With the 2022-23 NHL regular season in the books and playoff seeding set, the race for the Stanley Cup is officially on. Will the Bruins cap their historic season with a trip to the Final, or can an Eastern Conference heavyweight play spoiler? And who emerges out of the wide-open West headlined by the defending champion Avalanche?
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The Athletic has you covered on everything you need to know ahead of the first round.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
This year’s NHL postseason action gets underway on Monday, April 17. The 2023 Stanley Cup Final is tentatively scheduled to begin on Saturday, June 3.
A detailed view of the Stanley Cup trophy is seen positioned on a table at the 2018 NHL Awards. (Photo: Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)
How to watch
In the U.S., 2023 Stanley Cup playoff games will be split between ESPN, ABC, TNT and TBS throughout the first three rounds. TNT will host every game of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final for the first time in the network’s history. The NHL is in its second year of a seven-year broadcast deal with ESPN — which aired last year’s Stanley Cup Final — and Turner in the United States.
In terms of streaming options, if a game is on Turner it’ll be available in the TNT or TBS app, and TNTDrama.com and TBS.com. ESPN or ESPN2 games will be available in the WatchESPN app and games on ABC will be simulcast on ESPN+.
In Canada, all playoff games will be televised on Sportsnet and CBC.
Full first-round schedule
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers
Game 1: April 17 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 2: April 19 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 3: April 21 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 4: April 23 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Sportsnet One)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 26
Game 6 (if necessary): April 28
Game 7 (if necessary): April 30
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
Game 1: April 17 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Sportsnet 360)
Game 2: April 19 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Sportsnet 360)
Game 3: April 21 (7 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet One)
Game 4: April 23 (1 p.m. ET, TNT/Sportsnet 360)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 25
Game 6 (if necessary): April 28
Game 7 (if necessary): April 30
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1: April 18 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 2: April 20 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 3: April 22 (7 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet/CBC)
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Game 4: April 24 (7:30 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 27
Game 6 (if necessary): April 29
Game 7 (if necessary): May 1
New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers
Game 1: April 18 (7 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet 360)
Game 2: April 20 (7:30 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet 360)
Game 3: April 22 (8 p.m. ET, ABC/Sportsnet One)
Game 4: April 24 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet 360)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 27
Game 6 (if necessary): April 29
Game 7 (if necessary): May 1
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets
Game 1: April 18 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Sportsnet)
Game 2: April 20 (10 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 3: April 22 (4 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 4: April 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 27
Game 6 (if necessary): April 29
Game 7 (if necessary): May 1
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Game 1: April 17 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 2: April 19 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 3: April 21 (10 p.m. ET, TNT/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 4: April 23 (9 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet/CBC)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 25
Game 6 (if necessary): April 29
Game 7 (if necessary): May 1
Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken
Game 1: April 18 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet 360)
Game 2: April 20 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/Sportsnet 360)
Game 3: April 22 (10 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet 360)
Game 4: April 24 (10 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet 360)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 26
Game 6 (if necessary): April 28
Game 7 (if necessary): April 30
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
Game 1: April 17 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Sportsnet 360)
Game 2: April 19 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Sportsnet 360)
Game 3: April 21 (9:30 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet One)
Game 4: April 23 (6:30 p.m. ET, TBS/Sportsnet)
Game 5 (if necessary): April 25
Game 6 (if necessary): April 28
Game 7 (if necessary): April 30
How does the NHL playoff format work?
The top three teams from each division are guaranteed playoff berths, while the two next-best teams in each conference, regardless of division, earn the conference’s remaining wild-card spots.
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A refresher on how first-round matchups in each conference are determined: The division champion with the better record plays the wild-card team with the lesser record and the second division champion plays the wild-card team with the better record. Second and third-place teams in each division face off against one another.
From there, the winner of the second and third-place matchups will play the winner of the series involving their respective division champion. Winners of those series’ will then face off in the conference final before the pair of conference champions square off for the Stanley Cup.
First-round matchups to watch
A1 Bruins vs. WC2. Panthers
The Bruins are the heavy favorites to hoist the Cup after wrapping up a historic 2022-23 regular season. Earlier this month, Boston (65-12-5) broke the NHL record for most wins in a single season, surpassing the previous mark of 62 set by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and equaled by the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning. Their 135 points are also the most in NHL history, three more than the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens, who held the previous record of 132. The Bruins are searching for their first Stanley Cup since 2011.
Bruins right wing David Pastrňák (88) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. (Photo: Eric Hartline / USA Today)
M2 Devils vs. M3 Rangers
The Hudson River Rivalry renews as it’s the first playoff series pitting New York and New Jersey against each other since 2012.
The Devils are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18. New Jersey finished the regular season with a 52-22-8 record (112 points).
The Rangers are trying to get back to the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season. New York posted 107 points during the regular season (47-22-13).
The Rangers lead the playoff head-to-head against the Devils 18-16.
A2 Maple Leafs vs. A3 Lightning
The Maple Leafs and Lightning meet again in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Lightning beat the Leafs in seven games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have now lost nine consecutive elimination games, ten when having the chance to close out the series.
The last time Toronto clinched a postseason series was in 2004.https://t.co/xoWJlPPmLm pic.twitter.com/iSqPnMQe6R
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 15, 2022
Toronto enters this series with a 50-21-11 record (111 points). Tampa had 98 points (46-30-6).
The Maple Leafs are looking to win their first playoff series since 2004.
P2 Oilers vs. P3 Kings
Like the Leafs and Lightning, the Oilers and Kings are a rematch of last year’s first-round matchup. Edmonton defeated Los Angeles in seven games last year.
All eyes will be on Connor McDavid, who recorded 64 goals and 88 assists in 81 games played. He’s the sixth player in NHL history to exceed 150 points in a season.
Point No. 150 on the season for Connor McDavid 🔥
McDavid is only the sixth player to ever reach the single-season milestone.
🎥 @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/eTLBHVF1Vx
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 8, 2023
Required reading
- Jack Eichel, Nico Hischier and more: 8 NHL players poised for playoff breakouts
- LeBrun: Bruins’ historic regular season has even NHL dignitaries floored
- NHL awards watch: The Norris Trophy race intensifies in the final month
(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
