What to watch in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the conference finals arrive
Montreal Canadiens players celebrate victory following the overtime period in Game 7 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. Credit: AP/Jeffrey T. Barnes
The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs began with a number of new teams that hadn't played postseason hockey in a long time, with some even winning a series
The conference finals have arrived with some of the usual suspects left standing.
Carolina is back in the Eastern Conference Final for a third time in four years and fifth time during a streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances under coach Rod Brind'Amour. Next up is Montreal, back in the conference final for the first time since a run to the Cup final in 2021.
Vegas is back in the West final for a fourth time in the franchise’s not-even-decade-long existence. The Golden Knights face Colorado, which is back in the West final for the first time since their Cup run in 2022.
There will be a new champion and no three-peat after the Florida Panthers were derailed by injuries following three consecutive trips to the final. In fact, both finalists will be new after Edmonton got knocked out by Anaheim.
What’s happened so far
WESTERN CONFERENCE: The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche swept Los Angeles and beat Minnesota in five games, while Vegas got through by beating Utah and Anaheim in six.
EASTERN CONFERENCE: Carolina swept Ottawa and Philadelphia, and is the only undefeated team left. Montreal went the distance in each of the first two rounds, winning Game 7 at Tampa Bay and then Game 7 at Buffalo in overtime.
Carolina Hurricanes' Jackson Blake reacts after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during Game 4 in a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
The matchups
The top three teams in each of the four divisions make the playoffs. The other four spots go to the next two highest-placed teams in each conference, regardless of division. All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven; the first team to 16 victories wins the Stanley Cup.
— Colorado vs. Vegas, Game 1 Wednesday night.
— Carolina vs. Montreal, Game 1 Thursday night.
The favorites
Colorado is the favorite at a little over even money, followed by Carolina, Vegas and Montreal.
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner, second from left, celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period in Game 6 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. Credit: AP/Mark J. Terrill
How to watch
Every playoff game will be nationally televised in the U.S on an ESPN or Turner network. The NHL schedule is here and a streaming guide is here. Much of TNT’s coverage, which includes the Stanley Cup Final, will be simulcast on truTV and available on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On. In Canada, games will be showcased on Sportsnet and CBC.
After three rounds of best-of-seven series, the final starts in early June. If the final goes the distance, Game 7 could go as late as June 21.
What to know
WEST: The Colorado Avalanche look like a wagon after being the league's best team since October. Nathan MacKinnon has been a man on a mission, especially after missing a wide-open net in the Olympic gold-medal game when he and Canada lost to the U.S. in overtime. He's surrounded by talent, including all-world defenseman Cale Makar, and in net, career backup Scott Wedgewood has been a revelation.
No-nonsense John Tortorella took over coaching the Vegas Golden Knights in late March, and they've been rolling since. Mitch Marner, who was maligned for a lack of playoff success during his time in Toronto, has been arguably the best player in the postseason.
EAST: The Carolina Hurricanes opened the playoffs 8-0, getting dominant goaltending from 36-year-old Frederik Andersen and do-it-all play from 2018 league MVP Taylor Hall. After so many disappointing playoff exits, they are hoping to win the franchise's second championship and first since 2006.
The Canadiens are Canada's last hope to end the nation’s 33-year Cup drought dating to Montreal's win in 1993. Alex Newhook scored the Game 7 winner against both the Lightning and the Sabres, and goaltender Jakub Dobes is becoming a cult hero in Quebec's most populous city for making saves and laughing off the pressure of the playoffs.
