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It’s playoff time for the NHL, and if you’re wondering what channel the games are on, we’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to find out where to catch all the action.
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NHL playoffs: what channel are they on?
NHL playoffs are currently underway and will be broadcast on various channels.
To find out which channels are broadcasting the NHL playoffs in your area, please consult your local listings.
How to watch the NHL playoffs
Whether you’re a diehard hockey fan or just want to catch the excitement of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there are a few ways to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
First, check your local listings to see what channel your game will be on in your area. The NHL playoffs are broadcast on several channels, including NBC, NBC Sports Network, CNBC, and USA Network.
If you have a cable or satellite subscription, you can also watch the playoffs online through the NHL’s website or through the NBC Sports app.
Finally, if you’re looking for a way to catch up on games you’ve missed or want to relive some of the most exciting moments, the NHL offers a subscription service called NHL GameCenter Live. For a monthly fee, you can access live and archived broadcasts of all Stanley Cup Playoff games.
What time do the NHL playoffs start?
The National Hockey League playoffs start time has not yet been announced.
NHL playoffs: schedule and results
The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs are an elimination tournament held after the conclusion of the NHL regular season. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded to the playoff champion at the end of the playoffs. Prior to 2014, home ice advantage in each series followed a 2–2–1–1–1 format. The format changed starting with the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs so that home ice advantage would be awarded to the team with the better regular season record; this 1–1–2–2–1 series format is similar to that used by MLB and NBA, and was adopted following feedback from fans and players about “making every game matter”, eliminating off days between games, and having a clear disadvantage for divisional winners who might otherwise have had an easy first-round matchup.
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NHL playoffs: bracket
NHL playoffs: bracket
The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament among 16 teams that qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The series is played under a best-of-seven format, and it is contested between the playoff champions of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. The winner of the Stanley Cup Finals receives the Stanley Cup, which is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup champions, having defeated the Nashville Predators in six games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals.
NHL playoffs: TV listings
The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs are wrapping up, with the Stanley Cup Finals set to begin on Wednesday, May 29. Below is the full schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including TV listings for every game.
The NHL playoffs are being televised on NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, and NHL Network in the United States; and CBC, Rogers Sportsnet, TVA Sports, and TSN in Canada. If you have a cable or satellite subscription that includes these networks, you should be able to watch the games without any problem. However, if you don’t have a traditional TV package, there are still several ways to watch the NHL playoffs online.
In the United States:
If you’re in the United States and want to watch the NHL playoffs online without a cable or satellite TV subscription, you can do so with a live TV streaming service such as Sling TV or DIRECTV NOW. Both services offer free trials, so you can try them out before committing to anything.
Sling TV is a good option for budget-minded cord-cutters. It offers two basic packages: Sling Orange and Sling Blue. Both packages include NBCSN and USA Network, so you’ll be able to watch most of the NHL playoff games with either one. Sling Orange costs $20 per month after the 7-day free trial; Sling Blue costs $25 per month after a 7-day free trial. You can sign up for a free trial of Sling TV here.
DIRECTV NOW is a bit more expensive than Sling TV ($35–70 per month), but it offers more channels overall. In addition to NBCSN and USA Network, it includes CNBC and NBC (in select markets). You can sign up for a free 7-day trial of DIRECTV NOW here ore read our review of DIRECTV NOW here.
In Canada:
If you live in Canada, your best bet for watching the NHL playoffs online is Rogers NHL Live. This service gives you access to all Stanley Cup Playoff games that are being broadcast on CBC, Rogers Sportsnet, or TVA Sports. Prices start at $24.99 CAD/month (about $19 USD), and there is no free trial available. You can sign up for Rogers NHL Live here>.
How the NHL playoffs work
When the regular NHL season comes to an end, the top 16 teams in the league qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament, meaning that once a team loses a playoff game, they are out of the running for the Stanley Cup.
The first two rounds of the playoffs are played within each conference (the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference). The top seed in each conference plays the lowest seed, and so on. The winners of each conference then face each other in the third round, called the conference finals.
Finally, the winner of the conference finals from each conference compete against each other in the Stanley Cup Finals. The team that wins four games out of a possible seven in this series is crowned Stanley Cup champions.
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NHL playoffs: history
The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament among the 16 teams that qualified for the playoffs. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded to the playoff champion at the end of each series.
The history of the NHL playoffs dates back to 1917, when four teams qualified for the postseason. The first two rounds of the playoffs were a best-of-three series; in 1919, the first semifinal series became a best-of-five. The Stanley Cup Final has been a best-of-seven series since 1939; prior to that time it was a best-of-five series.
Today, 16 teams qualify for the NHL playoffs: eight from each conference. The conference quarterfinals are best-of-seven series; all subsequent rounds are best-of-seven.
NHL playoffs: records
The National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament held after the conclusion of the NHL regular season. The winners of each series advance to the next round, until the final series, whose winner is crowned the Stanley Cup champion.
NHL playoffs: trivia
NHL playoffs are upon us, and the question on everyone’s mind is: What channel are the playoffs on? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer. Depending on your location, cable provider, and whether you have a digital cable box or a standard definition TV, the NHL playoffs may be on any one of a number of different channels.
Here is a rundown of what channels the NHL playoffs will be on in different parts of the country:
For those in the Eastern and Central time zones, the NHL playoffs will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network. If you have a digital cable box, this channel will likely be in the high 60s or low 70s. For those without a digital box, it will probably be somewhere in the range of 30-40.
If you live in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, you’ll be able to catch the NHL playoffs on CNBC. Again, if you have a digital cable box, this channel will probably be in the 60s or 70s; without a box, it will likely be in the 30-40 range.
Finally, for those who live in Canada, all games will be broadcast on CBC. The channel number will depend on your location and cable provider.
So there you have it! No matter where you are or what kind of TV you have, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to catch at least some of the NHL playoff action.
