The 2025-26 NHL regular season has come to a close. While the Eastern Conference was all but locked into its match ups earlier this week, the Western Conference was battling out seeding and home ice advantage until the final buzzer.
Here is the full 2026 NHL Playoff Round 1 schedule as the league prepares to kick off the postseason this Saturday.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston Bruins (WC1) vs. Buffalo Sabres (A1)
Game 1: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 19
Game 2: Boston at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET April 21
Game 3: Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m. ET April 23
Game 4: Buffalo at Boston, 2 p.m. ET April 26
*Game 5: Boston at Buffalo, April 28 TBD
*Game 6: Buffalo at Boston, May 1 TBD
*Game 7: Boston at Buffalo, May 3 TBD
*- If necessary
Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)
Game 1: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 5:45 p.m. ET April 19
Game 2: Montreal at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET April 21
Game 3: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 24
Game 4: Tampa Bay at Montreal, 7 p.m. ET April 26
*Game 5: Montreal at Tampa Bay, April 29 TBD
*Game 6: Tampa Bay at Montreal, May 1 TBD
*Game 7: Montreal at Tampa Bay, May 3 TBD
*- If necessary
Ottawa Senators (WC2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (M1)
Game 1: Ottawa at Carolina, 3 p.m. ET April 18
Game 2: Ottawa at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET April 20
Game 3: Carolina at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. ET April 23
Game 4: Carolina at Ottawa, 3 p.m. ET April 25
*Game 5: Ottawa at Carolina, April 27 TBD
*Game 6: Carolina at Ottawa, April 30n TBD
*Game 7: Ottawa at Carolina, May 2 TBD
*- If necessary
Philadelphia Flyers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)
Game 1: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET April 18
Game 2: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET April 20
Game 3: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET April 22
Game 4: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET April 25
*Game 5: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, April 27 TBD
*Game 6: Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, April 29 TBD
*Game 7: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, May 2 TBD
*- If necessary
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Los Angeles Kings (WC2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C1)
Game 1: Los Angeles at Colorado, 3 p.m. ET April 19
Game 2: Los Angeles at Colorado, 10 p.m. ET April 21
Game 3: Colorado at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. April 23
Game 4: Colorado at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m. ET April 26
*Game 5: Los Angeles at Colorado, April 29 TBD
*Game 6: Colorado at Los Angeles, May 1 TBD
*Game 7: Los Angeles at Colorado, May 3 TBD
*- If necessary
Minnesota Wild (C3) vs. Dallas Stars (C2)
Game 1: Minnesota at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. ET April 18
Game 2: Minnesota at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET April 20
Game 3: Dallas at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET April 22
Game 4: Dallas at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. ET April 25
*Game 5: Minnesota at Dallas, April 28 TBD
*Game 6: Dallas at Minnesota, April 30 TBD
*Game 7: Minnesota at Dallas, May 2 TBD
*- If necessary
Utah Mammoth (WC1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P1)
Game 1: Utah at Vegas, 10 p.m. ET April 19
Game 2: Utah at Vegas, 9:30 p.m. ET April 21
Game 3: Vegas at Utah, 9:30 p.m. ET April 24
Game 4: Vegas at Utah, April 27 TBD
*Game 5: Utah at Vegas, April 29 TBD
*Game 6: Vegas at Utah, May 1 TBD
*Game 7: Utah at Vegas, May 3 TBD
*- If necessary
Anaheim Ducks (P3) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P2)
Game 1: Anaheim at Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET April 20
Game 2: Anaheim at Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET April 22
Game 3: Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m. ET April 24
Game 4: Edmonton at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. ET April 26
*Game 5: Anaheim at Edmonton, April 28 TBD
*Game 6: Edmonton at Anaheim, April 30 TBD
*Game 7: Anaheim at Edmonton, May 2 TBD
*- If necessary
Photo: Mack Male. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.