NHL Playoffs 2026 Kickoff: Weekend First-Round Schedule Confirmed
The 2026 NHL playoffs begin with a Saturday triple-header (Senators–Hurricanes at 3 p.m. ET, Wild–Stars at 5:30 p.m. ET, Flyers–Penguins at 8 p.m. ET) and a four-game Sunday slate (including Canadiens–Lightning, Bruins–Sabres, Mammoth–Golden Knights), with the exact first‑round matchups determined by late-season results; Oilers likely face Ducks or Kings, Panthers miss the playoffs, and six teams—Penguins, Flyers, Sabres, Ducks, Mammoth, Bruins—return to the postseason, the second-highest turnover in league history. All Saturday games are on ESPN, Sportsnet, and TVAS, with the rest of the schedule released after Thursday's games.
