The NHL playoff bracket offers plenty of intriguing matchups.
There’s the Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The always-intense Battle of Ontario (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators) returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers meet for the fourth year in a row.
The Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche series features winger Mikko Rantanen, who was traded by the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season and will now face his former team after a trade to the Stars.
Here are the playoff matchups and schedule for the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven):
Eastern Conference
Key: M-Metropolitan; A-Atlantic; WC-wild card; x-if necessary
Streaming: Fubo and Sling carry ESPN games; Sling also carries TNT games
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)
- Game 1: Canadiens at Capitals, Monday, April 21, 7, ESPN
- Game 2: Canadiens at Capitals, Wednesday, April 23, 7, ESPN
- Game 3: Capitals at Canadiens, Friday, April 25, 7, TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Capitals at Canadiens, Sunday, April 27, 6:30, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Canadiens at Capitals, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
- x-Game 6: Capitals at Canadiens, Friday, May 2, TBD
- x-Game 7: Canadiens/at Capitals, Sunday, May 4, TBD
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)
- Game 1: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday, April 20, 3, ESPN
- Game 2: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday, April 22, 6, ESPN
- Game 3: Hurricanes at Devils, Friday, April 25, 8, TBS, Max
- Game 4: Hurricanes at Devils, Sunday, April 27, 3:30, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
- x-Game 6: Hurricanes at Devils, Friday, May 2, TBD
- x-Game 7: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday, May 4, TBD
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)
- Game 1: Senators at Maple Leafs, Sunday, April 20, 7, ESPN2
- Game 2: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 22, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
- Game 3: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday, April 24, 7, ESPN2
- Game 4: Maple Leafs at Senators, Saturday, April 26, 7, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
- x-Game 6: Maple Leafs at Senators, Friday, May 1, TBD
- x-Game 7: Senators at Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 3, TBD
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)
- Game 1: Panthers at Lightning, Tuesday, April 22, 8:30, ESPN
- Game 2: Panthers at Lightning, Thursday, April 24, 6:30, TBS, truTV, Max
- Game 3: Lightning at Panthers, Saturday, April 26, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Lightning at Panthers, Monday, April 28, TBD
- x-Game 5: Panthers at Lightning, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
- x-Game 6: Lightning at Panthers, Friday, May 2, TBD
- x-Game 7: Panthers at Lightning, Sunday, May 4, TBD
Western Conference
Key: C-Central; P-Pacific; WC-wild card, x-if necessary
Streaming: Fubo and Sling carry ESPN games; Sling also carries TNT games
Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)
- Game 1: Blues at Jets, Saturday, April 19, 6, TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 2: Blues at Jets, Monday, April 21, 7:30, ESPN2
- Game 3: Jets at Blues, Thursday, April 24, 9:30, ESPN2
- Game 4: Jets at Blues, Sunday, April 27, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Blues at Jets, Wednesday, April 30, TBD
- x-Game 6: Jets at Blues, Friday, May 2, TBD
- x-Game 7: Blues at Jets, Sunday, May 4, TBD
Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)
- Game 1: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday, April 19, 8:30, TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 2: Avalanche at Stars, Monday, April 21, 9:30, ESPN
- Game 3: Stars at Avalanche, Wednesday, April 23, 9:30, ESPN
- Game 4: Stars at Avalanche, Saturday, April 26, 9:30, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Avalanche at Stars, Monday, April 27, TBD
- x-Game 6: Stars at Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, TBD
- x-Game 7: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday, May 3, TBD
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)
- Game 1: Wild at Golden Knights, Sunday, April 20, 10, ESPN
- Game 2: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday, April 22, 11, ESPN
- Game 3: Golden Knights at Wild, Thursday, April 24, 9, TBS, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Golden Knights at Wild, Saturday, April 24, 4, TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
- x-Game 6: Golden Knights at Wild, Thursday, May 1, TBD
- x-Game 7: Wild at Golden Knights, Saturday, May 3, TBD
Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)
- Game 1: Oilers at Kings, Monday, April 21, 10, ESPN2
- Game 2: Oilers at Kings, Wednesday, April 23, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, Max
- Game 3: Kings at Oilers, Friday, April 25, 10, TNT, truTV, Max
- Game 4: Kings at Oilers, Sunday, April 27, 9:30,TBS, truTV, Max
- x-Game 5: Oilers at Kings, Tuesday, April 29, TBD
- x-Game 6: Kings at Oilers, Thursday, May 1, TBD
- x-Game 7: Oilers at Kings, Saturday, May 3, TBD