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.
The Sun score 15 straight points in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Mystics 84-77
— DeWanna Bonner had 22 points and six of Connecticut's 14 steals, DiJonai Carrington added 21 points and the Sun used a big fourth quarter to beat the Washington Mystics 84-77 on Friday night.
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.
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.
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
Gun Song Wins With Ease In Black-Eyed Susan
CHICAGO -- — Paul Skenes struck out 11 over six no-hit innings in his second major league start, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 9-3 on Friday.
Skenes allowed just one baserunner — Michael Busch on a full-count walk on the eighth pitch of the fifth-inning plate appearance — in an utterly dominant performance. After pitching through some nerves in his big league debut against the Cubs last weekend, he looked quite comfortable on a picturesque day at Wrigley Field.
“It's really tough to compete without fastball execution, no matter who you are,” Skenes said. “It was a lot better today, something I could lean on a little bit more than the last week.”
Skenes (1-0), who turns 22 on May 29, struck out his first seven batters, including the side in the first on pitches of at least 100 mph. He struck out Mike Tauchman on a 100 mph fastball on his 100th and final pitch — his 12th to reach triple digits.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft became the third rookie with seven strikeouts to start a game, joining Jacob deGrom on Sept. 15, 2014, and Jim Deshaies on Sept. 23, 1986. He also became the first rookie with an outing of at least six no-hit innings and 10-plus strikeouts since Chris Heston threw a no-hitter for San Francisco against the New York Mets on June 9, 2015.
“It was extremely impressive,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean he went right after them.”
Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo homered for Pittsburgh, which held on for a 5-4 victory in the opener of the four-game series on Thursday night. Triolo and Yasmani Grandal each had two hits and three RBI.
Chicago played without second baseman Nico Hoerner, who missed his fourth consecutive game because of left hamstring tightness. He is day to day.
The Cubs got their first hit when Christopher Morel lined a single into right against Carmen Mlodzinski with two outs in the seventh. Miguel Amaya homered and Morel added a two-run double in the eighth.
Chicago finished with four hits in its fourth loss in five games.
Triolo connected for a two-run drive in the third against Kyle Hendricks, and Pittsburgh broke it open with three more runs in each of the next two innings. Grandal's two-run single made it 8-0 in the fifth.
Hendricks (0-4) was tagged for a season-high eight runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings in his second start since returning from of a low back strain.
“Just bizarre. So many soft hits, falling in front,” Hendricks said. “So just got to stick with the process, stick with down in the zone, stick with executing, and hopefully that's got to switch.”
Hendricks has allowed seven earned runs in three of his seven starts this season. Asked about the right-hander's spot in the rotation, manager Craig Counsell was non-committal.
“I think we got to look at the start a little closer and see what's going on. ... We've got to keep doing our best to help Kyle turn the corner,” Counsell said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: SS Dansby Swanson (right knee sprain) took batting practice against LHPs Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) and Jordan Wicks (forearm strain). ... RHP Colten Brewer (low back strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list, and RHP Porter Hodge was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. ... RHP Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture) has “turned a corner a little bit,” Counsell said. The plan is for Merryweather to begin a throwing program on Monday. ... RHP Yency Almonte (shoulder strain) is doing a strengthening progression. Counsell said Almonte could begin throwing next week.
UP NEXT
Shota Imanaga (5-0, 0.96 ERA) pitches on Saturday for the Cubs, and fellow left-hander Bailey Falter (2-2, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Pirates. Imanaga struck out eight in five scoreless innings in a no-decision at Atlanta on Monday night. Falter is going for his first win since April 23.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
