Only two days remain in the 2025-26 National Hockey League (NHL) in the regular season of the tournament but the teams battling in the playoffs as the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals are upon us. The Boston Bruins’ comprehensive 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday locked in the series.
Here are the matchups for the 2025-26 National Hockey League Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes (Metro 1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC 2)
Pittsburgh Penguins (Metro 2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Metro 3)
Buffalo Sabres (Atlantic 1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC 1)
Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic 2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (Atlantic 3)
The Bruins’ win over the Devils set up the battle with the Atlantic Division-winning side Buffalo Sabres, with the Senators forced to lock horns against the Metropolitan Division-winning Hurricanes. Ottawa and Carolina have notably met in the playoffs and it will be the first time when they do so. Meanwhile, the Sabres last featured in the playoffs against the Bruins in the 2010 season, with Boston holding on to win the  six-game Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
When does the 2025-26 NHL playoffs begin?
April 18 is slated to be the first day of playoffs, while Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 will take place on June 21 if necessary. There is no information on the time of the games yet.
Where to watch 2025-26 NHL playoffs?
A TV schedule is yet to be released but the 2026 NHL playoff fixtures will be broadcast on ESPN, TNT and ABC. It will also be available on regional networks like NBC Sports Philadelphia. The streaming can be done via ESPN+, Hulu and Max or via live TV services like Fubo TV and DirecTV Stream.
Who won the 2024 Stanley Cup Final?
The Florida Panthers had won the 2024 Stanley Cup final as Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers defeated Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in the final by four games to three in a challenge of seven. It was their first championship in their thirty-year history, bringing into halt a lengthy drought.
