Sportsnet reveals broadcast teams for Stanley Cup Playoffs conference finals
The Montreal Canadiens are back in the Eastern Conference Final, and Sportsnet is sending its top broadcast team to cover the series.
After a dramatic Game 7 OT victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the Habs will now move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes for a spot in this year’s Stanley Cup Final. It was Alex Newhook who scored the series winner for Montreal, sending the city into absolute bedlam.
That OT winner was accompanied by an iconic call from Sportsnet’s Chris Cuthbert, who will return for the Eastern Conference Final as part of a broadcast team with Craig Simpson and Kyle Bukauskas.
The network made the announcement on Tuesday morning.
“Olé! Olé! Olé!”
Great Game 7 goal call by Chris Cuthbert pic.twitter.com/yrXkybiJqm
— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) May 19, 2026
Cuthbert is largely seen as one of the NHL’s finest play-by-play commentators and is often assigned the most high-profile games every season. The 68-year-old Brampton native has been calling NHL games for over 40 years and has had countless iconic calls over that time.
Canadiens players celebrate the dramatic Game 7 overtime win (Timothy T. Ludwig/Imagn Images)
Habs fans watching the English broadcast will be expecting even more iconic moments from Cuthbert. The schedule for the series is as follows:
- Game 1: Canadiens at Hurricanes, May 21, 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 2: Canadiens at Hurricanes, May 23, 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT
- Game 3: Hurricanes at Canadiens, May 25, 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 4: Hurricanes at Canadiens, May 27, 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 5: Canadiens at Hurricanes, May 29, 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT
- Game 6: Hurricanes at Canadiens, May 31, TBD
- Game 7: Canadiens at Hurricanes, June 2, TBD
Over in the Western Conference Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, Sportsnet has assigned John Bartlett as the series play-by-play man, with Garry Galley and Shawn McKenzie rounding out the team.
No matter what happens, it’s expected that the team of Cuthbert, Simpson, and Bukauskas will get the nod to cover the Stanley Cup Final as well. Montreal fans are hoping that the Canadiens will survive long enough to continue listening to Cuthbert and company into the Final.