The 2026 Stanley Cup Final opens on Tuesday, June 2, with the Vegas Golden Knights visiting the Carolina Hurricanes at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Opening Pair in Raleigh
The first two games stay in Raleigh on consecutive even dates. Game 1 falls on June 2 and Game 2 follows on June 4, both at 8 p.m. ET with identical broadcast coverage across ABC, Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports. The Hurricanes hold home-ice advantage for these contests after finishing atop the Metropolitan Division.
Vegas travels from the Pacific time zone for both early games, creating a three-hour shift for players and staff. The Golden Knights reached the Final as Pacific Division winners and will face a Carolina side that posted the league’s best regular-season record in the East.
These back-to-back home dates give Carolina the first chance to build a 2-0 lead before shifting venues. The schedule places no off days between Game 1 and Game 2, compressing preparation time for both clubs.
Vegas Home Stand
Games 3 and 4 move to Las Vegas on June 6 and June 9. Both remain at 8 p.m. ET despite the Pacific location. Carolina becomes the traveling team for the first time, facing a potential three-hour time adjustment in the opposite direction.
The four-day gap between Game 2 and Game 3 includes travel and practice windows. Game 4 lands on a Tuesday, mirroring the pattern of the opening pair. If the series reaches 2-2 after these contests, momentum shifts back to the Hurricanes for Game 5.
The Golden Knights will host consecutive games on their home ice for the first time in the Final, leveraging the T-Mobile Arena crowd on Saturday and Tuesday nights.
Closing Window in Carolina
The schedule returns to Raleigh for Game 5 on June 11 and potential Game 7 on June 17. Game 6 sits in Las Vegas on June 14. All three remaining dates again lock in at 8 p.m. ET with the same four-network package.
The 17-day span from first puck drop to a possible seventh game covers 16 calendar days. An early clinch would end the series on June 11 after five games; a longer run would require the full seven contests ending June 17.
Home-ice advantage alternates strictly after the initial two games, giving each team three home dates if the series goes the distance. The final possible game lands on a Wednesday, two days after the June 14 contest in Las Vegas.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.