It's time to polish Lord Stanley up a bit, as the 2024 NHL playoffs are set to get underway on April 20. With 16 teams still in contention, it'll be an exciting race to see who gets to lift the Stanley Cup, and we've got all the information you need on how to watch the 2024 NHL playoffs from start to finish.
US: ABC | ESPN | TNT | TBS (live TV streaming services) | Max
Canada: Sportesnet | TVA
UK: NHL.tv
Watch abroad with a VPN
The NHL playoffs are always some of the most exciting postseason action around, as we get four rounds of seven-games series, complete with brilliant goals, incredible saves and magnificent playoff beards.
The Vegas Golden Knights are going to get the chance to defend their 2023 Stanley Cup victory, but it won't be easy in the competitive Western Conference field, which includes Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, Nathan McKinnon's Colorado Avalanche and potential first-round matchups with either the Vancouver Canucks or the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars. Over in the Eastern Conference, while the race for the final playoff spot is still on, the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes are top in the conference and looking to prove it when it matters most.
Get everything you need to know on how to watch the 2024 NHL playoffs right here, as well as the playoff schedule.
How to watch 2024 NHL playoffs in the US
All NHL playoff games are going to air on either ABC, ESPN networks, TNT or TBS on traditional TV. All those channels are available through traditional pay-TV providers, while ABC is also accessible through TV antennas. If you're updating your TV setup to a live TV streaming service, ABC and ESPN are available on Fubo, Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV, while TNT and TBS are available on Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV.
While ESPN Plus and Hulu do offer hockey coverage throughout the NHL regular season, at this time it is not clear if they are going to offer NHL playoff action. However, all games on TNT and TBS are going to stream live on Max as part of the streaming service’s B/R Sports add-on component, which at this time looks to still be available for free, but will cost $9.99 per month in addition to a normal Max subscription cost once the promotional period is over.
How to watch 2024 NHL playoffs in Canada
Hockey fans in Canada are hoping to see one of their teams lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in 30-plus years. Giving them a shot this year are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers. To watch all of their action, and other NHL playoff games, you are going to need access to Sportsnet and TVA Sports channels.
How to watch 2024 NHL playoffs in the UK
NHL games aren't as readily available in the UK, but hockey fans can still get access to games through the NHL.tv streaming option.
How to watch 2024 NHL playoffs from anywhere
If you're going to be away from your normal TV setup but still want to watch the 2024 NHL playoffs, you might run into some problems. Thankfully, you can solve this exact issue with a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
A VPN lets you change your IP address to that of the area of what you want to watch, meaning you can tune in to your favorite events or other content even if you're not there. Our favorite is NordVPN, which is the No. 1-rated VPN in the world right now according to our sister site, TechRadar.
How to use a VPN to watch any stream
- Download the app at NordVPN
- Choose the location of the streaming service you want to watch (UK, US, etc)
- Navigate to the streaming service and start watching!
