Four teams remain as the NHL inches closer to crowning the 2021 Stanley Cup champion. Three of them are familiar faces in the third round, which this year has been coined the semifinals.
The defending champion Lightning return after sending the Hurricanes packing in five games. They meet the same team they defeated in last year's conference final, the Islanders. New York is closing out the Nassau Coliseum in style; it advanced to the semis following a 4-2 series win over the Bruins.
The Golden Knights also return. Vegas lost in last year's conference finals to the Stars and will aim for the franchise's second Stanley Cup Final berth in just four years of existence. The new team in the third round is the Canadiens, who last played in the final four in 2014 and lost in six games to the Rangers.
Who will advance to play for sports' greatest trophy?
Below is everything you'll need to know about watching the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs semifinals, including matchups and series-by-series TV schedules.
NHL playoff bracket 2021
NHL playoffs 2021: TV channels, live stream
- TV (U.S.): NBC, NBCSN, USA
- TV (Canada): Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
- Stream (U.S.): NBC Sports.com | fuboTV (7-day 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 the NHL's journey to the Stanley Cup. Third-round games will be shown across NBC channels in the United States, while in Canada games will be shown on Sportsnet's channels, CBC and TVA Sports.
MORE: Watch every NHL playoff game on fuboTV (7-day free trial)
How will the NHL semifinals work in 2021?
The four remaining teams were matched based on regular-season point totals. Vegas finished with 82 points (second in the NHL), followed by Tampa Bay (75), New York (71) and Montreal (69). The semifinal winners will meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
Montreal will be the first Canadian team to travel south of the border this year when they head to Nevada for Game 1 on June 14. The Canadian government gave its approval to the Canadiens and Golden Knights traveling back and forth without facing quarantines. Instead, they will have to travel by private plane, be subjected to daily testing and stay in a modified bubble to avoid contact with the public.
NHL playoffs schedule, results by series
(All times Eastern)
Semifinal
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sun., June 13 | at Tampa Bay | NYI, 2-1 (NYI leads 1-0) |
| Tues., June 15 | at Tampa Bay | TBL 4-2 (Series tied 1-1) |
| Thurs., June 17 | at New York | TBL, 2-1 (TBL leads 2-1) |
| Sat., June 19 | at New York | NYI, 3-2 (Series tied 2-2) |
| Mon., June 21 | at Tampa Bay | TBL, 8-0 (TBL leads 3-2) |
| Wed., June 23 | at New York | NYI, 3-2 (OT) (Series tied 3-3) |
| Fri., June 25 | at Tampa Bay | TBL, 1-0 (TBL wins series 4-3) |
(* If necessary)
Semifinals breakdowns, predictions, odds: TBL vs. NYI | VGK vs. MTL
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Montreal Canadiens
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Mon., June 14 | at Vegas | VGK, 4-1 (VGK leads 1-0) |
| Wed., June 16 | at Vegas | MTL, 3-2 (Series tied 1-1) |
| Fri., June 18 | at Montreal | MTL, 3-2 (OT) (MTL leads 2-1) |
| Sun., June 20 | at Montreal | VGK, 2-1 (OT) (Series tied 2-2) |
| Tue., June 22 | at Vegas | MTL, 4-1 (MTL leads 3-2) |
| Thu., June 24 | at Montreal | MTL, 3-2 (OT) (MTL wins series 4-2) |
(* If necessary)