NHL Games on TV Today – Monday, May 4, 2026 (ET)
The second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs settles into rhythm on Monday with a two-game slate: Carolina and Philadelphia meet again in Raleigh, and the last unplayed series of the round finally opens as the Anaheim Ducks visit the Vegas Golden Knights.
ESPN carries both games in the United States, with Sportsnet, SN360, CBC and TVA Sports handling coverage in Canada.
Monday’s NHL Schedule at a Glance
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Series Status | US TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 PM | Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes (Game 2) | Carolina leads 1-0 | ESPN |
| 9:30 PM | Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights (Game 1) | Series tied 0-0 | ESPN |
🏒 Game of the Day: Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Game 1)
9:30 PM ET | ESPN (US) · Sportsnet / SN360 / TVA Sports (Canada)
Two Pacific Division rivals meet in the playoffs for the very first time, and both arrive with something to prove. Anaheim is the story of the postseason so far, eliminating the two-time defending Western Conference champion Oilers in six games for its first series win since 2017. Vegas needed six to get past the Utah Mammoth in a first round that produced three straight overtime games.
The regular season offers Anaheim genuine hope: the Ducks swept all three meetings with Vegas in 2025-26, the first time in club history they have taken a season series from the Golden Knights. Joel Quenneville’s young core has been excellent, with Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier and Chris Kreider producing and defenseman Jackson LaCombe piling up nine points in six games. Lukas Dostal has grown into the moment.
Vegas counters with the deepest big-game experience left in the West. Jack Eichel also has nine points, Brett Howden has scored short-handed overtime winners in consecutive games, Pavel Dorofeyev broke out with a hat trick in Game 5, and Shea Theodore, Mark Stone and Mitch Marner give John Tortorella a group that has repeatedly answered when trailing. Three of Vegas’ wins over Utah came after falling behind.
Anaheim also has the rest advantage, having closed out Edmonton on Thursday while Vegas played into Friday night. This has the shape of a long, physical series.
Prediction: Vegas takes a tight Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena, but Anaheim keeps it within a goal.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Game 2)
7:00 PM ET | ESPN (US) · Sportsnet / CBC / TVA Sports (Canada)
The rest-versus-rust debate lasted about 90 seconds. Carolina, coming off a week off after sweeping Ottawa, scored 1:31 into Game 1 and never looked back in a 3-0 win at Lenovo Center. Logan Stankoven scored twice to stretch his goal streak to five straight playoff games – six goals in five outings this postseason – and Jackson Blake added another in the first period.
Philadelphia never found traction. The Flyers were without regular-season goals leader Owen Tippett, and Dan Vladar, so dominant against Pittsburgh, was finally beaten early and often enough to put the game out of reach. Rick Tocchet’s team also looked like a group that had played an overtime Game 6 three days earlier.
Carolina remains without defenseman Alexander Nikishin, who is working through concussion protocol, with veteran Mike Reilly stepping in and picking up two assists in Game 1. Frederik Andersen carried a .955 save percentage out of the first round and has yet to look beatable.
The Flyers need a fast start and a much better night from their power play to avoid heading home in a 2-0 hole.
Prediction: Philadelphia pushes harder, but Carolina’s depth wins another close one at home.
Elsewhere in the bracket, the Eastern Conference’s other second-round series – Buffalo against Montreal – opens Wednesday in Buffalo, while Colorado and Minnesota resume Tuesday in Denver. For tonight, the focus is Raleigh and Las Vegas.
