NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs TV Schedule – Sports Media Watch

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See how to watch or stream the Chase for the Cup with the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs TV schedule on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and TBS. In the fourth year of the NHL’s new media rights deal, the Stanley Cup Final is set to air on TNT Sports.
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Today
Friday, April 25
Saturday, April 26
Sunday, April 27
Monday, April 28
Tuesday, April 29
Wednesday, April 30
If you do not have a traditional cable/satellite subscription, you can still stream all Stanley Cup playoff games via streaming providers (DIRECTV STREAM), (Sling), YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. (Sling does not have local channels, but ABC games are available on the service through ESPN3.)
Fubo has all games on ABC and ESPN, but does not have TNT or TBS. If you do not receive TNT or TBS through your cable or satellite provider, games on those networks are available to stream through the Bleacher Report add-on to the Max app. The Bleacher Report add-on is included as part of the “standard” ($17/mo) and “premium” ($21/mo) tiers, but not the “basic” ($10/mo) tier.
If you subscribe to ESPN or TNT through a cable, satellite or streaming provider, you can watch games through the ESPN app (ESPN and ABC) or the WatchTNT app (TNT). Authentication is required.
Stanley Cup Finals could be moved up as much as a week if the series end in sweeps.
It can move up to a few days if both series end in 5, if 1 of the series goes to 6 the finals will not move up (
Since my capitals didn’t make it this year I’ll be rooting for some western teams that I don’t see every year and one for the first time I think. GO KRAKEN & WILD
I just noticed that the Stanley Cup Finals will only be on TNT. As a streamer with Roku and Fubo I will be locked out of finals . Does this make sense , only way to get finals is pay TV?. NHL really shutting out fans if this schedule is true. I will have to see if I can stream the finals some other way.
Yes — you are out of luck if you have Fubo with the Stanley Cup Final this year. TNT has the full Cup Final in every-other-year of this new TV deal.
Will ESPN/ABC receive the finals for all over years if the schedule comes true?
If you only need the TNT coverage for the Stanley Cup Final use Sling Orange Package. It will cost $20 (maybe even $10 for a new subscriber) for 30 days.
If you’re close enough to Canada you can watch it on CBC in Windsor or maybe a Canadian station closer to you.
I hope NYR wins first round, wtf they lost against STL, what! But we have a guarenteed spot in first round against the NJ. If we win, second round baby!!!
Thanks to whomever set up the ABC Stanley Cup coverage. A lot of us cannot afford expensive cable packages. This economy is bad bad!
What happened to the fact that ESPN made a scheduling change that put ABC on a conference final game? Is that not the case?
I can’t see any game. I can see plays . This is the worst year. We have a real year and the coverage for normal hockey fans , pretty much bed bound, can’t watch on notnal ABC, espn cost money and i have enough bills. I am very sad about this years coverage.
Sorry you are having a difficult time seeing the games. The full Stanley Cup Final is on ABC, so at least you should be able to watch those.
Are the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals set for June 18 regardless of when the Conference Finals end? Or is there possibility of an early start should these series end earlier than anticipated?
No idea to be honest. Perhaps it would move up to the Thursday … if both conference finals end in a sweep, I have to imagine there would be some move-up.
Thanks for the reply. I see commercials for the Finals on ABC starting June 18. I just wonder what the longest amount of time between series the NHL and ABC would allow. In the off chance both series end in a sweep, what’s the earliest you think it could start? You said possibly Thursday June 16?
Pure speculation on my part, I just can’t imagine the NHL being willing to go dark for more-than-a-week if both series end in sweeps. Will probably end up being moot; have to imagine Tampa Bay will at least make their series competitive.
Just heard on NHL radio that the Finals will either start on June 15 or June 18. Likely contingent on whether NYR/TBL goes 7 or not.
Makes sense. NBA would be on June 16 if there is a Game 6. So June 15 would be the only real option unless you opened with a back-to-back or a three-day break between Games 1 and 2.
