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The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens may still be locked up in their Eastern Conference Final battle — with Game 5 set for 8 p.m. Friday in Raleigh — but at least now the teams know when they’ll play next, after the series is over.
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The National Hockey League on Thursday released its two scheduling scenarios for the Stanley Cup Final, where the winner of the Hurricanes-Canadiens series will face the Vegas Golden Knights, who swept the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.
If the Hurricanes win Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will be in Raleigh on Tuesday, June 2. If the Canadiens win Game 5 and the series ends in six or seven games, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final will be on Thursday, June 4.
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Both Montreal and Carolina finished with better regular-season records than Vegas, affording either of them the chance to host Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, Games 5 and 7. Games 3, 4 and 6 are slated for Vegas.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 2:59 PM.