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