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We’re down to the business end of the hockey season with the National Hockey League playoffs now under way. Just 16 teams are left fighting for glory and the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup, the prize awaiting this year’s winning team.

For users of Android-based Verizon (News - Alert) smartphone and tablets, there’s a way to keep up-to-date with all the main goings-on during the playoff season, and even watch some of the action as it takes place.

The Verizon NHL GameCenter app offers Verizon customers exclusive access to content such as live streams of games being broadcast by NBC throughout the U.S.

For customers with 4G LTE (News - Alert) devices, there’s another version of the app, Verizon 4G NHL GameCenter Premium, which offers advanced features. They include live streaming of the NHL Network’s NHL on the Fly, condensed game highlights, and live game audio.

Devices that can run the Verizon 4G NHL GameCenter Premium app include the Motorola Droid Razr and the Samsung (News - Alert) Galaxy Tab 7.7. If you’re unable to listen to a game live, the app keeps track of the time, along with all the goals, penalties and stats you’d expect to have access too. The Plays tab, meanwhile, provides a blow-by-blow account of the entire game, making sure you don’t miss a single thing.

The apps also offer a condensed version of games, complete with postgame highlights and recaps.

Verizon isn’t the only way you can get your NHL fix during the playoffs. SiriusXM subscribers now have access to live broadcasts of games through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and the SiriusXM website.

In related company news, Verizon revealed this week that it will start charging its customers $30 when they upgrade to a new phone even when signing a new two-year contract.