How to watch the 2024 NHL playoffs: Stream, schedule and more

After a long and exciting 82-game regular season, the race to the Stanley Cup has officially begun as the NHL postseason begins today, April 20.

The score is blank and the remaining 16 teams (of 32) are just 16 wins away from winning one of the most iconic trophies in any major league sport.

This year’s playoff field includes the current reigning champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, the 2024 regular season champions, the New York Rangers, and perhaps the biggest surprise in the west, the Vancouver Canucks.

All 2024 NHL Playoff games will be broadcast on national channels, with streaming options available such as max. and DirectTV Streaming.

What channels will the 2024 NHL playoffs be on?

The first round of the 2024 NHL Playoffs will air on both regional sports networks (exclusive to each team’s home market) and national networks.

While regional networks differ by market, half of the first- and second-round games will air on TNT or TBS, while the other half will air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC nationwide.

How to stream the 2024 NHL playoffs:

ESPN:

If you don’t have cable, the only way to stream the 2024 NHL playoff games on ESPN is with the live TV streaming service. The following services include ESPN:

• DirectTV Streaming– any plan, starting at $94.98/month with $10 off the first three months
• Honda TV– Orange Plan, $40/month with half off the first month
• Hulu + Live TV– basic plan, $76.99/month
• fuboTV– any plan, starting at $79.99/month

Typically, you can stream NHL games that air on ESPN with the ESPN+ streaming service, however, it is important to note that ESPN+ will only live stream ESPN and ABC games during the Conference Finals (Third Round) and the Stanley Cup Finals.

TNT/TBS:

The easiest and most cost-effective way to stream TNT or TBS games during the 2024 NHL Playoffs without cable is with a Maximum subscription. Max starts at $9.99 a month and all three plans currently come with the Bleacher Report Sports add-on, which you’ll need to watch these games live.

MAXIMUM

You can also get all the networks needed for these games on the following live TV streaming services: Honda TV (any basic plan – no truTV), DirectTV Streamingand Hulu + Live TV.

Live TV streaming services:

	TNT	TBS	TruTV	ESPN	ESPN2	ABC
DirectTV Streaming	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hulu + Live TV	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
fuboTV				✔	✔	✔
Sling TV (Orange + Blue)	✔	✔		✔	✔	✔

Can I watch the 2024 NHL playoffs for free?

While there’s no way to stream for free for the entire duration of the playoffs, you can get a five-day free trial of DirectTV Streaming (which also includes regional sports networks!) and a free seven-day trial of fuboTV.

Playoff bracket: Which teams are in the 2024 NHL playoffs?

Western Conference: Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings

Eastern Conference: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders

Key dates for the 2024 NHL playoffs:

• Start of playoffs: Saturday April 21
• Start of the Stanley Cup Finals: Wednesday June 3 (provisional)
• Stanley Cup Final Final: no later than June 17

2024 NHL Playoffs First Round Schedule:

Eastern Conference:

Florida Panthers (1A) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)

• Game 1: April 21, 12:30 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 2: April 23, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
• Game 3: April 25, 7 pm ET (TBS, MAX)
• Game 4: April 27, 5 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:April 29, to be determined
• Game 6:May 1, to be determined
• Game 7:May 4, to be determined

Boston Bruins (2A) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (3A)

• Game 1: April 20, 8 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 2:April 22, 7 pm Eastern (ESPN)
• Game 3:April 24, 7 pm Eastern (ESPN)
• Game 4: April 27, 8 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:April 30, to be determined
• Game 6:May 2, to be determined
• Game 7:May 4, to be determined

New York Rangers (1M) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)

• Game 1:April 21, 3 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 2:April 23, 7 pm Eastern (ESPN)
• Game 3:April 26, 7 pm ET (TNT, truTV, MAX)
• Game 4:April 28, 8 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:May 1, to be determined
• Game 6:May 3, to be determined
• Game 7:May 5, to be determined

Carolina Hurricanes (2M) vs. New York Islanders (3M)

• Game 1:April 20, 5 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 2:Islanders in Hurricanes – April 22, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
• Game 3:Hurricanes at Islanders – April 25, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
• Game 4:Hurricanes at Islanders: April 27, 2 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:Islanders in hurricanes – April 30, to be determined
• Game 6:Hurricanes in Islanders – May 2, TBD
• Game 7:Islanders in hurricanes – May 4, to be determined

Western Conference:

Dallas Stars (1C) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)

• Game 1:April 22, 9:30 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 2:April 24, 9:30 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 3:April 27, 10:30 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 4:April 29, to be determined
• Game 5:May 1, to be determined
• Game 6:May 3, to be determined
• Game 7:May 5, to be determined

Winnipeg Jets (2C) vs. Colorado Avalanche (3C)

• Game 1:April 21, 7 pm Eastern (ESPN2)
• Game 2:April 23, 9:30 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 3:April 26, 10 pm ET (TNT, truTV, MAX)
• Game 4:April 28, 2:30 pm ET (TNT, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:April 30, to be determined
• Game 6: May 2, to be determined
• Game 7:May 4, to be determined

Vancouver Canucks (1P) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

• Game 1:April 21, 10 pm ET (ESPN)
• Game 2:April 23, 10 pm ET (ESPN2)
• Game 3:April 26, 7:30 pm ET (TBS, MAX)
• Game 4:April 28, 5 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:April 30, to be determined
• Game 6:May 3, to be determined
• Game 7:May 5, to be determined

Edmonton Oilers (2L) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3L)

• Game 1:April 22, 10 pm ET (ESPN2)
• Game 2:April 24, 10 pm ET (TBS, MAX)
• Game 3:April 26, 10:30 pm ET (TBS, MAX)
• Game 4:April 28, 10:30 pm ET (TBS, truTV, MAX)
• Game 5:May 1, to be determined
• Game 6:May 3, to be determined
• Game 7:May 5, to be determined

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