Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: The first-round bracket is set
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ESPN staff
The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are here, as 16 teams compete for the most magnificent trophy in sports. The record-setting Boston Bruins are the No. 1 overall seed, but their path will be a tough one. Out West, the defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche hope to continue their reign atop the league, after playing some of their best hockey as the regular season came to a close.
But there are 14 other teams with an equal chance to win 16 games and raise the sacred chalice. After a grueling, 82-game campaign, the “second season” has arrived.
Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.
More: Playoff schedule
Lapsed fan’s guide
Final standings
Regular-season stats
First round
Jump to:
Atlantic: BOS-FLA | TOR-TB
Metro: CAR-NYI | NJ-NYR
Central: COL-SEA | DAL-MIN
Pacific: VGK-WPG | EDM-LA
Atlantic Division
Regular-season records:
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Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points
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Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at BOS): April 17, 7:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at BOS): April 19, 7:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at FLA): April 21, 7:30 ET (TNT)
Game 4 (at FLA): April 23, 3:30 ET (TNT)
Game 5 (at BOS): April 26, TBD
Game 6 (at FLA): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at BOS): April 30, TBD
Regular-season records:
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Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points
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Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at TOR): April 18, 7:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at TOR): April 20, 7 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at TB): April 22, 7 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at TB): April 24, 7:30 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at TOR): April 27, TBD
Game 6 (at TB): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at TOR): May 1, TBD
Metro Division
Regular-season records:
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Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points
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Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at CAR): April 17, 7 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2 (at CAR): April 19, 7 ET (ESPN2)
Game 3 (at NYI): April 21, 7 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at NYI): April 23, 1 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at CAR): April 25, TBD
Game 6 (at NYI): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at CAR): April 30, TBD
Regular-season records:
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Devils: 52-22-8, 112 points
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Rangers: 47-22-13, 107 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at NJ): April 18, 7 ET (TBS)
Game 2 (at NJ): April 20, 7:30 ET (TBS)
Game 3 (at NYR): April 22, 8 ET (ABC)
Game 4 (at NYR): April 24, 7 ET (ESPN)
Game 5 (at NJ): April 27, TBD
Game 6 (at NYR): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at NJ): May 1, TBD
Central Division
Regular-season records:
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Avalanche: 51-24-7, 109 points
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Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points
Leading scorers:
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Avalanche: C Nathan MacKinnon, 111 points (42 G, 69 A)
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Kraken: LW Jared McCann, 70 points (40 G, 30 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at COL): April 18, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at COL): April 20, 9:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at SEA): April 22, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at SEA): April 24, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at COL): April 26, TBD
Game 6 (at SEA): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at COL): April 30, TBD
Regular-season records:
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Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points
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Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at DAL): April 17, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2 (at DAL): April 19, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 3 (at MIN): April 21, 9:30 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at MIN): April 23, 6:30 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at DAL): April 25, TBD
Game 6 (at MIN): April 28, TBD
Game 7 (at DAL): April 30, TBD
Pacific Division
Regular-season records:
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at VGK): April 18, 9:30 ET (ESPN2)
Game 2 (at VGK): April 20, 10 ET (TBS)
Game 3 (at WPG): April 22, 4 ET (TBS)
Game 4 (at WPG): April 24, 9:30 ET (ESPN)
Game 5 (at VGK): April 27, TBD
Game 6 (at WPG): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at VGK): May 1, TBD
Regular-season records:
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Oilers: 50-23-9, 109 points
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Kings: 47-25-10, 104 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at EDM): April 17, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 2 (at EDM): April 19, 10 ET (ESPN)
Game 3 (at LA): April 21, 10 ET (TNT)
Game 4 (at LA): April 23, 9 ET (TBS)
Game 5 (at EDM): April 25, TBD
Game 6 (at LA): April 29, TBD
Game 7 (at EDM): May 1, TBD
