Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, game previews for the NHL's postseason
From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered. Explore the full results, and coverage on each team.
Panthers beat Bruins with late game-winner, advance to Eastern Conference final
— Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice considered it a good omen when the fire alarm went off at the team hotel on Friday afternoon, just as he was settling in for a pregame nap.
Tyler Alexander takes perfect game into eighth inning as Rays beat Blue Jays 4-3
— Tyler Alexander took a perfect game bid into the eighth inning before Danny Jansen blooped an opposite-field, one-out single, and the Tampa Bay Rays hung on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Friday night.
Judge and Stanton homer to back effective Cortes as streaking Yankees top White Sox 4-2
— Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered, Nestor Cortes won for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.
José Ramírez's homer in 8th inning leads Guardians to 3-2 win and sends Twins to 4th straight loss
— José Ramírez homered with two outs in the eighth inning, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 3-2 win on Friday night over the Minnesota Twins in a game featuring the first infield shift violation this season.
The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are here! The NHL's 32 teams are down to just eight left in the second round, after a thrilling first eight matchups in the first.
Will the New York Rangers parlay their success in winning the Presidents' Trophy to a championship -- thus breaking the "curse" of that award? Are the Dallas Stars now the team to beat after knocking off the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights?
Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.
More: Playoff schedule
Conn Smythe Watch
Lapsed fan's guide
Wyshynski's bracket
Top 50 players
Cup contender comps
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
M1 New York
Rangers
vs.
A1 Florida
Panthers
Path to Conference finals:
Rangers: defeated Capitals 4-0; defeated Hurricanes 4-2
Panthers: defeated Lightning 4-1; defeated Bruins 4-2
Leading scorers in playoffs:
Rangers: Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck (14 points)
Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov (13 points)
Schedule:
Game 1: FLA @ NYR | May 22, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 2: FLA @ NYR | May 24, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 3: NYR @ FLA | May 26, 3 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+)
Game 4: NYR @ FLA | May 28, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 5: FLA @ NYR | May 30, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 6: NYR @ FLA | June 1, 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+)
Game 7: FLA @ NYR | June 3, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Western Conference
Stars-Avalanche winner vs. Canucks-Oilers winner
Second round
Atlantic Division
A1 Florida
Panthers
vs.
A2 Boston
Bruins
Path to Round 2:
Panthers: defeated Lightning 4-1
Bruins: defeated Maple Leafs 4-3
Leading scorers in Round 1:
Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe (9 points)
Bruins: Brad Marchand (8 points)
Schedule: (FLA wins 4-2)
Keys to the offseason for the Bruins
Game 1: BOS 5, FLA 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: FLA 6, BOS 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: FLA 6, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: FLA 3, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: BOS 2, FLA 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 6: FLA 2, BOS 1 | Recap
Consensus pick: Panthers
Metropolitan Division
M1 New York
Rangers
vs.
M2 Carolina
Hurricanes
Path to Round 2:
Rangers: defeated Capitals 4-0
Hurricanes: defeated Islanders 4-1
Leading scorers in Round 1:
Rangers: Mika Zibanejad (7 points)
Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis (7 points)
Schedule: (NYR win 4-2)
Keys to the offseason for the Hurricanes
Game 1: NYR 4, CAR 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: NYR 4, CAR 3 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3: NYR 3, CAR 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4: CAR 4, NYR 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: CAR 4, NYR 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 6: NYR 5, CAR 3 | Recap
Consensus pick: Rangers
Central Division
C1 Dallas
Stars
vs.
C3 Colorado
Avalanche
Path to Round 2:
Stars: defeated Golden Knights 4-3
Avalanche: defeated Jets 4-1
Leading scorers in Round 1:
Stars: Wyatt Johnston (7 points)
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar (9 points)
Schedule: (DAL leads 3-2)
Game 1: COL 4, DAL 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2: DAL 5, COL 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: DAL 4, COL 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: DAL 5, COL 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: COL 5, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 6: DAL @ COL | May 17, 10 p.m. (TNT) | Preview
Game 7: COL @ DAL | May 19, TBD* | Preview
Consensus pick: Stars
Pacific Division
P1 Vancouver
Canucks
vs.
P2 Edmonton
Oilers
Path to Round 2:
Canucks: defeated Predators 4-2
Oilers: defeated Kings 4-1
Leading scorers in Round 1:
Canucks: Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller (6 points)
Oilers: Connor McDavid (12 points)
Schedule: (VAN leads 3-2)
Game 1: VAN 5, EDM 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: EDM 4, VAN 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3: VAN 4, EDM 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: EDM 3, VAN 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: VAN 3, EDM 2 | Recap
Game 6: VAN @ EDM | May 18, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 7: EDM @ VAN | May 20, TBD* | Preview
Consensus pick: Oilers
First round
Atlantic Division
A1 Florida
Panthers
vs.
WC1 Tampa Bay
Lightning
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 wins 4-1)
Keys to the offseason for the Lightning
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 | Replay
Game 5: FLA 6, TB 1 | Recap | Replay
A2 Boston
Bruins
vs.
A3 Toronto
Maple Leafs
Regular-season records:
Bruins: 47-20-15, 109 points
Maple Leafs: 46-26-10, 102 points
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 wins 4-3)
Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs
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 | Replay
Game 5: TOR 2, BOS 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 6: TOR 2, BOS 1 | Recap
Game 7: BOS 2, TOR 1 (OT) | Recap
Metropolitan Division
M1 New York
Rangers
vs.
WC2 Washington
Capitals
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 wins 4-0)
Keys to the offseason for the Capitals
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 4, WSH 2 | Recap | Replay
M2 Carolina
Hurricanes
vs.
M3 New York
Islanders
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 wins 4-1)
Keys to the offseason for the Islanders
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 | Replay
Game 5: CAR 6, NYI 3 | Recap
Central Division
C1 Dallas
Stars
vs.
WC2 Vegas
Golden 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: (Stars win 4-3)
Game 1: VGK 4, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: VGK 3, DAL 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: DAL 3, VGK 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4: DAL 4, VGK 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: DAL 3, VGK 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6: VGK 2, DAL 0 | Recap
Game 7: DAL 2, VGK 1 | Recap
C2 Winnipeg
Jets
vs.
C3 Colorado
Avalanche
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 wins 4-1)
Keys to the offseason for the Jets
Game 1: WPG 7, COL 6 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: COL 5, WPG 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: COL 6, WPG 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: COL 5, WPG 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: COL 6, WPG 3 | Recap | Replay
Pacific Division
P1 Vancouver
Canucks
vs.
WC1 Nashville
Predators
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 wins 4-2)
Keys to the offseason for the Predators
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 4, NSH 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 5: NSH 2, VAN 1 | Recap
Game 6: VAN 1, NSH 0 | Recap
P2 Edmonton
Oilers
vs.
P3 Los Angeles
Kings
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 wins 4-1)
Keys to the offseason for the Kings
Game 1: EDM 7, LA 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: LA 5, EDM 4 (OT) | Recap
Game 3: EDM 6, LA 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4: EDM 1, LA 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 5: EDM 4 LA 3 | Recap
England Spinners Apply The Squeeze As Pakistan Slump To Series-ending 65-run Loss
