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The best (and most stressful) time of year for hockey fans: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs begins this weekend after a terrible finish to the regular season. I’m still amazed that the Buffalo Sabers are at the top of the Atlantic division and that the Philadelphia Flyers were able to make the playoffs with only 26 wins.
The best ways to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs at a glance:
It’s been a very exciting year for hockey in general. The USA team that brought home the gold at the Olympics brought the NHL a lot of new viewers. Other than that, it’s a smash hit Hot Competition it also set an amazing looking place in the league. New fans are in for a treat this postseason, as playoff hockey picks up the action and intensity.
Seasoned hockey fans know that anything can happen in a Stanley Cup battle. If you want to see the excitement (and sheer frustration) of playoff hockey live, here’s everything you need to know.
When do the Stanley Cup playoffs start?
The first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 18, at 2 pm ET. Teams typically play every day, with games scheduled for May 3 if necessary. The dates for the second round, third round (conference finals), and Stanley Cup finals will depend on how the first series goes. The final will take place before June 21. You can check the full schedule on the official website of the NHL.
What channels are the NHL playoffs on?
If you have cable or access to a cable subscription, live games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC and TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks throughout the postseason. Each series is not strictly limited to one broadcaster – for example, games in a series can air on TNT, ABC, and ESPN during the same week.
Check the official hockey playoffs schedule on NHL.com to find out which channel you can tune into for specific games.
How can I watch the Stanley Cup playoffs without cable?
As always, this is where things get complicated. If you don’t have cable access or cable sign-in, you’ll need one at least one streaming service to catch all hockey playoff games live in 2026.
To watch games airing on the TNT family of networks, you can tune in with the HBO Max app ($18.49 per month for a standard plan) or with a live TV streaming provider like Sling TV, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV. To catch every game broadcast live on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, you can sign up for ESPN Unlimited ($29.99 per month) or a live TV provider.
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Registration a live TV streaming service it will definitely get you a lot of bang for your buck, even though the cost is a bit high (most are between $65 and $85 per month). But you can also choose to subscribe to both HBO Max and ESPN Unlimited for a combined price of $48.48 per month for access to every game. It all depends on your preference.
Different from cable, live TV broadcasters rely on the internet and offer you live channel programming without a monthly contract. You can cancel whenever it’s no longer a good fit — no strings attached. These services aren’t cheap, but many offer introductory rates and are still more affordable than a monthly cable bill. Plus, you get your money’s worth with access to live and local news, sports, and entertainment channels. It will serve you long after the team is awarded the Stanley Cup, if you choose to keep your subscription.
Here’s a breakdown of your live streaming service options for watching the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs live, along with the best deals available for each.
For TNT, TBS, and truTV shows: HBO Max
$18.49/month or $184.99/year
HBO Max Standard (not Basic) subscriptions include the B/R Sports add-on, which includes access to NHL games on TNT (and simulcast TBS and truTV games). Of course, this only covers half of the postseason, so you’ll still need another way to tune into the ESPN and ABC broadcasts. HBO Max Standard will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (a 16% savings).
HBO Max deals:
For ESPN and ABC sports: ESPN Unlimited
ESPN finally launched a direct-to-consumer streaming service last year, so sports fans can enjoy the full suite of ESPN networks under one subscription: ESPN Unlimited. For $29.99 a month, you’ll be able to watch all the NHL playoffs broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Of course, you’ll need to pair it with HBO Max for the entire postseason lineup, which would cost you a total of $48.48 per month.
ESPN Unlimited Deals:
More games at a lower price: Sling TV Orange plan
Sling TV’s Orange Plan is your best bet to watch the most NHL postseason games at the lowest price. The Orange plan includes access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, as well as 30 other channels. While that doesn’t include ABC, most ABC NHL games are also available on ESPN3, so you’ll be all set. Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you can add and remove from your plan without worry and cancel or suspend your subscription at any time. The Orange plan costs $46 a month, but you can also prepay for three months and save.
Sling Deals:
The best way to watch for free: YouTube TV sports 10-day trial
10-day free trial, then $54.99/month for your first year
We’re big fans of YouTube TV’s 100+ channel lineup, which includes all the networks you’ll need to catch the Stanley Cup playoffs live. On the other hand, we’re not big fans of the $82.99 per month fee. Fortunately, the broadcaster has not only launched an affordable sports-based plan recently, but it also comes with a 10-day free trial and a discounted first year.
YouTube TV Agreements:
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YouTube TV Sports — 10-day free trial, $54.99/month for your first year
$64.99/month(save $120) -
YouTube TV Base — 10-day free trial, $67.99/month for your first 3 months
$82.99/month(save $45)
Honorable mention:
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Hulu + Live TV (includes all networks) — 3-day trial, then $82.99 per month
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DirecTV My Sports (includes all networks) — 5-day trial, then $44.99/month for two months
$64.99/month(save $40)