NHL releases final Game 1 schedule as Ottawa Senators face Carolina Hurricanes while classic teams Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres miss opening night
The NHL has officially announced the schedule of the final Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the matchups and schedules.
Although the postseason will start with some of the important games in the field of the Eastern and Western Conferences, such prominent teams as the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres will not play on opening night, and it will be received unequally by fans.
Stanley Cup playoffs bracket set
- NHL Playoffs 2026: Schedule, bracket, scores, results for all first-round series in pursuit of the Stanley Cup CBS Sports —
- Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026: Picks, predictions for every first-round series, including Lightning vs. Canadiens CBS Sports —
- Stanley Cup playoffs mega-preview: Stanley Cup cases, X factors, bold predictions for all 16 teams ESPN —
- What to know about the first-round matchups in the NHL playoffs ABC News —
- 2026 Stanley Cup odds: The Avalanche enter the playoffs as the favorite NY Post —