2024 NHL playoffs schedule
The first slate of games of the 2024 NHL playoffs have been set. The NHL has released the schedule for all game ones in the Eastern Conference, as matchups are all finalized. The Western Conference schedule, as well as the remaining round one games for the Eastern Conference, will be shared following the conclusion of the regular season on Thursday, April 18. Here is the available NHL playoffs schedule (*denotes if necessary):
Saturday, April 20
- New York Islanders 1, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (Hurricanes lead series 1-0)
- Toronto Maple Leafs 1, Boston Bruins 5 (Bruins lead series 1-0)
Sunday, April 21
- Tampa Bay Lightning 2, Florida Panthers 3 (Panthers lead series 1-0)
- Washington Capitals 1, New York Rangers 4 (Rangers lead series 1-0)
- Colorado Avalanche 6, Winnipeg Jets 7 (Jets lead series 1-0)
- Nashville Predators 2, Vancouver Canucks 4 (Canucks lead series 1-0)
Monday, April 22
- Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Boston Bruins 2 (Series tied 1-1)
- New York Islanders 3, Carolina Hurricanes 5 (Hurricane lead series 2-0)
- Vegas Golden Knights 4, Dallas Stars 3 (Golden Knights lead series 1-0)
- Los Angeles Kings 4, Edmonton Oilers 7 (Oilers lead series 1-0)
Tuesday, April 23
- Washington Capitals 3, New York Rangers 4 (Rangers lead series 2-0)
- Tampa Bay Lightning 2, Florida Panthers 3 (Panthers lead series 2-0)
- Colorado Avalanche 5, Winnipeg Jets 2 (Series tied 1-1)
- Nashville Predators 4, Vancouver Canucks 1 (Series tied 1-1)
Wednesday, April 24
- Boston Bruins 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (Bruins lead series 2-1)
- Vegas Golden Knights 3, Dallas Stars 1 (Golden Knights lead series 2-0)
- Los Angeles Kings 5, Edmonton Oilers 4 (Series tied 1-1)
Thursday, April 25
- Florida Panthers 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (Panthers lead series 3-0)
- Carolina Hurricanes 3, New York Islanders 2 (Hurricanes lead series 3-0)
Friday, April 26
- New York Rangers 3, Washington Capitals 1 (Rangers lead series 3-0)
- Vancouver Canucks 2, Nashville Predators 1 (Canucks lead series 2-1)
- Winnipeg Jets 2, Colorado Avalanche 6 (Avalanche lead series 2-1)
- Edmonton Oilers 6, Los Angeles Kings 1 (Oilers lead series 2-1)
Saturday, April 27
- Carolina Hurricanes 2, New York Islanders 3 (Hurricanes lead series 3-1)
- Florida Panthers 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 6 (Panthers lead series 3-1)
- Boston Bruins 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 1 (Bruins lead series 3-1)
- Dallas Stars 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (Golden Knights lead series 2-1)
Sunday, April 28
- Winnipeg Jets 1, Colorado Avalanche 5 (Avalanche lead series 3-1)
- Vancouver Canucks 4, Nashville Predators 3 (Canucks lead series 3-1)
- New York Rangers 4, Washington Capitals 2 (Rangers win series 4-0)
- Edmonton Oilers 1, Los Angeles Kings 0 (Oilers lead series 3-1)
Monday, April 29
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers, game 5, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, ESPN
- Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights, game 4, 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT, ESPN
Tuesday, April 30
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins, game 5, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT, ESPN
- New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes, game 5, 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT, TBS
- Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets, game 5, 9:30 pm ET/6:30 pm PT, ESPN
- Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks, game 5, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, TBS
Wednesday, May 1
- Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning, game 6*, TBD
- Vegas Golden Knights vs Dallas Stars, game 5, TBD
- Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers, game 5, TBD
Thursday, May 2
- Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs, game 6*, TBD
- Carolina Hurricanes vs New York Islanders, game 6*, TBD
- Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche, game 6, TBD
Friday, May 3
- Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights, game 6*, TBD
- Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators, game 6*, TBD
- Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings, game 6*, TBD
Saturday, May 4
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers, game 7*, TBD
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins, game 7*, TBD
- New York Islanders vs Carolina Hurricanes, game 7*, TBD
- Colorado Avalanche vs Winnipeg Jets, game 7*, TBD
Sunday, May 5
- Vegas Golden Knights vs Dallas Stars, game 7*, TBD
- Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers, game 7*, TBD
- Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks, game 7*, TBD
2024 NHL playoffs teams
The playoff field is set. Here are the teams that have qualified for the 2024 NHL playoffs:
Eastern Conference
- Boston Bruins
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Florida Panthers
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Washington Capitals
Western Conference
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Nashville Predators
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Winnipeg Jets
Matchups are still being determined in the Western Conference, as the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are battling for who will finish third in the Pacific Division and who will take the second wild card spot.
