NHL playoff bracket: Schedule, scores, results, TV for first-round series

[ASFN Admin]

The NHL playoff bracket offers plenty of intriguing matchups.

There's the Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The 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 and Colorado Avalanche are meeting for a second consecutive year. This time, though, winger Mikko Rantanen is playing for the other side after being traded by the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes, who later dealt him to the Stars.

Here are the playoff matchups, schedule and results for the first round of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven):

NHL playoff games today (Wednesday, April 23)​

Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals, 7, ESPN

Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30, ESPN

Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings, 10, TBS

Eastern Conference NHL playoff schedule​

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)​

Capitals lead series 1-0

• Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | Story
• Game 2: Wednesday, April 23, Canadiens at Capitals, 7, ESPN
• Game 3: Friday, April 25, Capitals at Canadiens, 7, TNT, truTV, Max
• Game 4: Sunday, April 27, 6:30, Capitals at Canadiens, TBS, truTV, Max
• x-Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Canadiens at Capitals, TBD
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Capitals at Canadiens, TBD
• x-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Canadiens at Capitals, TBD

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)​

Hurricanes lead series 2-0

• Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1
• Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1
• Game 3: Friday, April 25, Hurricanes at Devils, 8, TBS, Max
• Game 4: Sunday, April 27, Hurricanes at Devils, 3:30, TBS, truTV, Max
• x-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Devils at Hurricanes, TBD
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Hurricanes at Devils, TBD
• x-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Devils at Hurricanes, TBD

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)​

Maple Leafs lead series 2-0

• Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2
• Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)
• Game 3: Thursday, April 24, Maple Leafs at Senators, 7, ESPN2
• Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Maple Leafs at Senators, 7, TBS, truTV, Max
• x-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBD
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 1, Maple Leafs at Senators, TBD
• x-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBD

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)​

Panthers lead series 1-0

• Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2
• Game 2: Thursday, April 24, Panthers at Lightning, 6:30, TBS, truTV, Max
• Game 3: Saturday, April 26, Lightning at Panthers, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
• Game 4: Monday, April 28, Lightning at Panthers, TBD
• x-Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Panthers at Lightning, TBD
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Lightning at Panthers, TBD
• x-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Panthers at Lightning, TBD

Western Conference NHL playoff schedule​

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)​

Jets lead series 2-0

• Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3
• Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1
• Game 3: Thursday, April 24, Jets at Blues, 9:30, ESPN2
• Game 4: Sunday, April 27, Jets at Blues, 1, TBS, truTV, Max
• x-Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Blues at Jets, TBD
• x-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Jets at Blues, TBD
• x-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Blues at Jets, TBD

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)​

Series tied 1-1

• Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1
• Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) | Story
• Game 3: Wednesday, April 23, Stars at Avalanche, 9:30, ESPN
• Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Stars at Avalanche, 9:30, TBS, truTV, Max
• Game 5: Monday, April 28, Avalanche at Stars, 9:30, ESPN
• x-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Stars at Avalanche, TBD
• x-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Avalanche at Stars, TBD

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)​

Series tied 1-1

• Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2
• Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2
• Game 3: Thursday, April 24, Golden Knights at Wild, 9, TBS, truTV, Max
• Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Golden Knights at Wild, 4, TBS, truTV, Max
• Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Wild at Golden Knights, TBD
• x-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Golden Knights at Wild, TBD
• x-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Wild at Golden Knights, TBD

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)​

Kings lead series 1-0

• Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5 | Story
• Game 2: Wednesday, April 23, Oilers at Kings, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, Max
• Game 3: Friday, April 25, Kings at Oilers, 10, TNT, truTV, Max
• Game 4: Sunday, April 27, Kings at Oilers, 9:30,TBS, truTV, Max
• x-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Oilers at Kings, TBD
• x-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Kings at Oilers, TBD
• x-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Oilers at Kings, TBD

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NHL playoffs: Schedule, bracket, results, TV for each series

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