Here’s What You Necessitate to Know About the Senators-Hurricanes First Round Playoff Series
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this weekend, and the Carolina Hurricanes have locked in their first-round opponent: the Ottawa Senators. As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Carolina will face the second Wild Card qualifier from the East in a best-of-seven series that marks the first-ever playoff meeting between these two franchises.
The Hurricanes finished the regular season with 113 points, securing the top seed in the Metropolitan Division. The Senators clinched the Eastern Conference’s second Wild Card spot with 99 points, earning their first postseason berth since 2020.
Carolina went 2-1-0 against Ottawa during the regular season, outscoring them 11-8 across the three games. The Hurricanes scored three or more goals in each contest, including a 4-2 win in Ottawa on January 24 and a 4-3 victory at home on February 3, where Sebastian Aho recorded three points and Seth Jarvis added two goals. Ottawa took the season series finale 6-3 on April 5 at the Canadian Tire Centre, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with three unanswered goals in the final 40 minutes.
Game 1 of the series is set for Friday, April 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, airing nationally on ESPN. Game 2 follows on Sunday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET, likewise in Raleigh and broadcast on ESPN2. The series shifts to Ottawa for Games 3 and 4: Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on TBS and Max, and Friday, April 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET on TBS, truTV, and Max.
If necessary, Games 5 through 7 will be scheduled with dates and times to be determined. Game 5 would return to Carolina on April 27, Game 6 would be in Ottawa on April 30, and a potential Game 7 would be back in Raleigh on May 2. All broadcast details for those games will be announced as the series progresses.
Tickets for all home games are currently available through the Hurricanes’ official website, with fans encouraged to text “TICKETS26” to (919) 705-0896 for updates and exclusive offers. The team is also hosting its “Sound The Siren Tour” across the Triangle region to engage fans ahead of the playoff push.
This series represents a significant milestone for both organizations. For the Hurricanes, it’s a chance to validate their regular-season dominance with deep playoff success. For the Senators, it marks a return to postseason relevance after several years of rebuilding, offering a young core the chance to gain invaluable experience against a proven contender.
With home-ice advantage, a potent offense led by Aho, Jarvis, and Martin Necas, and a stout defensive corps, Carolina enters as the clear favorite. However, Ottawa’s resilience — particularly their ability to win close games and thrive under pressure — could make this series more competitive than the seedings suggest.
As the puck drops on April 18, the stage is set for a compelling first-round clash that could set the tone for both franchises’ trajectories in the years to come.