NHL Announces Eastern Conference Schedule Scenarios

Series to begin in Raleigh on either May 19 or 21

5.14.26 Towel Time

© Josh Lavallee/Carolina Hurricanes

By Walt Ruff
@WaltRuff Hurricanes.com

RALEIGH, N.C. - The National Hockey League announced the following information on Thursday, containing two possible timelines for the 2026 Eastern Conference Final.

If the second-round series between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens ends in six games, the Carolina Hurricanes will take on the winner of the series on the dates below:

Eastern Conference Final Schedule (If Second Round Series Ends In 6)

Game
Date
Time (ET)
Venue
Networks
Game 1
Tuesday, May 19
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 2
Thursday, May 21
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 3
Saturday, May 23
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN,CBC, TVAS
Game 4
Monday, May 25
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 5*
Wednesday, May 27
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 6*
Friday, May 29
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 7*
Sunday, May 31
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, TVAS

If the second-round series between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens ends in seven games, the Carolina Hurricanes will take on the winner of the series on the dates below:

Eastern Conference Final Schedule (If Second Round Series Ends In 7)

Game
Date
Time (ET)
Venue
Networks
Game 1
Thursday, May 21
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 2
Saturday, May 23
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 3
Monday, May 25
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 4
Wednesday, May 27
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 5*
Friday, May 29
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 6*
Sunday, May 31
TBD
TBD
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, TVAS
Game 7*
Tuesday, June 2
TBD
Lenovo Center
TNT, truTV, HBO MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS

Tickets for Games 1 and 2, and if necessary, 5 and 7, are on sale now and can be accessed below.

To learn more about the Canes' 2026 playoff run, click here.

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