2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO: Conference Semifinals (Second Round) Television Schedule and Commentators

The present-day logo that is used for the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs (2022-present). (📸: Tamir Moore/Canva)

| →Thursday, April 23, 2026

🟅 Highlights:

• The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continue Saturday, May 2, with the start of the Conference Semifinals at 8:00 PM ET on ABC as the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of their best-of-seven series.

• Then, on Sunday, May 3, the Avalanche and the Wild drop the puck on their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series (9:00 PM ET/7:00 PM MT puck drop on TNT and truTV).

• Ducks and Golden Knights are set to meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time ever following 1st-round series victories for Anaheim & Vegas, respectively. Game 1 is Monday, May 4 at 9:30 PM ET (6:30 PM PT) on ESPN & ESPN App.

• Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres host Nick Suzuki and the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, May 6, at 7:00 PM ET on TNT and truTV.

• You can find Conference Semifinal games on ESPN and Turner Sports networks, including ABC, ESPN, and TNT.

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO enter the Conference Semifinal round, starting this weekend with at least TWO series openers (Flyers-Hurricanes Game 1 on Saturday night and Wild-Avalanche Game 1 on Sunday night). The Ducks-Golden Knights series opens on Monday night, while the Sabres-Lightning/Canadiens series gets going on Wednesday night. 

On Saturday, May 2, Cam York and the upstart Philadelphia Flyers (M3) visit Taylor Hall and the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes (M1) for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. This marks the first-ever playoff meeting between these two clubs. Carolina swept Ottawa in Round 1, while the Flyers outlasted the Penguins in a memorable six-game opening round series capped off by York’s game-winning goal in the overtime period of the series-clinching Game 6 on Wednesday night. Flyers-Hurricanes is set for an 8:00 PM ET start time and will be televised on ABC. ESPN on ABC’s Mike Monaco (play-by-play), Ray Ferraro (analyst), & Emily Kaplan (reporter) will provide commentary for the Flyers vs. Hurricanes series opener. Game 2 of this series will be on Monday, May 4, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, with the same cast of Monaco, Ferraro & Kaplan returning.

Then on Sunday, May 3, it’s time for the opening faceoff in the second-round series from the Western Conference, as Nathan MacKinnon and the Central Division champion Colorado Avalanche (C1) play Matt Boldy and the Minnesota Wild (C3) in Game 1 at 9:00 PM ET on TNT and truTV. Colorado swept Los Angeles 4-0 in the opening round. Minnesota defeated Dallas 4-2 in their first-round series, with the Wild defeating the Stars 5-2 in the series-clinching Game 6 on Thursday night. The Wild & Avalanche meet for the fourth time in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. TNT Sports’ Brendan Burke (play-by-play) provides commentary alongside analysts Jody Shelley and Darren Pang. Game 2 of this series will be on Tuesday, May 5, at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN, featuring Bob Wischusen, Erik Johnson & Leah Hextall.

Second Round series openers continue on Monday, May 4, as Jackson LaCombe and the Anaheim Ducks (P3) face Jack Eichel and the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights (P1) in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. Anaheim & Vegas will contest their first-ever playoff series. The Ducks defeated the defending two-time Western Conference champion Oilers in a six-game first-round series. At the same time, Vegas eliminated Utah four games to two in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. ESPN’s Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Kevin Weekes (analyst), & Stormy Buonantony (reporter) will call Ducks-Golden Knights from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The last remaining Conference Semifinal series opens up on Wednesday, May 6, as Zach Benson and the Buffalo Sabres (A1) host Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens (A3) at 7:00 PM ET on TNT and truTV. During the four-game regular-season series, Buffalo and Montreal split the series, with each club winning two games. This is the first Stanley Cup Playoffs meeting between the Sabres and Canadiens since 1998. Burke (play-by-play), Pang (analyst), Shane Hnidy (analyst) & Jackie Redmond (reporter) will call the action.

Once all four Conference Semifinal series get underway, daily coverage of second-round action from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO continues through Monday, May 11. If any series is extended beyond the minimum four-game limit, additional second-round games will be held between Monday, May 11, and Monday, May 18.

You can find the earlier rounds of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the links provided below.

— First Round: https://tamirmoore.blogspot.com/2026/04/2026-stanley-cup-playoffs-presented-by.html

Here is a comprehensive series-by-series breakdown, along with the daily television schedule, for the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO.

❯ 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO: Conference Semifinals (Second Round) Series-by-Series Breakdown, per Conference (Subject to Change):

|| ➝ Eastern Conference:

| ● (M3) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (M1) Carolina Hurricanes — Carolina wins series, 4-0 | Series begins on Saturday, May 2

🆚

. Game 1 - Saturday, May 2 - Flyers at Hurricanes - ABC, 8:00 PM ET - Mike Monaco, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 2 - Monday, May 4 - Flyers at Hurricanes - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Mike Monaco, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 3 - Thursday, May 7 - Hurricanes at Flyers - TNT/truTV, 8:00 PM ET - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Colby Armstrong

. Game 4 - Saturday, May 9 - Hurricanes at Flyers - TNT/truTV, 6:00 PM ET - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Colby Armstrong

. 🞼 Game 5 (if nec.) - Monday, May 11 - Flyers at Hurricanes - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET -

