The chase for Lord Stanley\u2019s silver chalice will begin on Saturday.<\/p>\n
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 <\/a>finished the season as the NHL\u2019s top team and will look to win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2022.<\/p>\n Speaking of the Cup, we\u2019re set to get a new final matchup for the first time since 2023, and a new Eastern Conference finalist since 2022. The Edmonton Oilers<\/a> can still challenge for Lord Stanley\u2019s mug, but the Florida Panthers <\/a>will get a much-needed rest this spring after an injury-riddled campaign.<\/p>\n Here is a full first-round playoff schedule, as released by the NHL on Friday:<\/p>\n 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule (Round 1)<\/p>\n *if needed<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n 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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The chase for Lord Stanley\u2019s silver chalice will begin on Saturday. We started with 32 teams. 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