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After a 56-game sprint and a few COVID-19-related delays, the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs are officially here.
The most heart-stopping, enthralling and — if you’re a fan of a team in the chase — nerve-wracking playoffs will begin Saturday when the Capitals host the Bruins.
Things are a little different this year — if you didn’t already notice from the Capitals and the Bruins matching up in the first round. Because of COVID-19 protocols limiting travel at the beginning of the season and the closure of the Canada-U.S. border, teams were slotted into one of four divisions. There will not be a Western Conference or Eastern Conference champion and the playoffs are structured differently, which we’ll delve into in a bit.
MORE: Watch NHL playoff games live & on demand with fuboTV (7-day trial)
The one familiar thing this year is that the road to lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup will be a long and winding one but the end will taste oh, so sweet. Who will be the ones to drink from sports’ greatest trophy? Only time will tell.
Until then, below you’ll find everything to know about watching the 2021 NHL playoffs, including series-by-series TV schedules and live streaming information.
2021 NHL playoffs bracket
NHL playoffs 2021: TV channels, live stream
- TV (U.S.): NBC, NBCSN, USA, CNBC, NHLN
- TV (Canada): Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, CBC, FX, FXX and OMNI
- Stream (U.S.): NBC Sports.com | fuboTV (free trial)
- 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 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.
STANLEY CUP PREDICTIONS: Sporting News’ 2021 NHL playoff picks
How will the NHL playoffs work in 2021?
Here’s a quick overview of how the 2021 postseason will work, with every series being a best of seven:
- Four teams from each division advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs. First-round matchups will be No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in each division.
- The first-round winners in each division will then face off to determine the division champion.
- Once the four division winners are crowned, they’ll meet in the Stanley Cup semifinals. Seeding for this round will be based on regular-season point totals.
- The semifinal winners will meet in the Stanley Cup Final.
NHL playoffs schedule, results by series
(All times Eastern)
Second round
East Division: (3) Boston Bruins vs. (4) New York Islanders
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sat., May 29 | at Boston | BOS, 5-2 (BOS leads 1-0) |
| Mon., May 31 | at Boston | NYI, 4-3 (OT) (Series tied 1-1) |
| Thu., June 3 | at New York | BOS, 2-1 (OT) (BOS leads 2-1) |
| Sat., June 5 | at New York | 7:15 p.m. (NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports) |
| Mon., June 7 | at Boston | 6:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports) |
| *Wed., June 9 | at New York | TBD |
| *Fri., June 11 | at Boston | TBD |
(* If necessary)
ROUND 2: Predictions, picks, odds & breakdowns for every series
North Division: (3) Winnipeg Jets vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Wed., June 2 | at Winnipeg | MTL, 5-3 (MTL leads 1-0) |
| Fri., June 4 | at Winnipeg | MTL, 1-0 (MTL leads 2-0) |
| Sun., June 6 | at Montreal | 6 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports) |
| Mon., June 7 | at Montreal | 8 p.m. (NHLN, NBCSN (JIP), SN, CBC, TVA Sports) |
| *Wed., June 9 | at Winnipeg | TBD |
| *Fri., June 11 | at Montreal | TBD |
| *Sun., June 13 | at Winnipeg | TBD |
(* If necessary)
Central Division: (1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Result |
| Sun., May 30 | at Carolina | TBL, 2-1 (TBL leads 1-0) |
| Tue., June 1 | at Carolina | TBL, 2-1 (TBL leads 2-0) |
| Thu., June 3 | at Tampa Bay | CAR, 3-2 (OT) (TBL leads 2-1) |
| Sat., June 5 | at Tampa Bay | 4 p.m. (USA, SN, TVA Sports) |
| *Tue., June 8 | at Carolina | TBD |
| *Thu., June 10 | at Tampa Bay | TBD |
| *Sat., June 12 | at Carolina | TBD |
(* If necessary)
West Division: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (2) Vegas Golden Knights
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sun., May 30 | at Colorado | COL, 7-1 (COL leads 1-0) |
