NHL playoff bracket 2026: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for hockey's road to Stanley Cup
The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, featuring a highly competitive and unpredictable bracket after a season of dramatic turnarounds and shifting team dynamics. The Buffalo Sabres headline the East by ending a 14-year playoff drought and winning the Atlantic Division, while the Colorado Avalanche earned the Presidents’ Trophy as the top seed in the West. Multiple first-round series are tightly contested, including Philadelphia leading Pittsburgh 3-2 and Utah up 2-1 on Vegas, with games broadcast across ESPN, TNT, and streaming platforms. The full playoff schedule, scores, and viewing options are available through The Sporting News and official broadcast partners.
- ▪The Buffalo Sabres ended a 14-season playoff drought and won the Atlantic Division, facing the Boston Bruins in the first round.
- ▪The Colorado Avalanche secured the Presidents’ Trophy with the league's best record and swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
- ▪Multiple first-round series are tied or closely contested, including Dallas vs. Minnesota (2-2) and Tampa Bay vs. Montreal (2-2).
- ▪Games are broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, and truTV, with live streaming available via DIRECTV, fubo, and the ESPN app.
- ▪The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively televised on ABC.
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