The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are about to begin! The action starts at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18, and will continue through the Stanley Cup Finals in June! All games will be shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, and truTV, as well as regional sports networks, with the Finals due to air on ABC. Games in the first round of the playoffs may be shown on regional channels in the markets of the teams playing, as well as to a national audience on cable channels. You can stream every game of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with a subscription to the DIRECTV MySports Genre Pack.

How to watch 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

• When: Begins Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, truTV, and regional sports networks.
• Stream: Watch with a subscription to DIRECTV.
• From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.

Everything you need to know about the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

What is the schedule of the first round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers

What channels will broadcast future rounds of the NHL Playoffs?

Like the first round, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery will split all of the series, essentially to make sure that they maximize game windows. If ESPN took all of the Eastern Conference games and WBD the Western, they would run into a glut of overlapping games. So, for the larger early rounds, they split the conference broadcasts up.

However, once the action gets to the conference finals, they will focus on one side of the Stanley Cup bracket. This season, ESPN will handle the Eastern Conference responsibilities, while TNT will take the West.

Then, when things get to the all-important Stanley Cup Finals, ESPN and ABC will have the rights to all of the games.

Why watch the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV?

If you want to watch every Stanley Cup Playoff game with one service, DIRECTV’s MySports Genre Pack is a great way to go. The package carries ABC, ESPN, TBS, TNT, and truTV in its base plan, which costs $65 per month normally, but is discounted to $45 per month for a new customer’s first two months.

That $20 extra will be handy for watching any first-round NHL Playoff games shown only on regional sports channels in your area. DIRECTV also offers the MyHome Team Mini-Pack, which adds your local RSN to your package for $20 per month.

The MySports Pack also comes with ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost, and includes a five-day free trial for new subscribers. It’s the least expensive way to watch all NHL Playoff games on a single app, with a great discount on a new customer’s first two months of service!

5-Day Trial

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DIRECTV

DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.

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Following the launch of several genre-specific Genre Packs, there are now even more flexible ways to watch DIRECTV. Options like MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MiEspañol provide affordable, targeted alternatives to larger bundles, allowing viewers to subscribe to a specific set of channels that match their interests without the cost of a full lineup.

DIRECTV starts at $59.99 / month for its Entertainment package. You can access your local regional sports network with the Choice package, which begins at $64.99 / month, as well as the MySports Pack $44.99 / month. At the top end, they also have an Ultimate ($94.99) for 218 channels. Slimmer Genre Packs for entertainment and news are MyEntertainment for $42.99 / month and MyNews $39.99 / month. There is no contract or broadcast TV fees with this DIRECTV streaming option.

The service was previously called DIRECTV STREAM, preceded by AT&T TV.

How much does DIRECTV cost in 2026?

DIRECTV now offers flexible entry points starting at $19.99/month for the MyKids Genre Pack, while full Signature Packages like Entertainment start at $84.99/month. See the full list: DIRECTV Pricing & Plans

Does DIRECTV have a free trial?

Yes, DIRECTV offers a 5-Day Free Trial for new customers, which includes access to your chosen package and any added Genre Packs.

What are DIRECTV Genre Packs?

Genre Packs are targeted, contract-free plans introduced in 2025. They include MySports ($69.99/mo), MyEntertainment ($34.99/mo), MyNews ($39.99/mo), and MiEspañol ($34.99/mo), often bundling apps like Max, Disney+, or Hulu.

How many channels does DIRECTV have?

The channel count varies by plan: the Entertainment package starts with 90+ channels, while the Premier package offers over 185+ channels. See the full list: DIRECTV Channels.

How many streams are allowed at once on DIRECTV?

DIRECTV allows for unlimited simultaneous streams on your home network and up to 3 streams while on the go. See more details: DIRECTV Simultaneous Streams

Does DIRECTV include local channels?

Yes, local affiliates like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are included in all Signature Packages and the MySports Genre Pack in most markets. See the full list: DIRECTV Local Channels.

Does DIRECTV have live sports?

DIRECTV is a leader in sports, offering ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, and MLB Network, plus Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in the Choice plan and above. See the full list: DIRECTV Sports Channels.

Does DIRECTV offer premium channels?

Yes, you can add Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax. Many 2026 Genre Packs now include these services as part of the base price. See the full list: DIRECTV Premium Channels.

Does DIRECTV offer 4K streaming?

DIRECTV provides dedicated 4K channels (104-106) for live sports and special events at no extra cost, provided you have a compatible 4K device.

Does DIRECTV have a DVR?

Every DIRECTV plan includes Unlimited Cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record and save shows for up to 9 months.

Is there a Regional Sports Network (RSN) fee on DIRECTV?

An RSN fee of up to $15.99/month applies to the Choice package and above, as these plans include local sports coverage. This fee is determined by your zip code and the number of Regional Sports Networks available in your area.

Can I avoid the RSN fee on DIRECTV?

Yes. To avoid the RSN fee, you can subscribe to the Entertainment package or the MySports Genre Pack ($69.99/mo), which bundles sports content without a separate itemized RSN charge. See the breakdown: DIRECTV RSN Fees & Locations.

5-Day Trial

$59.99+ / month

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Can you watch the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for free?

Since the NHL Playoffs will stretch on for months, there’s no way to watch 100% of the postseason for free. However, Hulu + Live TV has all the national channels that will host NHL games this year, and comes with a three-day free trial for all new customers.

YouTube TV also comes with these channels in its core plan and its Sports Plan, which include free trials between two and 21 days, depending on what time of month you subscribe and other factors.

What are all the services you can use to watch the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV all carry each of the national cable channels you need to watch NHL Playoff games. Of these choices, we prefer DIRECTV above any of the other options.

Sling TV will offer games from ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS in its Orange plan, which costs $46 per month, or can be accessed with Passes starting at $5 per day. ESPN Unlimited unlocks all games on ABC and ESPN channels, with prices starting at $30 per month. HBO Max will offer all games on TNT Sports channels live this NHL postseason, but only on ad-free plans, which start at $18.49 per month.

How to watch the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs from anywhere

If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the 2026 NHL Playoffs as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV in order to stream the games with a VPN.

NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!

While NordVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.

• Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
• Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
• Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available