| Wed., June 2 | at Colorado | COL, 3-2 (OT) (COL leads 2-0) |
| Fri., June 4 | at Vegas | VGK, 3-2 (COL leads 2-1) |
| Sun., June 6 | at Vegas | 8:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports) |
| *Tue., June 8 | at Colorado | TBD |
| *Thu., June 10 | at Vegas | TBD |
| *Sat., June 12 | at Colorado | TBD |
(* If necessary)
First round
East Division: (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) New York Islanders
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sun., May 16 | at Pittsburgh | NYI, 4-3 (OT) (NYI leads 1-0) |
| Tue., May 18 | at Pittsburgh | PIT, 2-1 (Series tied 1-1) |
| Thu., May 20 | at New York | PIT, 5-4 (PIT leads 2-1) |
| Sat., May 22 | at New York | NYI, 4-1 (Series tied 2-2) |
| Mon., May 24 | at Pittsburgh | NYI, 3-2 (2OT) (NYI leads 3-2) |
| Wed., May 26 | at New York | NYI, 5-3 (NYI wins series 4-2) |
MORE: Islanders legend Bryan Trottier enters NFT world | Taking one more step closer to normal
East Division: (2) Washington Capitals vs. (3) Boston Bruins
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sat., May 15 | at Washington | WSH, 3-2 (OT) (WSH leads 1-0) |
| Mon., May 17 | at Washington | BOS, 4-3 (OT) (Series tied 1-1) |
| Wed., May 19 | at Boston | BOS, 3-2 (2OT) (BOS leads 2-1) |
| Fri., May 21 | at Boston | BOS, 4-1 (BOS leads 3-1) |
| Sun., May 23 | at Washington | BOS, 3-1 (BOS wins series 4-1) |
EAST DIVISION: Predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions
North Division: (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Thu., May 20 | at Toronto | MTL, 2-1 (MTL leads 1-0) |
| Sat., May 22 | at Toronto | TOR, 5-1 (Series tied 1-1) |
| Mon., May 24 | at Montreal | TOR, 2-1 (TOR leads 2-1) |
| Tue., May 25 | at Montreal | TOR, 4-0 (TOR leads 3-1) |
| Thu., May 27 | at Toronto | MTL, 4-3 (OT) (TOR leads 3-2) |
| Sat., May 29 | at Montreal | MTL, 3-2 (OT) (Series tied 3-3) |
| Mon., May 31 | at Toronto | MTL, 3-1 (MTL wins series 3-3) |
(* If necessary)
North Division: (2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets
North Division: Series predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions
Central Division: (1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (4) Nashville Predators
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Mon., May 17 | at Carolina | CAR, 5-2 (CAR leads 1-0) |
| Wed., May 19 | at Carolina | CAR, 3-0 (CAR leads 2-0) |
| Fri., May 21 | at Nashville | NSH, 5-4 (2OT) (CAR leads 2-1) |
| Sun., May 23 | at Nashville | NSH, 4-3 (OT) (Series tied 2-2) |
| Tue., May 25 | at Carolina | CAR, 3-2 (OT) (CAR leads 3-2) |
| Thu., May 27 | at Nashville | CAR, 4-3 (OT) (CAR |
MORE: Tripp Tracy on Canes | Chris Mason on Preds
Central Division: (2) Florida Panthers vs. (3) Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sun., May 16 | at Florida | TBL, 5-4 (TBL leads 1-0) |
| Tue., May 18 | at Florida | TBL, 3-1 (TBL leads 2-0) |
| Thu., May 20 | at Tampa Bay | FLA, 6-5 (OT) (TBL leads 2-1) |
| Sat., May 22 | at Tampa Bay | TBL, 6-2 (TBL leads 3-1) |
| Mon., May 24 | at Florida | FLA, 4-1 (TBL leads 3-2) |
| Wed., May 26 | at Tampa Bay | TBL, 4-0 (TBL wins series 4-2) |
CENTRAL DIVISION: Predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions
West Division: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) St. Louis Blues
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Mon., May 17 | at Colorado | COL, 4-1 (COL leads 1-0) |
| Wed., May 19 | at Colorado | COL, 6-3 (COL leads 2-0) |
| Fri., May 21 | at St. Louis | COL, 5-1 (COL leads 3-0) |
| Sun., May 23 | at St. Louis | COL, 5-2 (COL wins series 4-0) |
WEST DIVISION: Predictions, odds, breakdowns, Stanley Cup predictions
West Division: (2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Minnesota Wild
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel)/Results |
| Sun., May 16 | at Vegas | MIN, 1-0 (OT) (MIN leads 1-0) |
| Tue., May 18 | at Vegas | VGK, 3-1 (Series tied 1-1) |
| Thu., May 20 | at Minnesota | VGK, 5-2 (VGK leads 2-1) |
| Sat., May 22 | at Minnesota | VGK, 3-0 (VGK leads 3-1) |
| Mon., May 24 | at Vegas | MIN, 4-2 (VGK leads 3-2) |
| Wed., May 26 | at Minnesota | MIN, 3-0 (Series tied 3-3) |
| Fri., May 28 | at Vegas | VGK, 6-2 (VGK wins series 4-3) |
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