Yeah it’s wierd that most of the NHL playoffs is on cable since in the agreement ABC was included in more of what it said but ESPN opted to put it on its cable networks likely due to NBA playoffs (which play every weekend until conference finals) but the NHL could of put more games after that since it was only in the 2nd round at the time even before then you could of certainly put games on Friday nights or any other night of the week and who knows if the NHL finals could begin 6/12 (The Sunday before Game #5 of the NBA finals)
Hi, do you know what their plans are for overflow between doubleheaders on the same channel? Last year, NBC used NHL Network. Wonder if there is a plan in place for the next east coast 5-OT game.
For ESPN, I imagine it will be the usual ESPNEWS, ESPN3, etc. For TNT/TBS, I would say HLN, TruTV? Perhaps NHL Network.
Do you think it’s possible that things are changed around and a possible ABC window opens up on the first window? Or is this schedule likely set as is?
Thanks.
ABC is set, I think. All of the weekend afternoon slots in May are occupied — by the NBA (5/7, 5/15), F1 (5/8) and WNBA (5/14, 5/21, 5/22, 5/28).
That’s a shame. On the one hand, the Turner/ESPN cable networks are much more popular than the former NBCSN, but you lose the frequent broadcast presence with NBC. Makes me wish the NHL had kept on NBC in some limited capacity. Nevertheless having two broadcasters will likely lead to all day hockey action in the playoffs on weekends as opposed to in the past they’d have multiple games going simultaneously.. Big improvement. Overall an upgrade, would be perfect if there were more broadcast slots for the NHL.
It’s a big trade-off. You lose the broadcast network exposure, which is significant. But the cable exposure is so much greater with games on ESPN/ESPN2, TNT/TBS rather than NBCSN/CNBC/USA.
But here’s the deal can’t ABC air a NHL game in the middle of the week instead of weekends like a primetime game on Friday or something to fill in the remaining space of the schedule I have a filling because turner and ESPN have to take turns and only 1 can air each sport at a time (Meaning NHL on Turner and NBA on ESPN and vice versa) so my opinion is why they can’t preempt primetime programming on some nights (Fridays and Saturdays are the best) to fill in with NHL content? Like NBC has frequently preempt it’s Saturday primetime programming for NHL why can’t be the same for ABC plus ABCs block of programming on Saturdays is just movies and reairs
Do you have any idea where they will put overflow when the early games don’t end in time? NBC always used the NHL Network for that but wonder if there is a plan for the next time there is an east-coast five overtime game.
Are there going to be back to back games in the first round?
One of the sites that has tickets for sale is showing this for the Leafs:
Mon 5/2/2022 Round 1 – Home Game 1
Thurs 5/5/2022 Round 1 – Home Game 2
Sun 5/8/2022 Round 1 – Home Game 3 if necessary
Tues 5/10/2022 Round 1 – Home Game 4 if necessary
If this was correct, then they would be playing 4 games in a row with traveling.
Thurs 5/5/2022 – Home
Fri 5/6/2022 – Away
Sat 5/7/2022 – Away
Sun 5/8/2022 – Home
https://www.ticketcity.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs-tickets.html
I would say that the TV windows are placeholders until we know what the series will actually be. I would say the same about the tickets as well … no way they can know for sure the dates. And there is no way there would be only 8 days from Game 1 (May 2) to Game 7 (May 10).
Paulsen, is it safe to assume that ABC will not broadcast any games in the first round?
Yes, I can’t see ABC airing any games until June.
There is one game today for the 1st round on ABC (and the only game). Devils vs Islanders @ 4pm EST.
Hey, I was just wondering where you found all these times for ESPN and ESPN2? I haven’t been able to find anything else referencing these times online. If you’re able to point me in the right direction it’d be appreciated. Thanks.
ESPN’s advance schedule.
Thank you!
2022 NHL Draft Lottery to be held May 10
Any word if ABC would be broadcasting the same # if not more NHL playoff games than NBC? Since it makes no sense for the NHL playoffs to be exclusive to cable at all
Surely they know the dates of the final round and the Stanley Cuo final How would one find that information. It is hard to plan a trip without knowledge of the dates.
