This weekend NHL fans get to experience not one but two deciding Game 7s. Today the first features the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs won Game 6 on Thursday to force tonight’s matchup. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN Plus and the winner will go on to face the Florida Panthers in the second round.
Sunday’s slate includes two games, starting with Game 1 of the second round series between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Panthers. Face-off at Madison Square Garden is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Plus.
The weekend finale is Game 7 of the first round series between the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars. Fans can catch the action starting at 7:30 p.m. on TBS and Max.
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 itself. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the NHL playoffs, with or without cable.
Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday for Game 7 of their first-round playoff 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.
In some markets, fans who live in the same area as their favorite team can also watch its games on a regional sports network, or RSN. Bruins fans in the Boston area, for example, can watch Bruins games on NESN. Other examples include Rangers fans in the New York area being able to watch Rangers games on MSG, and Oilers fans in Edmonton watching the Oilers on Bally Sports West.
What is the NHL playoff schedule?
Here’s the schedule for tonight and through the weekend (all times ET).
Saturday, May 4
- Game 7: Maple Leafs vs. Bruins, 8 p.m. on ABC and ESPN Plus
Sunday, May 5
- Game 1: Hurricanes vs. Rangers, 4 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN Plus
- Game 7: Golden Knights vs. Stars, 7:30 p.m. on TBS and Max
What are the playoff matchups for the first round?
The top three teams in each of the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions in the Eastern conference, and the top three teams in each of the West’s Central and Pacific divisions qualified for the playoffs. Two wild card teams from each conference then rounded out the field of 16 for the 2024 NHL Playoffs.
Here are the matchups and the status of each series as of Saturday.
Eastern Conference
- (A1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning (Panthers won series 4-1)
- (A2) Boston Bruins vs. (A3) Toronto Maple Leafs (series tied 3-3)
- (M1) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals (Rangers won series 4-0)
- (M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) New York Islanders (Canes won series 4-1)
Western Conference
- (C1) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights (series tied 3-3)
- (C2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C3) Colorado Avalanche (Avalanche won series 4-1)
- (P1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators (Canucks won series 4-2)
- (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings (Oilers won series 4-1)
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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.
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