The NHL revealed the schedule for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Saturday, April 18, marks the beginning of the two-month battle for the NHL's ultimate prize. It all starts with the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes] hosting the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators], the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars] facing the Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] and the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] taking on the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers]. Four more series begin on Sunday, April 19, while the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] and Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] begin their best-of-seven series on Monday, April 20. Here are the dates and times for each series, including national network coverage in Canada and the United States. Times are listed in Eastern time (ET) and are subject to change. CAROLINA HURRICANES (M1) VS. OTTAWA SENATORS (WC2) Game 1: Ottawa at Carolina, Saturday, April 18, 3 p.m. (ESPN, SN, OMNI, TVAS) Game 2: Ottawa at Carolina, Monday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS) Game 3: Carolina at Ottawa, Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, HBO, HBO Max) Game 4: Carolina at Ottawa, Saturday, April 25, 3 p.m. (SN, TVAS, OMNI, TBS, truTV, HBO Max) Carolina wins 4-0 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (M2) VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (M3) Game 1: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 18, 8 p.m. (ESPN, SN, TVAS) Game 2: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Monday, April 20, 7 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 22, 7 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS) Game 5: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Monday, April 27, 7 p.m. (ESPN, SN, TVAS) Game 6: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN360) Philadelphia wins 4-2 BUFFALO SABRES (A1) VS. BOSTON BRUINS (WC1) Game 1: Boston [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins] at Buffalo [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres], Sunday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN1, SN360, TVAS) Game 2: Boston at Buffalo, Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Buffalo at Boston, Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Buffalo at Boston, Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS) Game 5: Boston at Buffalo, Tuesday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS) Game 6: Buffalo at Boston, Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, TVAS2) Buffalo wins 4-2 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (A2) VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS (A3) Game 1: Montreal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] at Tampa Bay [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning], Sunday, April 19, 5:45 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 2: Montreal at Tampa Bay, Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 3: Tampa Bay at Montreal, Friday, April 24, 7 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, HBO Max) Game 4: Tampa Bay at Montreal, Sunday, April 26, 7 p.m. (SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS, ESPN) Game 5: Montreal at Tampa Bay, Wednesday, April 29, 7 p.m. (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 6: Tampa Bay at Montreal, Friday, May 1, 7 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2) Game 7: Montreal at Tampa Bay, Sunday, May 3, 6 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) NHL Hot Seat Radar: Coaches With The Most To Prove In The Playoffs [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a9d5adfc-ca88-4cf5-87ac-e8357e640bf9.jpeg] NHL Hot Seat Radar: Coaches With The Most To Prove In The Playoffs Whether they're truly on the hot seat or not, coaches on the Hurricanes, Oilers and more NHL squads must prove they can bring their team to the next level in the Stanley Cup playoffs at last. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/nhl-hot-seat-radar-coaches-with-the-most-to-prove-in-the-playoffs] COLORADO AVALANCHE (C1) VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS (WC2) Game 1: Los Angeles [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] at Colorado [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche], Sunday, April 19, 3 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS) Game 2: Los Angeles at Colorado, Tuesday, April 21, 10 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Colorado at Los Angeles, Thursday, April 23, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNW, SNP, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Colorado at Los Angeles, Sunday, April 26, 4:30 p.m. (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS) Colorado wins 4-0 DALLAS STARS (C2) VS. MINNESOTA WILD (C3) Game 1: Minnesota at Dallas, Saturday, April 18, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS) Game 2: Minnesota at Dallas, Monday, April 20, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Dallas at Minnesota, Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS) Game 4: Dallas at Minnesota, Saturday, April 25, 5:30 p.m. (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS) Game 5: Minnesota at Dallas, Tuesday, April 28, 8 p.m. (ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2) Game 6: Dallas at Minnesota, Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SNE, SN360, TVAS) Minnesota wins 4-2 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (P1) VS. UTAH MAMMOTH (WC1) Game 1: Utah [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/utah] at Vegas [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights], Sunday, April 19, 10 p.m. (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 2: Utah at Vegas, Tuesday, April 21, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 3: Vegas at Utah, Friday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. (TBS, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Vegas at Utah, Monday, April 27, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN360, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 5: Utah at Vegas, Wednesday, April 29, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 6: Vegas at Utah, Friday, May 1, 10 p.m. (ESPN, SN, SN360, TVAS2) Vegas wins 4-2 EDMONTON OILERS (P2) VS. ANAHEIM DUCKS (P3) Game 1: Anaheim at Edmonton, Monday, April 20, 10 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2) Game 2: Anaheim at Edmonton, Wednesday, April 22, 10 p.m. (SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, HBO Max) Game 3: Edmonton at Anaheim, Friday, April 24, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 4: Edmonton at Anaheim, Sunday, April 26, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 5: Anaheim at Edmonton, Tuesday, April 28, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 6: Edmonton at Anaheim, Thursday, April 30, 10 p.m. (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, SN360, CBC, TVAS) Anaheim wins 4-2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/ceade378-2d1b-4f5b-9427-fb5dc159b112.jpeg] For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?_gl=1*vxgsh8*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_ZET34ZFCGX*czE3NzYzNDk1ODUkbzMzNzkkZzEkdDE3NzYzNTcyNzAkajE4JGwwJGgw]. 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