The NHL is close to two teams left standing in the quest for the Cup.
The Stanley Cup Final is right around the corner as the conference finals begin to wrap up. The Panthers clinched a bid with a sweep of the Hurricanes, while the Golden Knights are ahead of the Stars in the Western Conference.
Out of the three teams remaining, two have never hoisted Lord Stanley, and the other hasn’t won this century. So regardless of the victor, the Stanley Cup is going to go to a club that hasn’t won in quite some time.
MORE: Watch the 2023 NHL playoffs on TNT with Sling TV
Who will come out on top and be crowned the NHL’s champion of the 2022-23 season? We will soon find out.
NHL PLAYOFFS: FULL BRACKET | PREDICTIONS | SCHEDULE
When does the 2023 Stanley Cup Final start?
- Start: Wednesday, May 31, or Saturday, June 3 (subject to change)
Ahead of the start of the 2023 playoffs, the NHL set a tentative date of Saturday, June 3 for the first game of the Stanley Cup Final. That may change. However, if the Western Conference Finals ends after Game 5, the Finals will begin on Wednesday, May 31.
Here’s the full schedule for both options:
If Vegas wins Game 5 of WCF
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Wed., May 31 | at Vegas | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sat., June 3 | at Vegas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Mon. June 5 | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Thurs. June 8 | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sat., June 10 * | at Vegas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Tues., June 13 * | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., June 16 * | at Vegas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
If Dallas wins Game 5 of WCF
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Sat., June 3 | at Vegas/Dallas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Mon., June 5 | at Vegas/Dallas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Thurs., June 8 | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sat., June 10 | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Tues., June 13 * | at Vegas/Dallas | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., June 16 * | at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Mon., June 19 * | at Vegas/Dallas | 8 p.m. | TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS |
What channel is the 2023 Stanley Cup Final on?
- TV Channel (U.S.): TNT
- TV Channel (Canada): Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS
- Live stream (U.S.): TNT app, Sling TV
- Live stream (Canada): SN NOW, CBC Gem, CBC Sports app
The 2023 Stanley Cup Final is set to air in the United States on TNT. ESPN and TNT are alternating the coverage of the finals year-to-year, so after ESPN had the 2022 final, TNT gets the one in 2023.
Fans in Canada can watch the action on Sportsnet, CBC or TVA Sports for the French-speaking audience.
For those looking to live stream the game, the TNT app is an option in the United States, in addition to Sling TV, which carries all NHL playoff games on TNT’s platforms.
In Canada, streamers can watch the game through SN NOW, CBC Gem or the CBC Sports app.
Who is playing in the Stanley Cup Final?
The Panthers will be playing in the Stanley Cup Final, but their opponent isn’t yet determined. Florida swept the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, extending a stunning run that began with a shocking upset of the Bruins in the first round.
Out in the West, the Golden Knights and Stars are the two still standing. Vegas has also never won a Stanley Cup, but the franchise is only in its sixth season in the league. The Golden Knights lost in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final to the Capitals in their inaugural season.
The Stars last won a Stanley Cup in 1999, the franchise’s one and only championship.