With the regular season now in the books, the NHL has released the full first-round schedule for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the series between the Ottawa Senators (WC2) and Carolina Hurricanes (M1) series. The league announced on Friday that Games 1 and 2 will take place in Raleigh on Saturday and Monday. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Ottawa on Thursday and next Saturday. Here's the full list of dates for each game in the best-of-seven series. Game 1: Ottawa at Carolina, 3 p.m. ET April 18 (ESPN, SN, OMNI TVAS) As the Sens get ready for Game 1 in Carolina on Saturday, Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss a season to be proud of in Ottawa. Game 2: Ottawa at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN2, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC TVAS) Game 3: Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. ET April 23 (TBS, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 4: Carolina at Ottawa, 3 p.m. ET April 25 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS, OMNI) *Game 5: Ottawa at Carolina, April 27 TBD *Game 6: Carolina at Ottawa, April 30n TBD *Game 7: Ottawa at Carolina, May 2 TBD *- If necessary Normally, Senators fans would also be keeping a close eye on Atlantic Division playoff opponents, but because of the way wild cards played out this year, they're participating in the Metro tournament. Senators on X [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/05704273-d52f-4e0d-8575-c5aba624efe6.png] Senators on X The winner of this series will face the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers series. That series will go off like this: Philadelphia Flyers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) Game 1: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET April 18 (ESPN, SN, TVAS) Game 2: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET April 20 (ESPN SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET April 22 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET April 25 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS) *Game 5: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, April 27 TBD *Game 6: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, April 29 TBD *Game 7: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, May 2 TBD *- If necessary The Atlantic playoffs will feature Boston at Buffalo, and Montreal at Tampa, and will have games on the following dates: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) Game 1: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 5:45 p.m. ET April 19 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 2: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET April 21 (ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 3: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 24 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS) Game 4: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 26 (ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS) *Game 5: Montreal at Tampa Bay, April 29 TBD *Game 6: Tampa Bay at Montreal, May 1 TBD *Game 7: Montreal at Tampa Bay, May 3 TBD *- If necessary Boston Bruins (WC1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1) Game 1: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 19 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 2: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 21 (ESPN, SN360, TVAS) Game 3: Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m. ET April 23 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN360, TVAS) Game 4: Buffalo at Boston, 2 p.m. ET April 26 (TNT, truTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS) *Game 5: Boston at Buffalo, April 28 TBD *Game 6: Buffalo at Boston, May 1 TBD *Game 7: Boston at Buffalo, May 3 TBD *- If necessary Steve Warne The Hockey News This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News [http://thn.com/ottawa] at the links below: Through All The Noise, The Playoff-Bound Senators Held Their Ground [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/unshakeable-through-all-the-drama-and-noise-the-playoff-bound-senators-held-their-ground] Drake Batherson's Eight-Year Career Climb Is One For The NHL History Books [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/drake-bathersons-eight-year-career-climb-is-one-for-the-nhl-history-books] Senators Announce Plans For 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff Ticket Sales This Week [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/senators-announce-plans-for-2026-stanley-cup-playoff-ticket-sales-this-week] Shane Pinto Should Be One Of The Selke Trophy Favourites [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/shane-pinto-isn-t-just-in-the-selke-conversation-he-should-be-one-of-the-favourites] Great Opportunities: The Rise Of Senators Defenseman Jordan Spence [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/great-opportunities-the-rise-of-senators-defenseman-jordan-spence]
