Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 1 schedule announced

Key Points:

• The 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs feature a six-team turnover from last season, marking the second-highest in NHL history, with Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Utah qualifying after missing the previous postseason.
• Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each enter their 16th playoff appearance, with Crosby tied for fifth-most playoff points in NHL history and Malkin ranking fourth among players born outside North America.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning extended their franchise record to nine consecutive postseason appearances, tied for the longest active streak in the NHL, and lead in playoff wins, series wins, trips to the Final, and championships since 2017-18.
• Utah becomes the 23rd state to host Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey and joins a select group of teams to reach the postseason within their first two NHL seasons, alongside franchises like the Oilers and Golden Knights.
• Fans can participate in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by Expedia for a chance to win NHL event tickets and a limited edition watch, with extensive playoff coverage available on NHL Network through shows like First Shift, NHL Now, and NHL Tonight.