Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (2024)

Table of Contents
First round Atlantic Division A1 FloridaPanthersvs. WC1 Tampa BayLightning A2 BostonBruinsvs. A3 TorontoMaple Leafs Metropolitan Division M1 New YorkRangersvs. WC2 WashingtonCapitals M2 CarolinaHurricanesvs. M3 New YorkIslanders Central Division C1 DallasStarsvs. WC2 VegasGolden Knights C2 WinnipegJetsvs. C3 ColoradoAvalanche Pacific Division P1 VancouverCanucksvs. WC1 NashvillePredators P2 EdmontonOilersvs. P3 Los AngelesKings

  • Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (1)

    ESPN staffApr 28, 2024, 02:15 AM ET

The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are here! The NHL's 32 teams are down to just 16 in the postseason, with the first round well underway.

Will the New York Rangers parlay their success in winning the Presidents' Trophy to a championship -- thus breaking the "curse" of that award?

Can the Vegas Golden Knights repeat, despite starting the postseason as the underdog in their initial series?

Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.

More: Playoff schedule
Megapreview
Lapsed fan's guide
Wyshynski's bracket
Top 50 players
Cup contender comps

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (2)

First round

Atlantic Division

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (3)

A1 FloridaPanthers
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (4)

WC1 Tampa BayLightning

Regular-season records:

Panthers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Lightning: 45-29-8, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Panthers: Sam Reinhart, 94 points (57 G, 37 A)
Lightning: Nikita Kucherov, 144 points (44 G, 100 A)

Consensus pick: Panthers

Schedule: (FLA leads 3-1)

Game 1: FLA 3, TB 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: FLA 3, TB 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3: FLA 5, TB 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: TB 6, FLA 3 | Recap
Game 5: TB @ FLA | April 29, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 6: FLA @ TB | May 1* | Preview
Game 7: TB @ FLA | May 4* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (5)play

Steven Stamkos gives Lightning lead with second goal

Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos nets his second goal of the night in the third period.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (6)

A2 BostonBruins
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (7)

A3 TorontoMaple Leafs

Regular-season records:

Bruins: 47-20-15, 109 points
Maple Leafs: 46-26-10, 102 points

See Also
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Leading scorers:

Bruins: David Pastrnak, 110 points (47 G, 63 A)
Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, 107 points (69 G, 38 A)

Consensus pick: Bruins

Schedule: (BOS leads 3-1)

Game 1: BOS 5, TOR 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: TOR 3, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: BOS 4, TOR 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: BOS 3, TOR 1 | Recap
Game 5: TOR @ BOS | April 30, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 6: BOS @ TOR | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: TOR @ BOS | May 4* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (8)play

Brad Marchand rips one-timer as Bruins double lead

Brad Marchand nets another goal for the Bruins as Boston goes up 2-0 in the second period.

Metropolitan Division

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (9)

M1 New YorkRangers
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (10)

WC2 WashingtonCapitals

Regular-season records:

Rangers: 55-23-4, 114 points
Capitals: 40-31-11, 91 points

Leading scorers:

Rangers: Artemi Panarin, 120 points (49 G, 71 A)
Capitals: Dylan Strome, 67 points (27 G, 40 A)

Consensus pick: Rangers

Schedule: (NYR leads 3-0)

Game 1: NYR 4, WSH 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: NYR 4, WSH 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: NYR 3, WSH 1 | Recap
Game 4: NYR @ WSH | April 28, 8 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: WSH @ NYR | May 1, 7 p.m. (ESPN)* | Preview
Game 6: NYR @ WSH | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: WSH @ NYR | May 5* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (11)play

Vincent Trocheck secures Rangers' win with power-play goal

Vincent Trocheck slots a power-play goal for the Rangers in the second period.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (12)

M2 CarolinaHurricanes
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (13)

M3 New YorkIslanders

Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 52-23-7, 111 points
Islanders: 39-27-16, 94 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, 89 points (36 G, 53 A)
Islanders: Mathew Barzal, 80 points (23 G, 57 A)