Organized much?
Definitely not the case for the NHL. For the NBA, those dates are set ahead of time. The NHL never has those dates set this far in advance.
To be honest the NHL final schedule this year will be around the same time as the NBA and possibly have alternating off days between series
Is 1st round of playoffs exclusive or non exclusive? Will say Rangers/Penguins meet would all games be on ESPN or TNT or like NBA Playoffs set of games on ESPN and TNT?
Should be all exclusive, but I’m not sure.
Hey Paulsen, for today, Bruins–Capitals Game 1 will be played at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC at 7:15 pm et on NBC in the USA and on Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet East, and CBC in Canada in English, on TVA Sports in French, and on OMNI Television 2 in Punjabi! For May 23, there will be two Stanley Cup playoff games: one at 7:30 pm et on NBCSN, and the other at 10 pm et on NBCSN! For May 24, there will be three Stanley Cup playoff games: one at 7 pm et on NBCSN, another at 9 pm et on the NHL Network, and the last at 9:30 pm et on NBCSN! For May 25, there will be three Stanley Cup playoff games: one at 7 pm et on NBCSN, another at 8 pm et on the NHL Network, and the last at 9:30 pm et on NBCSN! And for May 26, there will be three Stanley Cup playoff games: one at 7 pm et on NBCSN, another at 9:30 pm et on NBCSN, and the last at 10:30 pm et on the NHL Network!
Per http://www.nhl.com, all 2018 Stanley Cup final games start at 8 PM ET on the dates you indicated.
Locations, of course, not yet known.
Thanks, will add.
Paulsen, what are your thoughts regarding the start date of the SCF if the conference finals are wrapped up today and tomorrow? curious to see whether NHL/NBC want to push the start date back to leverage the energy surrounding a triple crown attempt at belmont.
It’s a good question. I don’t think they can push back past Memorial Day, because you don’t want more than a week between conference finals and final. More likely that they push up SCF to Saturday, which would still allow for a potential Game 7 in the post-Belmont slot.
Be advised that in your Conference Finals schedule, you have TWO May 18 dates (Friday and Saturday).
Thanks for catching, will fix.
Why are the Bruins not on local tv? I see the Winnipeg game is on CNBC. Very upset fan. Games are not on NESn either
Starting with the second round, all Stanley Cup playoff games are exclusive to NBC, NBCSN, USA or CNBC. So no more coverage on NESN.
I understand that. But why can’t my local team (bruins) be on cbc rather than a nonlocal team like winnepeg. It was shown on the schedule that game 2 was going to be on NBC. It was not. It was on nbcsn
Friday 5/4 Sharks at Vegas is a Game 5, not 4
Thanks for catching, will fix.
NHL round 2 game 1’s only
TV network schedules not yet amended.
Link :
http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2018/04/24/stanley-cup-playoffs-nhl-announces-second-round-openers/
Placeholders for NHL playoff hockey
All times ET
Thursday 4/26@ 7:30 NBCSN (“Conference Quarterfinal” “First-round game”)
Friday 4/27 @ 7 and 9:30 NBCSN; @ 11 USANetwork
Saturday 4/28 @ 3 and 8 NBC ; @ 10 USANetwork
Sunday 4/29 @ 3 NBC ; @ 7 NBCSN
Monday 4/30 @ 8 NBCSN
Tuesday 5/1 – Thursday 5/3 @ 7:30 NBCSN
Friday 5/4 @ 7 and 9:30 NBCSN; @ 11 USANetwork
Saturday 5/5 @ ?2:30? and 7 NBC; @ 10 USANetwork
Placeholders for NHL playoff hockey
All times ET NBC NBCSN USANetwork
Thursday 4/26@ 7:30 X***
Friday 4/27 @ 7 X
@ 9:30 X
@ 11 X*** (Could only be at Vegas)
Saturday 4/28 @ 3 X
@ 8 X
@ 10 X***
Sunday 4/29 @ 3 X
@ 7 X
X*** ?? May be dropped as redundant ??