. 🞼 Game 6 (if nec.) - Wednesday, May 13 - Hurricanes at Flyers - TNT/truTV, TBD -

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, May 16 - Flyers at Hurricanes - TNT/truTV, TBD -

| ● (A3) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A1) Buffalo Sabres — Series tied, 2-2 | Series begins on Wednesday, May 6

🆚

. Game 1 - Wednesday, May 6 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 2 - Friday, May 8 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 3 - Sunday, May 10 - Sabres at Canadiens - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 4 - Tuesday, May 12 - Sabres at Canadiens - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 5 - Thursday, May 14 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 6 - Saturday, May 16 - Sabres at Canadiens - ABC, 8:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Monday, May 18 - Canadiens at Sabres - ESPN, TBD -

|| ➝ Western Conference:

| ● (C3) Minnesota Wild vs. (C1) Colorado Avalanche — Colorado wins series, 4-1 | Series begins on Sunday, May 3

🆚

. Game 1 - Sunday, May 3 - Wild at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 9:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Jody Shelley, Darren Pang

. Game 2 - Tuesday, May 5 - Wild at Avalanche - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Erik Johnson, Leah Hextall

. Game 3 - Saturday, May 9 - Avalanche at Wild - TNT/truTV, 9:00 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

. Game 4 - Monday, May 11 - Avalanche at Wild - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Erik Johnson, Leah Hextall

. Game 5 - Wednesday, May 13 - Wild at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 8:00 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

. 🞼 Game 6 (if nec.) - Friday, May 15 - Avalanche at Wild - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET -

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, May 17 - Wild at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, TBD -

| ● (P3) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P1) Vegas Golden Knights — Vegas leads series, 3-2 | Series begins on Monday, May 4

🆚

. Game 1 - Monday, May 4 - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony

. Game 2 - Wednesday, May 6 - Ducks at Golden Knights - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

. Game 3 - Friday, May 8 - Golden Knights at Ducks - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - Randy Hahn, Jody Shelley, Chris Mason

. Game 4 - Sunday, May 10 - Golden Knights at Ducks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - Steve Levy, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony

. Game 5 - Tuesday, May 12 - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony 

. Game 6 - Thursday, May 14 - Golden Knights at Ducks - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - John Forslund, Jody Shelley, Chris Mason

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, May 16 - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 5:00 PM ET -

❯ 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO: Conference Semifinals (Second Round) Daily Television Schedule (All Times ET; Subject to Change):

|| ● Saturday, May 2:

. Game 1 - Flyers at Hurricanes - ABC, 8:00 PM ET - Mike Monaco, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

|| ● Sunday, May 3:

. Game 1 - Wild at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 9:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Jody Shelley, Darren Pang

|| ● Monday, May 4:

. Game 2 - Flyers at Hurricanes - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Mike Monaco, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 1 - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN2 to start/ESPN (JIP), 9:30 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony

- ⏵ Note: ESPN joined in progress during the 1st intermission.

|| ● Tuesday, May 5:

. Game 2 - Wild at Avalanche - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Erik Johnson, Leah Hextall

|| ● Wednesday, May 6:

. Game 1 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 2 - Ducks at Golden Knights - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

|| ● Thursday, May 7:

. Game 3 - Hurricanes at Flyers - TNT/truTV, 8:00 PM ET - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Colby Armstrong

|| ● Friday, May 8:

. Game 2 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 3 - Golden Knights at Ducks - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - Randy Hahn, Jody Shelley, Chris Mason

|| ● Saturday, May 9:

. Game 4 - Hurricanes at Flyers - TNT/truTV, 6:00 PM ET - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Colby Armstrong

- ⏵ Game concluded on TNT only.

. Game 3 - Avalanche at Wild - truTV to start/TNT (JIP), 9:00 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

- ⏵ Note: TNT joined in progress at 9:18 PM ET (8:18 PM CT) and with 15:27 to go in the 1st period.

|| ● Sunday, May 10:

. Game 3 - Sabres at Canadiens - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 4 - Golden Knights at Ducks - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - Steve Levy, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony

|| ● Monday, May 11:

. Game 4 - Avalanche at Wild - ESPN, 8:00 PM ET - Bob Wischusen, Erik Johnson, Leah Hextall

|| ● Tuesday, May 12:

. Game 4 - Sabres at Canadiens - ESPN, 7:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 5 - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM ET - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes, Stormy Buonantony

|| ● Wednesday, May 13:

. Game 5 - Wild at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 8:00 PM ET - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

|| ● Thursday, May 14:

. Game 5 - Canadiens at Sabres - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM ET - Brendan Burke, Shane Hnidy, Darren Pang, Jackie Redmond

. Game 6 - Golden Knights at Ducks - TNT/truTV, 9:30 PM ET - John Forslund, Jody Shelley, Chris Mason

|| ● Saturday, May 16:

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Ducks at Golden Knights - ESPN, 5:00 PM ET -

. Game 6 - Sabres at Canadiens - ABC, 8:00 PM ET - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

|| ● Monday, May 18:

. 🞼 Game 7 (if nec.) - Canadiens at Sabres - ESPN, TBD -

|| 🛈 Sources: SportsLogos.Net, NHL, Warner Brothers Discovery (Turner Sports), & ESPN Press Room ||

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