Consensus pick: Canes

Schedule: (CAR leads 3-1)

Game 1: CAR 3, NYI 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: CAR 5, NYI 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: CAR 3, NYI 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: NYI 3, CAR 2 (2OT) | Recap
Game 5: NYI @ CAR | April 30, 7:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 6: CAR @ NYI | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: NYI @ CAR | May 4* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (14)play

Islanders survive 2OT thriller to extend series

The Islanders stave off elimination thanks to Mathew Barzal's goal in the second overtime.

Central Division

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (15)

C1 DallasStars
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (16)

WC2 VegasGolden Knights

Regular-season records:

Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points
Golden Knights: 45-29-8, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Stars: Jason Robertson, 80 points (29 G, 51 A)
Golden Knights: Jonathan Marchessault, 69 points (42 G, 27 A)

Consensus pick: Stars

Schedule: (VGK leads 2-1)

Game 1: VGK 4, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: VGK 3, DAL 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: DAL 3, VGK 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 4: DAL @ VGK | April 29, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 5: VGK @ DAL | May 1 | Preview
Game 6: DAL @ VGK | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: VGK @ DAL | May 5* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (17)play

Wyatt Johnston's OT winner brings Stars back in series

Wyatt Johnston sends Vegas fans home upset as he breaks away for the slick overtime winner.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (18)

C2 WinnipegJets
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (19)

C3 ColoradoAvalanche

Regular-season records:

Jets: 52-24-6, 110 points
Avalanche: 50-25-7, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Jets: Mark Scheifele, 72 points (25 G, 47 A)
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, 140 points (51 G, 89 A)

Consensus pick: Avs

Schedule: (COL leads 2-1)

Game 1: WPG 7, COL 6 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: COL 5, WPG 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: COL 6, WPG 2 | Recap
Game 4: WPG @ COL | April 28, 2:30 p.m. (TNT) | Preview
Game 5: COL @ WPG | April 30, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 6: WPG @ COL | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: COL @ WPG | May 4* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (20)play

Artturi Lehkonen nets Avs' third goal of third period

Artturi Lehkonen scores to double the lead for the Avalanche vs. the Jets in the third period.

Pacific Division

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (21)

P1 VancouverCanucks
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (22)

WC1 NashvillePredators

Regular-season records:

Canucks: 50-23-9, 109 points
Predators: 47-30-5, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Canucks: J.T. Miller, 103 points (37 G, 66 A)
Predators: Filip Forsberg, 94 points (48 G, 46 A)

Consensus pick: Canucks

Schedule: (VAN leads 2-1)

Game 1: VAN 4, NSH 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: NSH 4, VAN 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: VAN 2, NSH 1 | Recap
Game 4: VAN @ NSH | April 28, 5 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: NSH @ VAN | April 30, 10 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 6: VAN @ NSH | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: NSH @ VAN | May 5* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (23)play

Brock Boeser doubles lead for Canucks on power play

Brock Boeser cashes in the power play to double the lead for the Canucks vs. the Predators.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (24)

P2 EdmontonOilers
vs.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (25)

P3 Los AngelesKings

Regular-season records:

Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points
Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers: Connor McDavid, 132 points (32 G, 100 A)
Kings: Adrian Kempe, 75 points (28 G, 47 A)

Consensus pick: Oilers

Schedule: (EDM leads 2-1)

Game 1: EDM 7, LA 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: LA 5, EDM 4 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: EDM 6, LA 1 | Recap
Game 4: EDM @ LA | April 28, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: LA @ EDM | May 1 | Preview
Game 6: EDM @ LA | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: LA @ EDM | May 5* | Preview

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (26)play

Zach Hyman's 2nd goal gives the Oilers a 5-1 lead

Zach Hyman scores his second goal of the game to give the Oilers a 5-1 lead.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason (2024)
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