When do NHL conference finals begin? League sets East, West scenarios

Three teams have clinched a spot in the NHL's conference finals, with the Vegas Golden Knights joining the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes after Thursday's victory against the Anaheim Ducks.That's enough for the NHL to put out potential starting dates for the conference finals, before the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres on May 14. Game 6 will be on Saturday in Montreal.Regardless of the results of that series, led 3-2 by Montreal, the Western Conference finals will start on May 20 at Denver's Ball Arena against the Golden Knights.If the Canadiens wrap up their series in six games, the Eastern Conference finals will start on May 19. If the teams go to seven games, it will start on May 21. The Hurricanes will host the first two games at Lenovo Center.Here are the scenarios for the conference finals:1 / 45NHL awards finalists: Who's up for 2025-26 regular season awards?The NHL is announcing the finalists for the Hart Trophy and the other major awards. Here's who is in the running (listed alphabetically):Western Conference finalAll times p.m. ET. x-if necessaryMay 20: Vegas at Colorado, 8, ESPNMay 22: Vegas at Colorado, 8, ESPNMay 24: Colorado at Vegas, 8, ESPNMay 26: Colorado at Vegas, TBD, ESPNx-May 28: Vegas at Colorado, 8, ESPNx-May 30: Colorado at Vegas, 8, ABCx-June 1: Vegas at Colorado, 8, ESPNEastern Conference finalTimes TBDIf Buffalo-Montreal series ends in six gamesMay 19: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVMay 21: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVMay 23: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVMay 25: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVx-May 27: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVx-May 29: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVx-May 31: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVIf Buffalo-Montreal series ends in seven gamesMay 21: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVMay 23: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVMay 25: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVMay 27: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVx-May 29: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVx-May 31: Carolina at Buffalo/Montreal, TNT, truTVx-June 2: Buffalo/Montreal at Carolina, TNT, truTVThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When do NHL conference finals start? Eastern, Western schedule, dates