Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026: Bracket, schedule and scores as conference final matchups are set

The Avalanche and Golden Knights will battle it out for the right to play for the Stanley Cup

Austin Nivison

May 12, 2026

11:05 pm ET

•

3 min read

CBS Sports design

The Stanley Cup Playoffs field is down to four teams. On Monday, Alex Newhook scored the Game 7 overtime winner to push the Montreal Canadiens past the Buffalo Sabres for a spot in the Eastern Conference Final.

After beating the Sabres in dramatic fashion, the Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference final. In order to reach the Stanley Cup Final, Montreal will have to do something no other team has done to this point -- beat the Hurricanes. Carolina is 8-0 in this postseason and eyeing history. Under the current format that began in 1975, no team has ever gone a perfect 16-0 through to winning the Cup. The closest team to doing so was the 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers, who went 16-2.

That said, the young Habs will provide a new an unique challenge for a Canes defense that has been nothing short of dominant this spring.

Out West, the Colorado Avalanche have been arguably the best team in the league all season, and that has carried over to the playoffs. They swept the Kings out of the first round before they knocked out the Wild in the second round. Colorado closed out the Minnesota series with an astonishing three-goal comeback in Game 5.

The level of difficulty will ramp up a notch for the Avs in the Western Conference Final, however, as they face the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas has closed out each of its first two opponents -- the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks -- in six games. In order to beat the Avalanche, the Golden Knights will have to counter their depth as 17 different Colorado players have scored through just nine games.

For the complete conference final schedule -- as well as updates on results and broadcast info -- follow along right here at CBS Sports.

All times Eastern.

Conference finals

(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens

Game 1: Thursday, May 21 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT

Game 2: Saturday, May 23 | at CAR | 7 p.m. | TNT

Game 3: Monday, May 25 | at MTL | 8 p.m. | TNT

Game 4: Wednesday, May 27 | at MTL | 8 p.m. | TNT

*Game 5: Friday, May 29 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT

*Game 6: Sunday, May 31 | at MTL | TBD | TNT

*Game 7: Tuesday, June 2 | at CAR | 8 p.m. | TNT

(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (1) Vegas Golden Knights

Game 1: Wednesday, May 20 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN

Game 2: Friday, May 22 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN

Game 3: Sunday, May 24 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ESPN

Game 4: Tuesday, May 26 | at VGK | 9 p.m. | ESPN

*Game 5: Thursday, May 28 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN

*Game 6: Saturday, May 30 | at VGK | 8 p.m. | ABC

*Game 7: Monday, June 1 | at COL | 8 p.m. | ESPN

Round 2

(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers

Game 1: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 0 | Recap

Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT) | Recap

Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Flyers 1 | Recap

Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT) | Recap

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens

Game 1: Sabres 4, Canadiens 2 | Recap

Game 2: Canadiens 5, Sabres 1 | Recap

Game 3: Canadiens 6, Sabres 2 | Recap

Game 4: Sabres 3, Canadiens 2 | Recap

Game 5: Canadiens 6, Sabres 3 | Recap

Game 6: Sabres 8, Canadiens 3 | Recap

Game 7: Canadiens 3, Sabres 2 (OT) | Recap

(1) Colorado Avalanche (3) Minnesota Wild

Game 1: Avalanche 9, Wild 6 | Recap

Game 2: Avalanche 5, Wild 2 | Recap

Game 3: Wild 5, Avalanche 1 | Recap

Game 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 2 | Recap

Game 5: Avalanche 4, Wild 3 (OT) | Recap

(1) Vegas Golden Knights (3) Anaheim Ducks

Game 1: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 1 | Recap

Game 2: Ducks 3, Golden Knights 1 | Recap

Game 3: Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2 | Recap

Game 4: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3 | Recap

Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 2 (OT) | Recap

Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Ducks 1 | Recap

Round 1

(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Ottawa Senators

Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Senators 0 | Recap

Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Senators 2 (2OT) | Recap

Game 3: Hurricanes 2, Senators 1 | Recap

Game 4: Hurricanes 4, Senators 2 | Recap

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers

Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | Recap

Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0 | Recap

Game 3: Flyers 5, Penguins 2 | Recap

Game 4: Penguins 4, Flyers 2 | Recap

Game 5: Penguins 3, Flyers 2 | Recap

Game 6: Flyers 1, Penguins 0 (OT) | Recap

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins

Game 1: Sabres 4, Bruins 3 | Recap

Game 2: Bruins 4, Sabres 2 | Recap

Game 3: Sabres 3, Bruins 1 | Recap

Game 4: Sabres 6, Bruins 1 | Recap

Game 5: Bruins 2, Sabres 1 (OT) | Recap

Game 6: Sabres 4, Bruins 1 | Recap

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens

Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Recap

Game 2: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | Recap

Game 3: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT) | Recap

Game 4: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 | Recap

Game 5: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 | Recap