assists)

Senators: Tim Stutzle (34 goals, 49 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Senators at Hurricanes | April 18, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Senators at Hurricanes | April 20, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 3: Hurricanes at Senators | April 23, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Hurricanes at Senators | April 26, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5: Senators at Hurricanes | TBD

Game 6: Hurricanes at Senators | TBD

Game 7: Senators at Hurricanes | TBD

M2 Pittsburgh

Penguins

vs.

A3 Philadelphia

Flyers


Regular-season records:

Penguins: 41-25-16, 98 points

Flyers: 43-27-12, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Penguins: Sidney Crosby (29 goals, 45 assists)

Flyers: Travis Konecny (27 goals, 41 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Flyers at Penguins | April 18, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Flyers at Penguins | April 20, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Penguins at Flyers | April 22, 7 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Penguins at Flyers | April 25, 8 p.m. (TBS)

Game 5: Flyers at Penguins | TBD

Game 6: Penguins at Flyers | TBD

Game 7: Flyers at Penguins | TBD

Central Division

C1 Colorado

Avalanche

vs.

WC2 Los Angeles

Kings


Regular-season records:

Avalanche: 55-16-11, 121 points

Kings: 35-27-20, 90 points

Leading scorers:

Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (53 goals, 74 assists)

Kings: Adrian Kempe (36 goals, 37 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Kings at Avalanche | April 19, 3 p.m. (TNT)

Game 2: Kings at Avalanche | April 21, 10 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Avalanche at Kings | April 23, 10 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Avalanche at Kings | April 26, 4:30 p.m. (TNT)

Game 5: Kings at Avalanche | TBD

Game 6: Avalanche at Kings | TBD

Game 7: Kings at Avalanche | TBD

C2 Dallas

Stars

vs.

C3 Minnesota

Wild


Regular-season records:

Stars: 50-20-12, 112 points

Wild: 46-24-12, 104 points

Leading scorers:

Stars: Jason Robertson (45 goals, 51 assists)

Wild: Kirill Kaprizov (45 goals, 44 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Wild at Stars | April 18, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Wild at Stars | April 20, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 3: Stars at Wild | April 22, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Stars at Wild | April 25, 5:30 p.m. (TBS)

Game 5: Wild at Stars | TBD

Game 6: Stars at Wild | TBD

Game 7: Wild at Stars | TBD

Pacific Division

P1 Vegas

Golden Knights

vs.

WC1 Utah

Mammoth


Regular-season records:

Golden Knights: 39-26-17, 95 points

Mammoth:43-33-6, 92 points

Leading scorers:

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (27 goals, 63 assists)

Mammoth: Clayton Keller (26 goals, 62 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Mammoth at Golden Knights | April 19, 10 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Mammoth at Golden Knights | April 21, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 3: Golden Knights at Mammoth | April 24, 9:30 p.m. (TBD

Game 4: Golden Knights at Mammoth | April 27, TBD (ESPN)

Game 5: Mammoth at Golden Knights | TBD

Game 6: Golden Knights at Mammoth | TBD

Game 7: Mammoth at Golden Knights | TBD

P2 Edmonton

Oilers

vs.

P3 Anaheim

Ducks


Regular-season records:

Oilers: 41-30-11, 93 points

Ducks: 43-33-6, 92 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers: Connor McDavid (48 goals, 86 assists)

Ducks: Cutter Gauthier (40 goals, 28 assists)

Schedule:

Game 1: Ducks at Oilers | April 20, 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 2: Ducks at Oilers | April 22, 10 p.m. (TBS)

Game 3: Oilers at Ducks | April 24, 10 p.m. (TNT)

Game 4: Oilers at Ducks | April 26, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 5: Ducks at Oilers | TBD

Game 6: Oilers at Ducks | TBD

Game 7: Ducks at Oilers | TBD

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