NHL sets conference-final matchups

The NHL finalized its 2026 conference-final field on May 18, setting Carolina against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final and Colorado against Vegas in the Western Conference Final. The league said the Western series would open Wednesday, May 20, in Denver, while the Eastern series would begin Thursday, May 21, in Raleigh. (media.nhl.com) NBC Philadelphia and NHL.com published the bracket and schedule after the final four was set. Montreal completed the bracket by advancing Monday with a 3-2 overtime win over Buffalo, according to NBC Philadelphia and other playoff coverage. (nbcphiladelphia.com) That result paired the Canadiens with a Carolina team that had been waiting for its opponent after finishing its second-round series earlier. (media.nhl.com) ESPN’s preview said the Hurricanes had not played since May 9 before the matchup was confirmed. ### When do the two series start, and where? Colorado opens at home on Wednesday night because the Avalanche enter the Western Conference Final as the Presidents’ Trophy winner, the NHL said. NHL.com listed Game 1 of Golden Knights-Avalanche for 8 p.m. (media.nhl.com) ET on May 20 in Denver, with Game 2 also in Colorado on May 22 before the series shifts to Las Vegas. Carolina opens at home on Thursday night in the East. NHL.com listed Game 1 of Hurricanes-Canadiens for May 21 in Raleigh, with Game 2 on May 23 before the series moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. Some later start times were still listed as to be determined when schedules were published. (nbcphiladelphia.com) ### How did these four teams get here? Montreal secured the last remaining place in the round with the overtime win over Buffalo on Monday. Carolina arrived after eliminating Philadelphia, while Colorado and Vegas emerged from the Western bracket to set a matchup between the conference’s two remaining clubs. NBC Philadelphia’s bracket page identified the four surviving teams as Hurricanes, Canadiens, Avalanche and Golden Knights. (media.nhl.com) Daily Faceoff said the Golden Knights are the most recent of the four remaining teams to win the Stanley Cup, having done so in 2023, while Colorado won in 2022. (media.nhl.com) Daily Faceoff also noted Carolina won in 2006 and Montreal remains the last Canadian team to win the Cup, in 1993. ### Why is Montreal drawing so much historical attention? ESPN’s conference-final preview said Montreal brings an NHL-record 24 Stanley Cup championships into the series against Carolina. That history has been a recurring point in schedule and preview coverage as the Canadiens return to the final four. (nbcphiladelphia.com) NHL.com also revisited the teams’ playoff history, noting Carolina and Montreal met in a six-game series in 2006. Daily Faceoff tied that longer view to the Canadiens’ place in the league’s record book and to their status as the most decorated franchise in NHL history. (dailyfaceoff.com) ### Where can viewers find the full schedule? NHL.com published the full conference-final schedule, including television partners and the if-necessary Games 5 through 7 for both series. The league’s media release and playoff schedule page list the dates, sites and broadcast windows for each matchup. (usatoday.com) NBC Philadelphia and Daily Faceoff also posted conference-final calendars and watch information. Those outlets noted that some start times remained unconfirmed when the schedules were first released. ### What comes next on the playoff calendar? (dailyfaceoff.com) May 20 is the next date on the calendar, with Vegas visiting Colorado in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. May 21 follows with Montreal at Carolina in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, according to NHL.com’s playoff schedule. June 1 and June 2 are the listed dates for potential Game 7s in the West and East, respectively. (media.nhl.com) The winners of those best-of-seven series will advance to the Stanley Cup Final under the NHL playoff calendar. (nhl.com) (nbcphiladelphia.com)