The chase for Lord Stanley’s silver chalice will begin on Saturday.
We started with 32 teams. Then we quickly saw squads fall off in early April as others began to focus on spring. The Colorado Avalanche finished the season as the NHL’s top team and will look to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2022.
Speaking of the Cup, we’re set to get a new final matchup for the first time since 2023, and a new Eastern Conference finalist since 2022. The Edmonton Oilers can still challenge for Lord Stanley’s mug, but the Florida Panthers will get a much-needed rest this spring after an injury-riddled campaign.
Here is a full first-round playoff schedule, as released by the NHL on Friday:
2026 Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule (Round 1)
*if needed
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Sunday, April 19Boston at Buffalo7:30 PM2Tuesday, April 21Boston at Buffalo7:30 PM3Thursday, April 23Buffalo at Boston7:00 PM4Sunday, April 26Buffalo at Boston2:00 PM5Tuesday, April 28Boston at Buffalo*TBD6Friday, May 1Buffalo at Boston*TBD7Sunday, May 3Boston at Buffalo*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Sunday, April 19Montreal at Tampa Bay5:45 PM ET2Tuesday, April 21Montreal at Tampa Bay7:00 PM3Friday, April 24Tampa Bay at Montreal7:00 PM4Sunday, April 26Tampa Bay at Montreal7:00 PM5Wednesday, April 29Montreal at Tampa Bay*TBD6Friday, May 1Tampa Bay at Montreal*TBD7Sunday, May 3Montreal at Tampa Bay*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Saturday, April 18Ottawa at Carolina3:00 PM2Monday, April 20Ottawa at Carolina7:30 PM3Thursday, April 23Carolina at Ottawa7:30 PM4Saturday, April 25Carolina at Ottawa3:00 PM5Monday, April 27Ottawa at Carolina*TBD6Thursday, April 30Carolina at Ottawa*TBD7Saturday, May 2Ottawa at Carolina*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Saturday, April 18Philadelphia at Pittsburgh8:00 PM2Monday, April 20Philadelphia at Pittsburgh7:00 PM3Wednesday, April 22Pittsburgh at Philadelphia7:00 PM4Saturday, April 25Pittsburgh at Philadelphia7:00 PM5Monday, April 27Philadelphia at Pittsburgh*TBD6Wednesday, April 29Pittsburgh at Philadelphia*TBD7Saturday, May 2Philadelphia at Pittsburgh*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Sunday, April 19Los Angeles at Colorado3:00 PM2Tuesday, April 21Los Angeles at Colorado10:00 PM3Thursday, April 23Colorado at Los Angeles10:00 PM4Sunday, April 26Colorado at Los Angeles4:30 PM5Wednesday, April 29Los Angeles at Colorado*TBD6Friday, May 1Colorado at Los Angeles*TBD7Sunday, May 3Los Angeles at Colorado*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Saturday, April 18Minnesota at Dallas5:30 PM2Monday, April 20Minnesota at Dallas9:30 PM3Wednesday, April 22Dallas at Minnesota9:30 PM4Saturday, April 25Dallas at Minnesota5:30 PM5Tuesday, April 28Minnesota at Dallas*TBD6Thursday, April 30Dallas at Minnesota*TBD7Saturday, May 2Minnesota at Dallas*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Sunday, April 19Utah at Vegas10:00 PM2Tuesday, April 21Utah at Vegas9:30 PM3Friday, April 24Vegas at Utah9:30 PM4Monday, April 27Vegas at UtahTBD5Wednesday, April 29Utah at Vegas*TBD6Friday, May 1Vegas at Utah*TBD7Sunday, May 3Utah at Vegas*TBD
Game #DateGameTime (ET)1Monday, April 20Anaheim at Edmonton10:00 PM2Wednesday, April 22Anaheim at Edmonton10:00 PM3Friday, April 24Edmonton at Anaheim10:00 PM4Sunday, April 26Edmonton at Anaheim9:30 PM5Tuesday, April 28Anaheim at Edmonton*TBD6Thursday, April 30Edmonton at Anaheim*TBD7Saturday, May 2Anaheim at Edmonton*TBD