The battle for a spot in the NHL Conference Finals reaches a boiling point tonight with two high-stakes matchups.

In the East, the Montreal Canadiens are looking to push the Buffalo Sabres to the edge. In the West, the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights are locked in a dead heat. Here’s how to watch:

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NHL playoff TV schedule 2026: Second round

All times p.m. ET. x-if necessary

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens

Montreal leads series 2-1

• Game 1: Sabres 4, Canadiens 2

• Game 2: Canadiens 5, Sabres 1

• Game 3: Canadiens 6, Sabres 2

• Game 4: May 12, Buffalo at Montreal, 7 p.m., ESPN

• Game 5: May 14, Montreal at Buffalo, 7 p.m., TNT, truTV

• x-Game 6: May 16, Buffalo at Montreal, TBA, (ABC or ESPN)

• x-Game 7: May 18, Montreal at Buffalo, TBA, ESPN

Carolina wins 4-0

• Game 1: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 0

• Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)

• Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Flyers 1

• Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 (OT)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Colorado leads series 3-1

• Game 1: Avalanche 9, Wild 6

• Game 2: Avalanche 5, Wild 2

• Game 3: Wild 5, Avalanche 1

• Game 4: Avalanche 5, Wild 2

• Game 5: May 13, Minnesota at Colorado, 8 p.m., TNT, truTV

• x- Game 6: May 15, Colorado at Minnesota, 8 p.m., ESPN

• x-Game 7: May 17, Minnesota at Colorado, TNT, truTV

Vegas Golden Knights vs Anaheim Ducks

Series tied 2-2

• Game 1: Golden Knights 3, Ducks 1

• Game 2: Ducks 3, Golden Knights 1

• Game 3: Golden Knights 6, Ducks 2

• Game 4: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 3

• Game 5: May 12, Anaheim at Vegas, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

• Game 6: May 14, Vegas at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m., TNT, truTV

• x-Game 7: May 16, Anaheim at Vegas, TBA, ABC or ESPN

How to watch NHL playoffs

NHL playoff games will be broadcast in the United States by ESPN, TNT and their affiliated networks.

How to stream NHL playoffs

Fubo carries ESPN, and Sling carries TNT.

Most goals scored in NHL playoff game

The record for the most goals in an NHL playoff game depends on whether you are looking at one team’s performance or the total combined score.

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The Edmonton Oilers hold the record for the most goals scored by a single team in a playoff game, putting up 13 goals against the Los Angeles Kings on April 9, 1987.

The record for the highest-scoring game in total was set during the 1982 Division Semifinals.

• 18 Goals: Los Angeles Kings (10) vs. Edmonton Oilers (8) on April 7, 1982.

• 16 Goals: Two games are tied at 16, involving high-scoring matchups from the Oilers (1987) and the Kings (1990).

On May 3, 2026, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 9-6. Their 15 combined goals tied for the third-highest-scoring game in NHL playoff history, matching a feat last achieved by the Flames and Oilers in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: When do the Sabres play again? When is the next Canadiens game?