Stanley Cup Final to begin June 2 or June 4

The NHL announced that the 2026 Stanley Cup Final will begin either June 2 or June 4, depending on the length of the Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. The Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Western Conference, will face the ECF winner in a best-of-seven series, with the Eastern team hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 due to higher regular-season point totals. All games will tip off at 8 p.m. ET and air on ABC in the U.S., with Canadian coverage on Sportsnet, CBC, and TVA Sports.