Oh, baby! The best postseason is officially here.
Sixteen NHL teams will battle it out for the greatest trophy in all of sports: the Stanley Cup. How it'll all play out is a little different in 2021: the four best teams in each division will face each other (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3 in Round 1) and the eventual division champs will meet in the Stanley Cup semifinals. The last two teams standing will then go head-to-head in the Stanley Cup Final.
Here's everything to know about watching NHL playoff games in 2021, including a complete TV schedule with start times and channels for every series.
MORE: Watch NHL playoff games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
NHL playoff games today
Here's the full schedule of NHL playoff games for: Wednesday, July 7
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Canadiens at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Check out SN's scoreboard for the latest results.
TBL vs. MTL: Breakdowns, predictions, odds | Conn Smythe odds
NHL playoffs 2021: TV channels, live stream
- TV (U.S.): NBC, NBCSN, USA, CNBC, NHLN
- TV (Canada): Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
- Stream (U.S.): NBC Sports.com | fuboTV (free trial) | Peacock
- Stream (Canada): SN Now, SN NOW+, NHL Live
- Playoff results: SN Scoreboard
The 2021 postseason marks the final year NBC's family of networks will broadcast games on the NHL's road to the Stanley Cup. First-round games will be shown on NHL Network and across NBC channels in the United States, while in Canada games will be shown on FX, FXX, Sportsnet's channels and CBC.
In Canada, Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson will describe the Maple Leafs-Canadiens series while Harnarayan Singh and Louie DeBrusk will bring fans Oilers-Jets. David Amber and Ron McLean will be the studio anchors and will be joined by a rotating crew of analysts and insiders.
NBC will also employ a rotating crew that will include play-by-play announcers Kenny Albert, John Forslund and Brendan Burke and analysts Eddie Olczyk, AJ Mleczko and Dominic Moore.
NHL playoff bracket 2021
NHL schedule 2021
The 2021 Stanley Cup Final starts on Monday, June 28, and, if it runs the full gamut, will end on Sunday, July 11.
*If necessary
Final
Monday, June 28
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Canadiens at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, June 30
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Canadiens at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Friday, July 2
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Lightning at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Monday, July 5
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Lightning at Canadiens | 8 p.m ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, July 7
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Canadiens at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Friday, July 9
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
*Game 6: Lightning at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Sunday, July 11
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
*Game 7: Canadiens at Lightning | 7 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Semifinals
Sunday, June 13
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Islanders at Lightning | 3 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Monday, June 14
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Canadiens at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, June 15
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Islanders at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, June 16
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Canadiens at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Thursday, June 17
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Lightning at Islanders | 8 p.m. ET | USA SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Friday, June 18
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Golden Knights at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | USA, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Saturday, June 19
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Lightning at Islanders | 8 p.m. ET | USA, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Sunday, June 20
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Golden Knights at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Monday, June 21
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Islanders at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, June 22
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Canadiens at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, June 23
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Lightning at Islanders | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Thursday, June 24
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Golden Knights at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | USA, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Friday, June 25
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
*Game 7: Islanders at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Round 2
Saturday, May 29
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Islanders at Bruins | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN360, TVA Sports |
Sunday, May 30
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Lightning at Hurricanes | 5 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Golden Knights at Avalanche | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Monday, May 31
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Islanders at Bruins | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, June 1
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Lightning at Hurricanes | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, June 2
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Canadiens at Jets | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Golden Knights at Avalanche | 10 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Thursday, June 3
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Bruins at Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Hurricanes at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | USA, SN, TVA Sports |
ROUND 2: Predictions, picks, odds & series breakdowns for every series
Friday, June 4
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Canadiens at Jets | 7:30 p.m. ET | USA, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Avalanche at Golden Knights | 10 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Saturday, June 5
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Hurricanes at Lightning | 4 p.m. ET | USA, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Bruins at Islanders | 7:15 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Sunday, June 6
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Jets at Canadiens | 6 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Avalanche at Golden Knights | 8:30 p.m. | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Monday, June 7
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Islanders at Bruins | 6:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Jets at Canadiens | 8 p.m. ET | NHLN, NBCSN (JIP), SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, June 8
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Lightning vs. Hurricanes | 6:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Golden Knights at Avalanche | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, June 9
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Bruins at Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports |
Thursday, June 10
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Avalanche at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Saturday, June 12
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
*Game 7: Golden Knights at Avalanche | 7:30 p.m. | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Round 1
Saturday, May 15
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Bruins at Capitals | 7:15 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Sunday, May 16
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 1: Islanders at Penguins | Noon ET | NBC, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Wild at Golden Knights | 3 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Lightning at Panthers | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
DIVISION PREDICTIONS, PREVIEWS: Central | East | West | North
Monday, May 17
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Bruins at Capitals | 7:30 p.m ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Predators at Hurricanes | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, SNE, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Blues at Avalanche | 10 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, May 18
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 2: Islanders at Penguins | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Lightning at Panthers | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, SNE, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Wild at Golden Knights | 10 p.m.ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, May 19
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Capitals at Bruins | 6:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Predators at Hurricanes | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, FX-CA, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Jets at Oilers | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Blues at Avalanche | 10:30 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN360, TVA Sports |
Thursday, May 20
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Panthers at Lightning | 6:30 p.m. ET | USA, FX-CA, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Penguins at Islanders | 7 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports |
Game 1: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7:30 p.m. ET | NHL Network, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Golden Knights at Wild | 9:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sport |
Friday, May 21
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Capitals at Bruins | 6:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Hurricanes at Predators | 7 p.m. ET | USA, FXX-CA, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Jets at Oilers | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Avalanche at Blues | 9:30 p.m. ET | USA, SN360, TVA Sports |
Saturday, May 22
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Panthers at Lightning | 12:30 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Penguins at Islanders | 3 p.m. ET | NBC, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 2: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports, OMNI |
Game 4: Golden Knights at Wild | 8 p.m. ET | NBC, SN360, TVA Sports |
Sunday, May 23
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Hurricanes at Predators | 2:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Avalanche at Blues | 5 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Bruins at Capitals | 7 p.m. ET | USA, SN1, TVA Sports |
Game 3: Oilers at Jets | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Monday, May 24
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 3: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | 7 p.m. ET | NHL Network, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Islanders at Penguins | 7 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Lightning at Panthers | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, FX-CA, TVA Sports |
Game 4: Oilers at Jets | 9:45 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Wild at Golden Knights | 10:30 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN1, TVA Sports |
Tuesday, May 25
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 4: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 5: Predators at Hurricanes | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN360, TVA Sports |
Wednesday, May 26
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Penguins at Islanders | 6:30 pm ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 6: Panthers at Lightning | 8 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN360, TVA Sports |
Game 6: Golden Knights at Wild | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports |
Thursday, May 27
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 5: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Game 6: Hurricanes at Predators | 9:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports |
Friday, May 28
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 7: Wild at Golden Knights | 9 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Saturday, May 29
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 6: Maple Leafs at Canadiens | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |
Sunday, May 30
No games.
Monday, May 31
Matchup | Time | TV channel |
Game 7: Canadiens at Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. ET | CNBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports |