NHL Playoffs 2024: Latest Bracket, Schedule, Start Times Revealed for 1st Round
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVApril 17, 2024
Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With all 16 postseason berths now settled, it’s time to find out the matchups and schedule for this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
Below, we’ll break down the bracket, with the NHL dropping the start times Wednesday for the opening games of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Current Matchups
Eastern Conference
*(1M) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals
*(1A) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning
*(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs
*(2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3M) New York Islanders
Western Conference
(1C) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Los Angeles Kings
(1P) Vancouver Canucks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators
*(2C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Vegas Golden Knights
* Matchup set.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule (All Times Eastern)
NHL Public Relations @PR_NHLAll eight Eastern Conference teams will begin their First Round series this upcoming weekend. Which teams will be playing when? We have you covered. #StanleyCup
More details: https://t.co/JriEhmfKwR pic.twitter.com/HkhaIYrjfx
Saturday, April 20
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders at 5 p.m. (TBS)
Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs at 8 p.m. (TBS)
Sunday, April 21
Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers at 3 p.m. (ESPN)
Analysis
The Islanders and Hurricanes split the regular-season series, 2-2, and it was a dandy. Each team won an overtime game, and every matchup included at least one team scoring four goals. This series should be a classic.
Toronto vs. Boston is a classic rivalry. The two teams have faced each other 16 times in the postseason, evenly splitting the matchups (though Boston has won six series in a row). The worrisome part for Toronto, however, is the Bruins swept the season series, 4-0.
Regular-season results don’t guarantee postseason outcomes, but it doesn’t seem like a great matchup for Toronto. The Maple Leafs have more overall attacking talent, though, so they have a shot in an open series.
The Panthers won the season series against the Lightning, 2-1, and have the home-ice advantage in this series. The defending Eastern Conference champions aren’t to be taken lightly.
“It’s going to be great,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice told reporters. “Both teams know how to play hard, both teams have some high-end skill on it. It’ll be a great battle, great for the fans.”
The Rangers will be the prohibitive favorites over the Capitals after accumulating 114 points this season, though the teams split the season series this year.
In the lone Western Conference series that is finalized, a fun clash of strengths will highlight Colorado vs. Winnipeg. The Avalanche are the better offensive team; the Jets are more defensively stout.
One thing to note: Winnipeg swept the season series, and it wasn’t close. The Jets outscored the Avalanche across three games, 17-4. Sometimes, a team just has a rival’s number. It remains to be seen if that’s true in this matchup.
