The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs start this Saturday, April 19, and the stage is set for one of the most unpredictable and exciting postseasons in recent years. With traditional powerhouses like New York, Boston, and Chicago missing the cut, the spotlight now turns to fresh contenders across both conferences.
2025 NHL Playoffs: Who’s In?
Eastern Conference teams:
- Ottawa Senators
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Florida Panthers
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Montreal Canadiens
- Washington Capitals (No. 1 Seed)
- New Jersey Devils
- Carolina Hurricanes
Western Conference teams:
- St. Louis Blues
- Winnipeg Jets (No. 1 Seed, Presidents’ Trophy Winners)
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
The Washington Capitals, led by Alex Ovechkin, clinched the No. 1 seed in the East, while the Winnipeg Jets soared to the top of the West with a 55-22-4 record, earning the Presidents’ Trophy for best overall regular-season performance.
How to watch the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
To watch the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning on April 19, 2025, from 6 P.M. E.T., you can log in to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and Trutv. For streaming, the options are Max, Directv Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV. The end date of the playoffs is June 23, 2025.
First games:
- St.Louis Blues vs Winnipeg Jets – 6:00 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV and streaming on Max
- Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV and streaming on Max
Best streaming services to watch the NHL Playoffs without cable
1. Sling TV (Best overall budget option)
- Price: $23 for first month (Orange plan 50% off)
- Includes: ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS
- Cons: Fewer channels overall
- Perfect for: Affordable access to every NHL playoff broadcast channel
2. DirecTV Stream – MySports Pack
- Price: $69.99/month
- Includes: ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, FS1, USA, plus ESPN+
- Free Trial: 5 days
- Perfect for: Sports fans who want everything in one place
3. Max (for TNT/TruTV games)
- Price: $16.99/month
- Includes: TNT, TBS, truTV sports via Bleacher Report Sports Add-On
- Bonus: Includes access to HBO Originals like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus
