It’s the greatest time of year for hockey fans. The animosity that develops between two teams over a seven-game series. The intensity of sudden-death overtime. Playoff beards. The ability of a hot goaltender to lead an underdog team on a deep playoff run. And the Holy Grail that is the Stanley Cup trophy itself. The NHL playoffs have begun and are sure to be filled with drama between now and the NHL finals in June.
Like the NBA playoffs, games for this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs will be split between the Turner (TNT and TBS) and Disney networks (ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2). Here’s everything you need to know to catch all the action on ice, with or without cable.
New York Rangers rookie Matt Rempe sets up in the crease against the Washington Capitals in the first game of their first-round series.
How to watch the NHL playoffs
The Stanley Cup playoffs are shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, TBS and TNT. You can watch the games with a cable subscription or a live TV streaming service. Four of the five major services (all but Fubo, which lacks TNT and TBS) offer the five channels needed to watch every NHL playoff game. You can also watch the TNT and TBS games with Max.
What is the NHL playoff schedule?
Here’s the schedule for tonight and the next few days of the Stanley Cup playoffs (all times ET).
Friday, April 26
- Rangers vs. Capitals, 7 p.m. on TNT (Rangers lead series 2-0)
- Canucks vs. Predators, 7:30 p.m. on TBS (series tied 1-1)
- Jets vs. Avalanche, 10 p.m. on TNT (series tied 1-1)
- Oilers vs. Kings, 10:30 p.m. on TBS (series tied 1-1)
Saturday, April 27
- Hurricanes vs. Islanders, 2 p.m. on TBS (Canes lead 3-0)
- Panthers vs. Lightning, 5 p.m. on TBS (Panthers lead 3-0)
- Bruins vs. Maple Leafs, 8 p.m. on TBS and NESN (Bruins lead 2-1)
- Stars vs. Golden Knights, 10:30 p.m. on TBS (Knights lead 2-0)
Sunday, April 28
- Jets vs. Avalanche, 2:30 p.m. on TNT (series tied 1-1)
- Canucks vs. Predators, 5 p.m. on TBS (series tied 1-1)
- Rangers vs. Capitals, 8 p.m. on TBS (Rangers lead 2-0)
- Oilers vs. Kings, 10:30 p.m. on TBS (series tied 1-1)
What does the NHL playoff bracket look like?
The New York Rangers earned the top spot in the East with 114 points, while the Dallas Stars claimed the West’s first seed with 113 points. Here’s what the matchups look like for the 2024 NHL playoffs.
Sling TV’s $40-per-month Orange plan includes TBS, TNT, ESPN and ESPN 2, but you’ll need the combined Orange-and-Blue plan for $55 a month to get both ESPN and ABC for the rest of the playoffs. You’ll also need to live in one of the few markets where Sling offers ABC.
YouTube TV costs $73 per month and includes all the channels you’ll need for the NHL playoffs. Plug in your ZIP code on its welcome page to confirm which local networks are available in your area.
Hulu with Live TV costs $77 per month and includes all the channels you’ll need for the playoffs. Click the “View channels in your area” link on its welcome page to confirm which local channels are offered in your ZIP code.
The ad-supported plan for Max costs $10 per month and will show the games that air on TBS and TNT. With just Max, however, you’ll miss games on ESPN and ABC.
Live sports on Max will soon require the $10-per-month B/R Sports add-on, but you won’t need to shell out for it just yet. Warner Bros. Discovery is delaying charging customers for the add-on for now and includes it in the standard subscription.
All of the live TV streaming services above offer free trials, allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
