Boston Fans Face Playoff TV Scheduling Clash

Celtics and Bruins postseason games overlap, requiring creative viewing setups.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 12:11pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a basketball game and a hockey game simultaneously, with the players and equipment blending together in a geometric abstract composition using the team colors of the Celtics and Bruins.The overlapping playoff schedules of Boston's beloved Celtics and Bruins teams will test the multitasking skills of the city's most devoted sports fans.Boston Today

Boston sports fans who follow both the Celtics and Bruins will need to get creative with their TV viewing plans, as the NBA and NHL playoffs have arrived with significant schedule overlap between the two local teams.

Why it matters

The Celtics and Bruins are both perennial playoff contenders, and their simultaneous postseason runs create a unique challenge for die-hard fans in the Boston area who want to watch both teams compete for championships.

The details

According to reports, the Celtics and Bruins playoff schedules have numerous instances where the teams are playing games on the same day and even at the same time. This will force fans to either juggle between multiple TVs, use streaming services, or risk missing portions of the action for one team or the other.

  • The NBA and NHL playoffs have both begun in April 2026.

The players

Boston Celtics

A professional basketball team that plays in the NBA and is one of the most successful franchises in league history.

Boston Bruins

A professional ice hockey team that plays in the NHL and is one of the Original Six NHL franchises.

Conor Ryan

A reporter for Boston.com who covered the scheduling overlap between the Celtics and Bruins playoffs.

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The takeaway

The simultaneous playoff runs of the Celtics and Bruins present a unique challenge for Boston sports fans, who will need to get creative with their TV viewing setups in order to follow both teams as they compete for championships.