TNT Sports Announces Commentators for 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Presented by GEICO First Round Games on Sunday, April 19 

NHL on TNT Face Off Powered by Verizon Pregame Coverage to Start at 2 p.m. ET, Followed by First Round, Game 1s on TNT, truTV & HBO Max: Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche at 3 p.m. & Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at 5:45 p.m. 

TNT Sports will drop the puck on its coverage of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs featuring up to 28 First Round games, starting Sunday, April 19 with Game 1 of Anže Kopitar, Artemi Panarin and the Los Angeles Kings' showdown with the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, powered by star duo Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher will be on the call from Ball Arena.

Later at 5:45 p.m., TNT Sports will host a star-studded battle between Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and the Montreal Canadiens against Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy's powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning. Brendan Burke, Darren Pang and Jody Shelley will call the action from Benchmark International Arena.

Sunday's games will be preceded by an expanded, hour-long NHL on TNT Face Off Powered by Verizon pregame starting at 2 p.m. TNT Sports' studio coverage throughout the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature host Liam McHugh alongside a rotating collection of esteemed analysts, including hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, Vezina Trophy winner and 2023 Hockey Hall of Famer Henrik Lundqvist, 10-year NHL veteran Anson Carter, Calder Cup Champion Paul Bissonnette, and other special guests. 

TNT Sports' Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage will continue with a 14-game slate over five days starting Wednesday, April 22 on TNT and TBS. Both TNT and TBS will combine to televise a total of up to 49 games during the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coverage will include expansive digital content and highlights from Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and B/R Open Ice all postseason long, featuring Q&As with the biggest stars on the ice and more. All pre, post and live game coverage will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

The studio team will also provide analysis and insights between periods during the Vanda Pharmaceuticals First Intermission Report, the Discover Second Intermission Report, and the NHL on TNT Postgame Show presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals.

The following are game commentator assignments for Sunday, April 19. Additional game and studio commentator assignments will be announced in the coming days. 

Date       Time (ET) Program / Commentators       Platform  

Sunday, April 19    

2 p.m.       NHL on TNT Faceoff Powered by Verizon Liam McHugh, Henrik Lundqvist, Paul Bissonnette & Anson Carter TNT, truTV & HBO Max         

3 p.m.       Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche, Game 1  Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk & Brian Boucher TNT, truTV & HBO Max     

5:45 p.m.   Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 1  Brendan Burke, Darren Pang & Jody Shelley TNT, truTV & HBO Max         

Postgame       NHL on TNT Postgame Show presented by Vanda Pharmaceuticals       McHugh, Lundqvist, Bissonnette & Carter TNT, truTV & HBO Max