Sportsnet Announces 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Coverage Details, Beginning April 18

April 17, 2026 / Latest News

– Delivering every moment of every game, Canada’s home of the NHL delivers exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs across TV, audio, digital and streaming platforms –

 

April 17, 2026 – Sportsnet is Here for the Cup! Starting Saturday, the NHL’s best go head-to-head with three Stanley Cup Playoffs series featuring Canadian teams, and Sportsnet is delivering comprehensive coverage of every first-round matchup across Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, CBC, OMNI, and the Sportsnet Radio Network.

 

Sportsnet’s multiplatform coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs includes:

 

TV & Sportsnet+

  • Hockey Central – Ron MacLean and David Amber host pre-game, intermission and post-game alongside experts Kevin BieksaElliotte FriedmanKelly HrudeyJennifer Botterill, and Luke Gazdic.
  • Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition – Randip JandaHarpreet PandherGurpreet SianMantar Bhandal, and Taqdeer Thindal deliver select Saturday night games on OMNI Television.

 

Audio & TV

  • 32 Thoughts: The Podcast presented by Toyota – Canada’s chart-topping hockey podcast with NHL insiders Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas will extend to three episodes per week. Available on-demand.
  • The FAN Hockey Show– With Matt Marchese and Mike Futa serves up exclusive interviews, in-depth analysis and breaking headlines weekdays at Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT across the Sportsnet Radio Network, on-demand and on TV.
  • Real Kyper and Bourne – Nick Kypreos and Justin Bourne take a look around the league weekdays at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on Sportsnet, across the Sportsnet Radio Network, on-demand, and on TV.

 

Digital – Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet App & Social

  • Must-Reads – In-depth daily reads and analysis from NHL reporters Mark Spector (Edmonton), Alex Adams (Ottawa), Eric Engels (Montreal), Sonny Sachdeva (Pittsburgh), and Ryan Dixon (Buffalo)
  • Highlights, previews, expert predictions and real-time coverage of all the key games and matchups during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
  • Breaking news, behind-the-scenes content and can’t-miss videos on Sportsnet’s YouTubeXInstagram and TikTok channels.

 

 

Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet – First Round Broadcast Schedule

 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 

MONTREAL CANADIENS vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

  • Chris Cuthbert has the play-by-play call with analyst Craig Simpson and reporter Kyle Bukauskas.
G1 Sunday, April 19 Montreal @ Tampa Bay, 5:45 p.m. ET / 2:45 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G2 Tuesday, April 21 Montreal @ Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G3 Friday, April 24 Tampa Bay @ Montreal, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G4 Sunday, April 26 Tampa Bay @ Montreal, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC
G5* Wednesday, April 29 Montreal @ Tampa Bay, TBD TBD
G6* Friday, May 1 Tampa Bay @ Montreal, TBD TBD
G7* Sunday, May 3 Montreal @ Tampa Bay, TBD TBD

 

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. CAROLINA HURRICANES

  • Play-by-play announcer John Bartlett and analyst Garry Galley deliver the call, alongside reporter Shawn McKenzie.
G1 Saturday, April 18 Ottawa @ Carolina, 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT Sportsnet, OMNI
G2 Monday, April 20 Ottawa @ Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC
G3 Thursday, April 23 Carolina @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G4 Saturday, April 25 Carolina @ Ottawa, 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT Sportsnet, OMNI
G5* Monday, April 27 Ottawa @ Carolina, TBD TBD
G6* Thursday, April 30 Carolina @ Ottawa, TBD TBD
G7* Saturday, May 2 Ottawa @ Carolina, TBD TBD

 

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

G1 Saturday, April 18 Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT Sportsnet
G2 Monday, April 20 Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT SN360
G3 Wednesday, April 22 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360
G4 Saturday, April 25 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT Sportsnet
G5* Monday, April 27 Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh, TBD TBD
G6* Wednesday, April 29 Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia, TBD TBD
G7* Saturday, May 2 Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh, TBD TBD

 

BOSTON BRUINS vs. BUFFALO SABRES

G1 Sunday, April 19 Boston @ Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT SN360, SN1
G2 Tuesday, April 21 Boston @ Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT SN360
G3 Thursday, April 23 Buffalo @ Boston, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT SN360
G4 Sunday, April 26 Buffalo @ Boston, 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT Sportsnet
G5* Tuesday, April 28 Boston @ Buffalo, TBD TBD
G6* Friday, May 1 Buffalo @ Boston, TBD TBD
G7* Sunday, May 3 Boston @ Buffalo, TBD TBD

 

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

 

LOS ANGELES KINGS vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE

G1 Saturday, April 18 Los Angeles @ Colorado, 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT SNO, SNW, SNP
G2 Tuesday, April 21 Los Angeles @ Colorado, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT SN360
G3 Thursday, April 23 Colorado @ Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Sportsnet, SN360
G4 Sunday, April 26 Colorado @ Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT SNW, SNP, SN360
G5* Wednesday, April 29 Los Angeles @ Colorado, TBD TBD
G6* Friday, May 1 Colorado @ Los Angeles, TBD TBD
G7* Sunday, May 3 Los Angeles @ Colorado, TBD TBD

 

MINNESOTA WILD vs. DALLAS STARS

G1 Saturday, April 18 Minnesota @ Dallas, 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT SNO, SNW, SNP
G2 Monday, April 20 Minnesota @ Dallas 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT SN360
G3 Wednesday, April 22 Dallas @ Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT SN360
G4 Saturday, April 25 Dallas @ Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT SNO, SNW, SNP
G5* Tuesday, April 28 Minnesota @ Dallas, TBD TBD
G6* Thursday, April 30 Dallas @ Minnesota, TBD TBD
G7* Saturday, May 2 Minnesota @ Dallas, TBD TBD

 

UTAH MAMMOTH vs. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

  • Harnarayan Singh and John Garrett team up in the booth, with Dan Murphy reporting rinkside.
G1 Sunday, April 19 Utah @ Vegas, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G2 Tuesday, April 21 Utah @ Vegas, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G3 Friday, April 24 Vegas @ Utah, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT SN360
G4 Monday, April 27 Vegas @ Utah, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G5* Wednesday, April 29 Utah @ Vegas, TBD TBD
G6* Friday, May 1 Vegas @ Utah, TBD TBD
G7* Sunday, May 3 Utah @ Vegas, TBD TBD

 

EDMONTON OILERS vs. ANAHEIM DUCKS

  • Play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels pairs with analyst Louie DeBrusk, and reporter Scott Oake.
G1 Monday, April 20 Anaheim @ Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G2 Wednesday, April 22 Anaheim @ Edmonton, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G3 Friday, April 24 Edmonton @ Anaheim, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G4 Sunday, April 26 Edmonton @ Anaheim, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT Sportsnet, CBC
G5* Tuesday, April 28 Anaheim @ Edmonton, TBD TBD
G6* Thursday, April 30 Edmonton @ Anaheim, TBD TBD
G7* Saturday, May 3 Anaheim @ Edmonton, TBD TBD

 

*If necessary

**All broadcasts available to stream on Sportsnet+

***Schedule subject to change; most up-to-date broadcast details available online

 

 

 

 

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