The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is set, and the NHL has released the full schedule for Vegas and Carolina. Game 1 is Tuesday, June 2, in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the best-of-7 series running through a possible Game 7 on June 17.
That schedule matters now because fans are already looking for the start time, the television window and where each game lands on the calendar. Game 1 begins at 8 p.m. ET, and every game in the series is scheduled for ABC, SN, CBC and TVAS.
Vegas earned its place by sweeping the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche 4-0 in the Western Conference Final, while Carolina advanced with a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in the East. The Golden Knights finished the regular season 39-26-17 with 95 points and entered as the Pacific Division's No. 1 seed. Carolina came in at 53-22-7 with 113 points, the Metropolitan Division's No. 1 seed and the best record in the East.
The timing leaves no guessing for the rest of the series. Game 2 is Thursday, June 4, in Raleigh at 8 p.m. ET. The series shifts to Vegas for Game 3 on Saturday, June 6, and Game 4 on Tuesday, June 9, both at 8 p.m. ET. If the final goes longer, Game 5 is Thursday, June 11, in Raleigh; Game 6 is Sunday, June 14, in Vegas; and Game 7 would return to Raleigh on Wednesday, June 17, with all three also listed for 8 p.m. ET.
The clean schedule is the part fans needed, but the matchup still carries a sharp edge. Vegas reached the final by flattening the regular season's top team, while Carolina had to work longer to get past Montreal, and that difference in routes adds a layer of contrast to a series that now has fixed dates and a national broadcast plan. What the calendar cannot tell yet is whether the Golden Knights or the Hurricanes will still be playing when June turns to midmonth.
