Stream the NHL Playoffs in Australia with ESPN on Disney+
18 May 2026
Hockey fans puck up! Watch every thrilling round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2026 with ESPN on Disney+
Whether you’re new to hockey or a super fan, it’s easier than ever to jump into a thrilling NHL game. We’ll show you how to watch, with a quick hockey debrief for newcomers.
Watch 2025–26 NHL Games With ESPN on Disney+
How can I watch NHL games in Australia?
Stream NHL with ESPN on Disney+ now.
When did the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs start?
They started airing in Australia on April 19, 2026, following the mid-season break for the Winter Olympics.
When is the 2026 Stanley Cup Final?
The final takes place in June 2026, following the conclusion of the conference Finals. The championship series will run through mid-June, with a potential game seven scheduled no later than June 21, 2026*.
NHL Explained: Learn The Basics
What is the NHL?
The National Hockey League (NHL) is North America’s top men’s pro hockey league.
Official NHL teams from the United States and Canada compete during the regular season. When that concludes, the top three teams in each of the four divisions (more on those below), plus an additional two wild card teams per conference, compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The playoffs consist of a tournament-style bracket, where eight games are played in the first round and four in the second, before the two Conference Finals decide which teams will compete for ultimate glory in the Stanley Cup Final.
What is the Stanley Cup?
It’s the biggest prize in the NHL and the championship trophy awarded to the playoff winners each year.
Fun Fact: The Stanley Cup is named after Frederick Arthur Stanley who served as the Governor General of Canada in the late 1800s and purchased and donated the original trophy.
How many NHL teams are there?
There’s a total of 32 teams in the NHL, split equally between two conferences (Eastern and Western), each with two divisions. Conferences consist of 16 teams, and each division has eight teams.
The Eastern Conference is divided into the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, while its counterpart, the Western Conference, is divided into the Central and Pacific.
Eastern Conference – Atlantic
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Montréal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
Eastern Conference – Metropolitan
Carolina Hurricanes
Columbus Blue Jackets
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals
Western Conference – Central
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Utah Mammoth
Winnipeg Jets
Western Conference – Pacific
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken
Vancouver Canucks
Vegas Golden Knights.
How many games are in an NHL season?
Each NHL season consists of 82 regular-season games (84 from the 2026–2027 season), up to 98 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and the Stanley Cup Final itself.
During the regular season, each NHL team plays its seven division opponents three or four times, every team from the other division in its conference three times, and every team from the opposite conference twice.
However, starting from the 2026–2027 season, the regular season will expand to an 84-game schedule, guaranteeing each team four games against all of its division rivals.
Playoff games aren’t quite as simple. Every game is a best-of-seven series, where the first team to win four games progresses to the next round. With 16 teams competing, there are at least 56 games played during the playoffs, with a potential high of 98.
The Stanley Cup Final itself is also a best-of-seven series with the winner taking home the prize.
How long are NHL games?
A standard NHL game has a regulation time of 60 minutes, consisting of three 20-minute periods split by two 18-minute intermissions.
However, if a game is tied at the end of the regulation period, it goes into sudden-death overtime.
Regular Season: During the regular season, the overtime period will last 5 minutes. If neither team scores, a shootout will commence to determine the winner.
Playoffs: In the playoffs, overtime periods are scheduled for 20 minutes and are played continuously, with standard intermissions at the end of each period, until a goal is scored and a winner determined.
NHL games typically feature 60 minutes of standard play, but a game can take around two to three hours to complete when accounting for intermissions and the potential for overtime.
Watch NHL Live & On-Demand with Disney+
Stream the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Australia with ESPN on Disney+ now.
*Schedule is subject to late change. Visit Disney+ for the most up-to-date information on what is streaming.
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The information in this article is correct as at the time of publication.
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