The 2023-2024 NHL regular season is in the books, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are about to begin.
Buckle up.
The first round of the 2023-2024 NHL playoffs offer some fascinating contrasts starting with the series between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. The Rangers secured the Presidents’ Trophy this season — an accomplishment fraught with historic peril — and will take on the Capitals, who enter the playoffs with a -37 goal differential, worst among the 16 playoff teams.
In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars finished one point behind the Rangers in the chase for the Presidents’ Trophy, and they’ll open up with a series against the Vegas Golden Knights, last season’s Stanley Cup Champions.
Then there is this. Of the 16 teams that advanced to the playoffs, 10 of them — Florida, Boston, Toronto, New York Rangers, Carolina, Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado, Vancouver, and Edmonton — finished with over 100 points in the regular season. So a lot of good teams are in the playoffs.
And a lot of good teams could be going home early.
Here are the schedules, TV information, scores, and more for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Playoff Bracket
Here is the full bracket for the 2023-2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:
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Eastern Conference
(All times Eastern)
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers (A1, 110 points) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1, 98 points)
Game 1: Tampa Bay @ Florida, April 21, 12:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tampa Bay @ Florida, April 23, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Florida @ Tampa Bay, April 25, 7:00 p.m., TBS
Game 4: Florida @ Tampa Bay, April 27, 5:00 p.m., TBS
Game 5: Tampa Bay @ Florida, April 29, TBD, TBD*
Game 6, Florida @ Tampa Bay, May 1, TBD, TBD*
Game 7, Tampa Bay @ Florida, May 4, TBD, TBD*
Boston Bruins (A2, 109 points) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3, 102 points)
Game 1: Toronto @ Boston, April 20, 8:00 p.m., TBS
Game 2: Toronto @ Boston, April 22, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Boston @ Toronto, April 24, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Boston @ Toronto, April 27, 8:00 p.m., TBS
Game 5: Toronto @ Boston, April 30, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Boston @ Toronto, May 2, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Toronto @ Boston, May 4, TBD, TBD*
Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers (M1, 114 points) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2, 91 points)
Game 1: Washington @ New York, April 21, 3:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Washington @ New York, April 21, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: New York @ Washington, April 26, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Game 4: New York @ Washington, April 28, 8:00 p.m., TBS
Game 5: Washington @ New York, May 1, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: New York @ Washington, May 3, TBD, TBD
Game 7: Washington @ New York, May 5, TBD, TBD
Carolina Hurricanes (M2, 111 points) vs. New York Islanders (M3, 94 points)
Game 1: New York @ Carolina, April 20, 5:00 p.m., TBS
Game 2: New York @ Carolina, April 22, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Carolina @ New York, April 25, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: Carolina @ New York, April 27, 2:00 p.m. TBS
Game 5: New York @ Carolina, April 30, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Carolina @ New York, May 2, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: New York @ Carolina, May 4, TBD, TBD*
Western Conference
Central Division
Dallas Stars (C1, 113 points) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2, 98 points)
Game 1: Vegas @ Dallas, April 22, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Vegas @ Dallas, April 24, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Dallas @ Vegas, April 27, 10:30 p.m, TBS
Game 4: Dallas @ Vegas, April 29, TBD, TBD
Game 5: Vegas @ Dallas, May 1, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Dallas @ Vegas, May 3, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Vegas @ Dallas, May 5, TBD, TBD*
Winnipeg Jets (C2, 110 points) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3, 107 points)
Game 1: Colorado @ Winnipeg, April 21, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Colorado @ Winnipeg, April 23, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 3: Winnipeg @ Colorado, April 26, 10:00 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Winnipeg @ Colorado, April 28, 2:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Colorado @ Winnipeg, April 30, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Winnipeg @ Colorado, May 2, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Colorado @ Winnipeg, May 4, TBD, TBD*
Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks (P1, 109 points) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1, 99 points)
Game 1: Nashville @ Vancouver, April 21, 10:00 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Nashville @ Vancouver, April 23, 10:00 p.m., ESPN2
Game 3: Vancouver @ Nashville, April 26, 7:30 p.m., TBS
Game 4: Vancouver @ Nashville, April 28, 5:00 p.m., TBS
Game 5: Nashville @ Vancouver, April 30, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Vancouver @ Nashville, May 3, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Nashville @ Vancouver, May 5, TBD, TBD*
Edmonton Oilers (P2, 104 points) vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3, 99 points)
Game 1: Los Angeles @ Edmonton, April 22, 10:00 p.m., ESPN2
Game 2: Los Angeles @ Edmonton, April 24, 10:00 p.m., TBS
Game 3: Edmonton @ Los Angeles, April 26, 10:30 p.m., TBS
Game 4: Edmonton @ Los Angeles, April 28, 10:30 p.m., TBS
Game 5: Los Angeles @ Edmonton, May 1, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Edmonton @ Los Angeles, May 3, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Los Angeles @ Edmonton, May 5, TBD, TBD*
* If necessary