Strolling thru NBC and USANetwork, and converting PT to the standard ET convention, the following placeholders seem to be held for for NHL games
Friday 4/27 : 11 PM ET USA Network. If accurate, this implies San Jose at Vegas…as it will be too late for other matchups….
Saturday 4/28 : 3 PM ET NBC, 8 PM ET NBC, 10 PM ET USA Network
Sunday 4/29 : 3 PM ET NBC
8:00 pm hockey game in Vegas? It’s either 7:00 pm or 7:30 pm pacific time. evening if the team gets to Round 3 it will be 6:00pm.
Why is the NHL sitting on the Round 2 schedule ??
They usually take a while to get that up. Probably won’t see it until after Game 7 Wednesday.
when will the updates be posted
Any idea when they will release the game times for Saturday 4/21/18?
Not sure. If Capitals win tonight, probably by tomorrow.
hmmm will golf channel air another double dip if there are 4 game 7s???
Would like to know when(day and time) the last game of the Stanley cup will be aired in Florida for a friend. Any help would be greatly appreciate. Thanks in advance.
Unfortunately do not have those dates yet. Probably will not know the schedule until mid-late May.
June 13 or earlier. Pending the final will start on a Saturday or Monday. If the scheduling goes travel day being skip 1, skip 2, skip 1, skip 2 etc.
I live in AZ and was looking forward to the LA Kings/Vegas Golden Knights broadcast on NBCSN.. Lo and behold, just as the game is about to begin, the blackout notice comes up… What gives? NHL.com states that ALL playoff and Cup games will be broadcast nationally..Can someone please explain to me what is going on here?
Las Vegas and Pittsburgh are exceptions (AT&T Sports). Not sure why Golden Knights would be considered part of your territory if you live in AZ, but that would be the explanation.
What does AT&T Sports have to do with anything? Forgive my ignorance.
Yikes…300 miles apart? Give NHL PR a call.
Why does Pittsburgh continue to blackout the national broadcasts? So annoying.
If you don’t have Comcast here in NJ, I can’t watch the Pens in the first series. Comcast sucks. I refuse to switch to them though. Going to a bar and watch the Pens win!
if any game ends up on NBC you will be able to watch in the first round NBC cannot be blacked out
What an awful first round schedule. The NHL (and NBC) do nothing to optimize the amount of games the fans can see, especially on the weekends. Instead of scheduling games at 12 noon, 3pm, 7 and 10, The NHL puts 2 games on at 3 on Saturday and 2 on at 7 on Sunday. Then there’s the ridiculous move to put 2 games on the golf channel? Why? There is no reason for this. I’m sure they can use nhl network if the other networks were not available.
I do find the lack of Noon games odd. Used to pull respectable numbers.
Noon games are great to bring the kids too. Kids who might want to play Hockey at the professional level in 10-20 years time. Future NHL players I might add. Not all players need come from Europe nowadays Canadian and American Born players can succeed just as much skill as European players. Canada has an excellent kids program, and Minnesotaays. New ampshire, Massachuseets all have great Pewee programs for kids.
They put nhl hockey postseason on golf channel this year. Is bad or good. ?
bad
hi what would be the overflow channel for Thursday of the first round if the game runs long on NBCSN NHL network may still be showing a game??
OMG no way in the states for nbc universal coverage they’re is going to be a double dip of hockey games for the postseason on golf channel because cnbc & usa will have the start of new programming on each network on April 18 I bet heads are going nuts right now
Will the NBC sports app allow me to watch the NHL playoffs in Ireland?
Good question. I strongly doubt it — you would have to authenticate using a cable/streaming provider that has NBC/NBCSN/USA/CNBC, and I would be surprised if those channels were available in Ireland. I would imagine that there are international channels that carry the playoff games,
You mean Premier Sports. That station has rights in your area.
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