Complete 2025 NHL playoff schedule first round games, times, TV info

2025 NHL playoffs schedule, bracket, Dates, times, TV channels for first round games, scores for postseason matchups.

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.

In the Western Conference, the Winnipeg Jets clinched the Central Division, while the Vegas Golden Knights clinched the Pacific Division. In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals clinched the Metropolitan Division, while the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division.

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):

When is the 2025 NHL Conference Finals, start-times, scores, how to watch, Live stream, TV Channel info.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2025: Latest Odds.



Now it’s time for the playoffs to begin. Here's Sportshistori.com brings the everything you need to know about the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:

When do the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs start?

The 2025 NHL playoffs start Saturday, April 19, with games in Winnipeg and Dallas. Dates, times and TV for all eight series:

With two games on opening day:

St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 6 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 8:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling

How can I watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs on TV?

 the NHL playoffs will be split airing on both ESPN or TNT in the United States.

ESPN and TNT will split the first three rounds with the exception being that games on Saturday night will air on ABC.

Sunday's games will be shown on ESPN.

The big difference this year is that while TNT had the Stanley Cup Final in 2023, this year's final will be on ESPN.

Stanley Cup Playoff coverage will be available for Canadian viewers via Sportsnet.

NHL playoff bracket 2025

Eastern Conference

Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Senators (WC1)

Lightning (A2) vs. Panthers (A3)

Capitals (M1) vs. Canadiens (WC2)

Hurricanes (M2) vs. Devils (M3)

Western Conference

Jets (C1) vs. Blues (WC2)

Stars (C2) vs. Avalanche (C3)

Golden Knights (P1) vs. Wild (WC1)

Kings (P2) vs. Oilers (P3)

2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs first-round matchups, schedule, time, TV, scores.

Here is the full schedule for the first round of the NHL playoffs (all series best of seven,

NHL Eastern Conference playoff schedule

All times p.m. ET.   x-if necessary

 

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

NHL Western Conference 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)

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

How to stream the 2025 NHL playoffs

• Live stream (U.S.): ESPN+, SlingTV, Fubo
• Live stream (Canada): SN NOW, CBC Gem

Fans in the United States looking to stream the NHL playoffs have options. Games on ESPN's platforms can be streamed through ESPN+ or through Fubo, while those on TNT can be streamed through the TNT app and SlingTV. 

For the Canadian audience, games on Sportsnet are available to stream on SN NOW. Any contests on CBC can be streamed through CBC Gem. 

When is the 2025 Stanley Cup Final?

The Stanley Cup Final has a tentatively scheduled start date of June 3. This could change based on how long the Eastern and Western Conference finals take as well.

NHL Stanley Cup odds 2025: Who will win Stanley Cup?

Here's where every team currently still in contention for the Stanley Cup stands in odds to win, according to BetMGM Sportsbook's latest futures.

Colorado Avalanche: +750

Florida Panthers: +750

Carolina Hurricanes: +800

Dallas Stars: +850

Edmonton Oilers: +950

Washington Capitals: +950

Winnipeg Jets: +1000

Tampa Bay Lightning: +1100

Toronto Maple Leafs: +1200

Los Angeles Kings: +2000

Ottawa Senators: +3500

Minnesota Wild: +4000

New Jersey Devils: +4000

St. Louis Blues: +4000

Montreal Canadiens: +8000

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NHL.com