NHL Playoff Schedule 2021: Full bracket, date, time, TV channel for each series

After a 56-game sprint and some COVID-19-related delays, the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here.

The most heart-stopping, seductive and – if you’re a fan of the chasing team – the nerve-wracking playoff will begin on Saturday when the Capitals host the Brewers.

This year things are a bit different – if you haven’t already noticed the Capitals and Bruins’ mismatch in the first round. Due to the COVID-19 protocol restricting travel at the beginning of the season and the closure of the Canada-US border, the teams were changed to one of four divisions. There will be no Western Conference or Eastern Conference champions and the playoffs are structured differently, which we will understand a bit.

more: Watch NHL playoff games live and on demand fuboTV (7-day trial)

One familiar thing this year is that Lord Stanley’s path to lifting the cup will be long and winding but the taste of the end will be oh, how sweet. Who will be the biggest trophy drinkers of the Games? Only time will tell.

Until then, below you’ll find everything you need to know about watching the 2021 NHL playoffs, including series-by-series TV schedules and live streaming information.

2021 nhl playoff bracket

NHL Playoff 2021: TV Channel, Live Stream

• TV (US): NBC, NBCSN, USA, CNBC, NHLN
• TV (Canada): Sportsnet, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 360, CBC, FX, FXX and Omni
• Stream (US): NBC Sports.com | fuboTV (free trial)
• Stream (Canada): Now sn, Sn now +, Nhl live
• live score: Sn scoreboard

The NBC Network’s family’s final year of broadcast will mark the road to the NHL for the Stanley Cup, marking the 2021 postseason. The first-round games will be shown on the NHL Network and NBC channels in the United States, while in Canada on FX, FXX, SportsNet’s channels, and CBC.

In Canada, Chris Cuthbert and Craig Simpson will narrate the Maple Leafs-Canadiens series while Harnarayan Singh and Louis DeBrusk bring fans to the Oilers-Jets. David Amber and Ron McLean will be studio anchors and join a rotating crew of analysts and insiders.

NBC will also employ a rotating crew consisting of play-by-play announcers Kenny Albert, John Forslund and Brendan Burke, and analysts Eddie Olsiak, AJ Mlelko and Dominic Moore.

How will the NHL playoffs work in 2021?

Here’s a quick overview of how the 2021 postseason will work, with each series being the 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 winner of the first round in each division will then face off to determine the division champion.
• Once the four division winners are crowned, they will meet in the Stanley Cup semi-finals. Seeding for this round will be based on the regular-season point total.
• The semi-final winners will meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

NHL playoff schedule, series results by results

(All time eastern)

First round

East Division: (1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) New York Islanders

(* if necessary)

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East Division: (2) Washington Capitals vs. (3) Boston Bruins

(* if necessary)

Answer: (1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens

(* if necessary)

Answer Division: (2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets

(* if necessary)

Central Division: (1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (4) Nashville Predators ville

(* if necessary)

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Central Division: (2) Florida Panthers vs. (3) Tampa Bay Lightning

(* if necessary)

West Division: (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) St. Louis Blues

(* if necessary)

West Division: (2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Minnesota Wild

(* if necessary)