Technologies
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: How to Watch the Conference Finals Tonight
Only four teams are left vying for the Stanley Cup. Florida and Carolina kick off the Eastern Conference finals tonight.
Hockey’s final four is set, with the Florida Panthers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals and the Dallas Stars facing off against the Vegas Golden Knights in the West.
The Stars are looking to win their first Cup since 1999 and hoping to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019-20 season. The Vegas Golden Knights have also been to the Stanley Cup Final recently, losing to the Washington Capitals in the team’s inaugural season of 2018.
Meanwhile, the underdog Florida Panthers are attempting to make their second Stanley Cup Final appearance and their first since they were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in 1995-96. The Carolina Hurricanes last won the Stanley Cup in the 2005-06 season, when current coach Rod Brind’Amour was the captain of the team.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes will be played tonight, Wednesday May 18, at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on TNT.
Thanks to live TV streaming services, cord-cutters can stream all the action with no cable subscription required. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch or stream the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers meet in the Eastern Conference finals.
NHL playoffs FAQ
What is the 2023 Conference finals schedule?
Here’s the schedule for the first four games of each series in the NHL Conference finals, including the series status. See NHL.com for the full schedule.
Thursday, May 18
- Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes, Game 1, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on TNT
Friday, May 19
- Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights, Game 1, 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN
Saturday, May 20
- Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes, Game 2, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on TNT
Sunday, May 21
- Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights, Game 2, 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) on ABC
Monday, May 22
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers, Game 3, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on TNT
Tuesday, May 23
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars, Game 3, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ESPN
Wednesday, May 24
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers, Game 4, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on TNT
Thursday, May 25
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars, Game 4, 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ESPN
What does the full bracket look like?
An updated look at the Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket 👀 pic.twitter.com/o4sp5lF764
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 16, 2023
What channels will broadcast playoff games?
The NHL playoffs air on a collection of networks, including ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, TNT and TBS.
The Stanley Cup Final will air on TNT in the US and on Sportsnet in Canada.
How can I stream the games on my phone?
If you have a live TV streaming service (like Sling TV, YouTube TV or one of the ones below), you can use its app. If you have cable or satellite, you can use your provider’s app or one of the following, after logging in with your cable provider’s credentials:
- For ABC games, use the ESPN app. Click the gear icon in the upper right and then select Manage TV provider.
- For TNT games, use the TNT app. Click the person icon to sign in with your TV provider.
How to watch, livestream the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
As these games all air nationally, the best way to catch all the hockey action live, without cable, is with a live TV streaming service.
ESPN Plus is the home of hockey’s out-of-market coverage and will air all Stanley Cup playoff games simultaneously with ABC and ESPN.
While the $10 a month, $100 per year service is best suited for die-hard fans of the sports it covers well — mainly hockey, soccer and UFC — more casual fans might find themselves with an ESPN Plus subscription anyway through the Disney bundle, which also includes Hulu and Disney Plus with ads for $13 total.
Sling TV’s Orange plan includes ESPN and TNT. ABC, however, is only available in eight markets (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Fresno, Houston and Raleigh) and requires the Orange and Blue combo plan if you want ESPN too. That combo plan costs $65 per month in all of those cities except Fresno, Houston and Raleigh, where it costs $60. Even if ABC isn’t available in your area, you can watch those games using the simulcast stream available on ESPN3.
Hulu Plus Live TV costs $70 a month and carries ABC, ESPN and TNT.
DirecTV Stream is expensive. It’s the priciest of the five major live TV streaming services. Its cheapest, $65-a-month Entertainment package includes ESPN, ABC, and TNT. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels and RSNs are available in your area.
It is worth noting that DirecTV has an additional $15 «advanced receiver service» fee that automatically applies and is added on to the sticker price, which makes the Entertainment package $80 per month.
FuboTV costs $75 a month and also includes ABC and ESPN but not TNT.
Most live TV streaming services offer a free trial or discounts during the first month and allow you to cancel anytime. All require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Technologies
How to Use AirPlay to Mirror Your iPhone on a TV
Display photos and videos from your iPhone or Mac to a bigger screen in a few taps.
Sometimes, browsing through photos or watching a video on your phone or laptop just doesn’t cut it. Beaming to a TV can be a great way to enjoy content on a bigger display and share it with everyone in the room. With the help of AirPlay, doing so with an iPhone, iPad or Mac is super easy.
AirPlay is Apple’s system for screen mirroring, and it’s supported by a growing number of smart TVs, as well as Roku and Apple TV streaming devices.
Here’s how to use the handy feature and which devices are compatible.
Which devices support AirPlay?
To use AirPlay, you’ll need a compatible Roku TV or streamer (the list includes Roku TV, Roku Streambar and Roku Streaming Stick 4K), an Apple TV streamer or a 2019 or newer smart TV from LG, Samsung, Sony or Vizio. Amazon’s more recent Fire TV models also support AirPlay, but Fire TV sticks don’t.
Any iPhone or iPad running iOS 4.2 or newer has AirPlay built in. Note that Roku and smart TVs require AirPlay 2 on your Apple devices, which is available with iOS 12.3 or later and MacOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later.
