How to live stream Senators vs Hurricanes: NHL Playoffs, TV channel

The Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes open the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, with Carolina entering as the East’s top seed against a surging Ottawa squad.

MORE: 5 first-round bold predictions for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs

How to Watch Senators vs Hurricanes

• When: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)

Carolina finished the regular season 53–22–7 (113 points), winning the Metropolitan Division and securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ottawa, meanwhile, clinched a wild-card spot with a 44–27–11 record (99 points) and enters the postseason on a strong 5-0-1 run to close the year.

Game 1 is set for Saturday in Raleigh as part of the NHL’s opening playoff tripleheader. The regular-season matchup between these teams was competitive, including a notable 6–3 Ottawa win in April, showing the Senators can generate offense against Carolina’s structure.

– Live Stream Senators vs Hurricanes with Fubo –

The Hurricanes’ edge comes from their elite two-way profile; they averaged 3.5 goals per game while allowing under 2.9, ranking among the league’s best in both categories. Led by Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, Carolina combines depth scoring with one of the NHL’s stingiest defensive systems.