2025 NHL Playoffs: Where to Watch, Cable & Streaming Options and Key Dates
Updated on: April 11, 2025 / 11:46 AM

2025 NHL Playoffs: Where to Watch, Cable & Streaming Options and Key Dates

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the crown jewel of the ice hockey calendar, wrapping up another hotly contested campaign stocked full of high drama. From Alex Ovechkin’s emotional record-breaking 895th goal to Mika Zibanejad landing 5 on the Capitals, there’s been plenty to cheer for. And, it all comes down to this.

2 months of playoff action will determine who gets the honor of competing in this season’s Stanley Cup, and this guide is going to make sure you know how to catch it all. If you’re wondering who has the Stanley Cup finals on TV, or how to watch the NHL Playoffs online, then you’re in the right place.

Key Dates and Rounds

Dates for each specific round of the playoffs are not yet released, but the bullet point list below gives you a rough outline of when the playoffs are taking place:

  • April 17th: End of NHL Regular Season
  • April 19th: Start of Playoffs
  • Mid-June: Expected End of Playoffs
  • June 23rd: Latest Possible Cup Final

Remember, if you ever find yourself wondering how to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TV today, look no further than our NHL TV schedule. This has up-to-date listings of every single game, with timings and television broadcast information.

What is the Format of the 2025 NHL Playoffs?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs showcase the top 16 teams in the NHL, with the best eight from each conference making it through. Both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference are made up of two divisions, and the top three teams from each division will earn automatic playoff berths. That fills up the first six playoff spots on each side, with the remaining two being filled by wild cards, awarded to the next two highest point-getters, regardless of division.

In the first round of the playoffs, the top-seeded team in each conference will face off against the eighth-seeded team (2nd wild card), the second-seeded team will play the seventh-seeded, and so on. The playoff bracket is fixed at this point, and there is no reseeding after each round.

All series are best-of-seven, and home-ice advantage is awarded to the higher seed. This means that the highest-seeded team will host games 1,2,5, and 7, giving them the benefit of starting the series at home, and playing a decider, should there be one, in front of a home crowd.

The winners of the first round will proceed through the division finals and conference finals, before culminating in the Stanley Cup Finals, which pits the Eastern Conference Champion against the Western Conference Champion. In this showcase clash, the team with the better regular-season record gets a home-ice advantage.

In terms of overtime rules, all tied playoff games will be settled in a full-strength, 20-minute sudden-death period until a goal is scored.

How is the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Picture Shaping Up?

The two top teams to keep an eye on as we move closer to crunch time are the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars, two Western Conference juggernauts who are separated by a razor-thin margin. These are the only two teams in the NHL to log 50 or more wins so far this year, but it is the Jets who are in pole position to earn the top seed in the West, with a 53-21 record. They have been dominant all season, anchored by Vezina Trophy front-runner Conner Hellebuyck, who boasts a very impressive .924 save percentage.

Dallas looks likely to nab the two-seed, thanks to their incredible scoring depth. They have three scorers in the 30s, two in the 20s, and three in the high teens, contributing to them being the highest-scoring team this year, with 744 points.

Both teams are eager to avoid the still very dangerous Colorado Avalanche in the first round, who are a threat to win any game thanks to their x-factor duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. As things stand, it looks like Dallas could have to tackle them, emphasizing the importance of nabbing that top seed at all costs.

In the East, the Washington Capitals have already clinched the division and are looming large, but all is still to play for in the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in pole position, benefitting from a core of players that have played well together since 2018. Can this be the year they tie it all together?

Snapping at their heels are the Lightning, thanks largely to their incredible goalie Andrei Vasilevsky, but even more threatening than them, are the Florida Panthers. After winning last year’s Stanley Cup, nobody would count out a late surge from the Panthers to grab the top seed in the East, and, if they fall short, then it will be tough for whoever draws them into the playoffs.

If you are looking for a slightly more under-the-radar team to track during this year’s NHL Playoffs, we would recommend checking out the St Louis Blues. They currently look destined for the first Wild Card spot in the West, having won 12 of their last 13 games. And, that loss came against the Winnipeg Jets, so there is no shame in that. They are peaking at just the right time, and could give some higher-seeded teams a run for their money.

How to watch the 2025 NHL Playoffs: Streaming & Cable Options

Now that you are clued up on what’s to come, you’re probably wondering ‘Where can I watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs live?’ Unlike the regular season, which sees coverage split evenly across several different networks, and regional sports networks, the NHL Playoffs are nationally televised, primarily on ESPN, TNT, ABC, and TBS. If you want to tune in from Canada, then it's Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports that you need.

For cord-cutters, providers such as DirectTV Stream, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV are your best options for NHL Playoffs streaming. They have all the channels you need to enjoy all the action.

  • YouTube TV: $82.99 per month
  • DirecTV Stream: $89.99 per month
  • Hulu with Live TV: $81.99 per month
  • SlingTV: $46 per month

*All prices shown reflect the cheapest package available, and are accurate as of the date of publishing and may be subject to change.

To make sure you never miss a faceoff, Livesportsontv.com is the best companion for this wonderful time of year. Our NHL page provides a comprehensive, real-time schedule of where and when each game is being broadcast or streamed. We also offer the option to personalize your search; simply select your favorite team, and our website will guide you through their entire playoff journey, hopefully all the way to the Stanley Cup. Good luck!