Before getting started, make sure your Apple device and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Mirror your iPhone or iPad
- Swipe down from the top-right corner on newer iPhone models, or up from the bottom of the display, to access Control Center.
- Tap the Screen Mirroring button. (It shows two overlapping rectangles)
- Select your TV.
- If prompted, enter the passcode shown on your TV.
- A checkmark will show up next to your TV’s name when a connection is made.
Now, use your phone or tablet like normal, and everything you do will be displayed on your TV. To stop mirroring, go back to Control Center and open the Screen Mirroring section, then select Stop Mirroring.
Mirror your Mac’s screen
- Click on the Control Center icon in the menu bar. It should be next to the time in the top-right corner.
- Click Screen Mirroring.
- You’ll see a list of devices that are available on your network to mirror your screen. Click the device you want to use. Your screen will flash and a few seconds later it will show up on the TV.
Now, whatever you do on your Mac will show up on your TV. When you’re done, click the Screen Mirroring button in Control Center again, then click the name of the device you’re connected to to stop mirroring.
Technologies
Dangerous TikTok Chromebook Challenge: Avoid Sparking a Fire in Your Laptop
Well, this is a bad idea: Kids are jamming metal into their school computer USB ports.
TikTok is full of entertaining cat videos, humorous dances, and yes, even challenges — the famed ice-bucket challenge has returned and is promoting mental-health support. But now a dangerous TikTok challenge is spreading through the short-form video app and through schools across the US.
The Chromebook Challenge, named for Google’s line of laptops, encourages students to insert metal items into the USB port on their school-issued computers, intending to create sparks, smoke and possibly a fire.
A representative for TikTok told NBC News that the challenge videos were not exclusive to their platform, and that search terms like «Chromebook Challenge» have been blocked.
A representative for Google didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment
Read more: Best laptops of 2025
Searching TikTok will bring up videos showing kids attempting the dangerous and damaging challenge. Schools, as you might expect, are not happy.
David Winston, principal of Lincoln Park Middle School in Morris County, New Jersey, sent a letter home to parents about the dangers of the act, as reported by NorthJersey.com.
Read more: The 75 Hard and 75 Soft TikTok Fitness Challenges Explained
«We expect our students to make responsible choices and refrain from any behavior that could result in injury, property damage, disciplinary action, or the loss of privileges,» Winston said in his letter. «This type of act is considered a form of vandalism and, if a fire results, could be treated as arson.»
And kids might not be laughing when their parents get the bill for a damaged or ruined laptop.
«We’re asking for your help in talking to your child about the importance of taking care of their school devices and thinking twice before participating in online challenges like this,» reads a letter sent to parents of kids in Virginia’s Prince George’s County Public Schools, as reported by FOX5. «As a reminder, families are responsible for the cost of any deliberate damage done to school-issued Chromebooks.»
Technologies
Hey Wordle Players, the New Pope Is One of Us
He also saw the movie Conclave, plays Words with Friends and is a Chicago White Sox fan.
Maybe an upcoming Wordle puzzle will include the word PAPAL. On Thursday, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen the first American pope ever, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. Although he spent years of his ministry in Peru, he might just have some things in common with his fellow Americans. According to an interview with his brother John, who lives in Illinois, the new pope enjoys the New York Times game Wordle, plays the Scrabble-like game Words With Friends, and yes, he has seen the 2024 movie Conclave, which focuses on a fictional papal election.
Read more: Click for answers to today’s Wordle, Connections, Strands, Connections: Sports Edition and Mini Crossword
NBC Chicago spoke to the new pope’s brother, who’s understandably overwhelmed. John Prevost said he talked to his brother on Tuesday before the conclave started, and asked Robert Prevost, who was then still a cardinal, if he’d seen the Conclave film. And indeed he had.
«He had just finished watching the movie Conclave,» John Prevost told NBC Chicago. «I wanted to take his mind off of it and laugh about something. Because this is now an awesome responsibility.»
Read more: How to Stream Conclave
According to NBC News, John Prevost also said his chat with his brother included «discussing Wordle and playing Words with Friends.» Wordle is the New York Times’ online game where players are given six chances to guess a five-letter word. (CNET posts the answers to Wordle and other NYT puzzles daily.) Words with Friends is another word game, but more like Scrabble, and allows for back-and-forth play between two friends. Or brothers. Or a soon-to-be pope and his brother.
Read more: Wordle Players, Use Our Tip Sheet to Find Your Next Favorite Starter Word
A representative for the New York Times didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
The pope’s brother also set the Holy Father’s Chicago baseball allegiance straight. Although the Chicago Cubs tried to claim him on social media, his brother confirmed that the pope is from the South Side of Chicago and is a White Sox fan.
Well, would you look at that… Congratulations to Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/U5DJ7TOyDr
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 8, 2025
While quotes from NBC didn’t flat-out say the new pope plays Wordle (they said he «discussed it»), who discusses a puzzle they don’t play? So when you fire up your next round of Wordle, and puzzle over those double letters, or rack your brain for a way to use the yellow letters you just can’t place, think to yourself that maybe the new pope is doing the exact same thing.
