ESPN staffApr 23, 2024, 01:05 AM ET
The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs are almost here! The NHL's 32 teams are down to just 16 in the postseason, with the opening games of the first round set to begin Saturday.
Will the New York Rangers parlay their success in winning the Presidents' Trophy to a championship -- thus breaking the "curse" of that award?
Can the Vegas Golden Knights repeat, despite starting the postseason as the underdog in their initial series?
Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.
More: Playoff schedule
Megapreview
Lapsed fan's guide
Wyshynski's bracket
Top 50 players
Cup contender comps
First round
Atlantic Division
A1 FloridaPanthers
vs.
WC1 Tampa BayLightning
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 leads 1-0)
Matthew Tkachuck scores an empty-netter late in 3rd for Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk scores a goal on an empty-net late in the third period.
Game 1: FLA 3, TB 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: TB @ FLA | April 23, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 3: FLA @ TB | April 25, 7 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 4: FLA @ TB | April 27, 5 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: TB @ FLA | April 29* | Preview
Game 6: FLA @ TB | May 1* | Preview
Game 7: TB @ FLA | May 4* | Preview
A2 BostonBruins
vs.
A3 TorontoMaple 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: (Series tied 1-1)
Auston Matthews gives Maple Leafs lead in the 3rd
Auston Matthews is hyped after netting the go-ahead goal for the Maple Leafs in the third period.
Game 1: BOS 5, TOR 1 | Recap
Game 2: TOR 3, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: BOS @ TOR | April 24, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 4: BOS @ TOR | April 27, 8 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: TOR @ BOS | April 30 | Preview
Game 6: BOS @ TOR | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: TOR @ BOS | May 4* | Preview
Metropolitan Division
M1 New YorkRangers
vs.
WC2 WashingtonCapitals
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 leads 1-0)
Rempe and Panarin score 33 seconds apart to put Rangers ahead 2-0
Matt Rempe and Artemi Panarin slot back-to-back goals to open the scoring for the Rangers.
Game 1: NYR 4, WSH 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: WSH @ NYR | April 23, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 3: NYR @ WSH | April 26, 7 p.m. (TNT) | Preview
Game 4: NYR @ WSH | April 28, 8 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: WSH @ NYR | May 1* | Preview
Game 6: NYR @ WSH | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: WSH @ NYR | May 5* | Preview
M2 CarolinaHurricanes
vs.
M3 New YorkIslanders
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 leads 2-0)
Aho and Martinook score 9 seconds apart to give Carolina the lead
Sebastian Aho ties the game and Jordan Martinook scores 9 seconds later to give the Hurricanes the lead vs. Islanders.
Game 1: CAR 3, NYI 1 | Recap
Game 2: CAR 5, NYI 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3: CAR @ NYI | April 25, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 4: CAR @ NYI | April 27, 2 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: NYI @ CAR | April 30* | Preview
Game 6: CAR @ NYI | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: NYI @ CAR | May 4* | Preview
Central Division
C1 DallasStars
vs.
WC2 VegasGolden 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: (VGK leads 1-0)
Mark Stone lights the lamp in return game for Vegas
Mark Stone rips a long wrister into the back of the net to give the Golden Knights an early 1-0 lead.
Game 1: VGK 4, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: VGK @ DAL | April 24, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 3: DAL @ VGK | April 27, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 4: DAL @ VGK | April 29 | Preview
Game 5: VGK @ DAL | May 1* | Preview
Game 6: DAL @ VGK | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: VGK @ DAL | May 5* | Preview
C2 WinnipegJets
vs.
C3 ColoradoAvalanche
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: (WPG leads 1-0)
Adam Lowry's second goal of the game barely crosses the red line
Adam Lowry's shot barely makes it over the red line completely for the Jets.
Game 1: WPG 7, COL 6 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: COL @ WPG | April 23, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview
Game 3: WPG @ COL | April 26, 10 p.m. (TNT) | Preview
Game 4: WPG @ COL | April 28, 2:30 p.m. (TNT) | Preview
Game 5: COL @ WPG | April 30* | Preview
Game 6: WPG @ COL | May 2* | Preview
Game 7: COL @ WPG | May 4* | Preview
Pacific Division
P1 VancouverCanucks
vs.
WC1 NashvillePredators
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 leads 1-0)
Canucks score a pair of goals within 12 seconds of each other
The Canucks stun the Predators and take a 3-2 lead at home by scoring two goals in 12 seconds.
Game 1: VAN 4, NSH 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: NSH @ VAN | April 23, 10 p.m. (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 3: VAN @ NSH | April 26, 7:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 4: VAN @ NSH | April 28, 5 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: NSH @ VAN | April 30* | Preview
Game 6: VAN @ NSH | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: NSH @ VAN | May 5* | Preview
P2 EdmontonOilers
vs.
P3 Los AngelesKings
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 leads 1-0)
McDavid notches 5 assists in Game 1 for the Oilers
Connor McDavid becomes the first NHL player to have 5 assists in a playoff game since 1998 in the Oilers' Game 1 win.
Game 1: EDM 7, LA 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 2: LA @ EDM | April 24, 10 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 3: EDM @ LA | April 26, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 4: EDM @ LA | April 28, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview
Game 5: LA @ EDM | May 1* | Preview
Game 6: EDM @ LA | May 3* | Preview
Game 7: LA @ EDM | May 5* | Preview