NHL announces Round 1 playoff schedule
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here.
While six of eight matchups were already known, the remaining two were finalized after the conclusion of Thursday's action.
The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime on Thursday, passing the Vegas Golden Knights in the standings after the defending Stanley Cup champs lost to the Anaheim Ducks. That moves the Kings into third place in the Pacific Division to take on the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1 for the third year in a row. That result also dropped the Golden Knights to the second wild-card spot to set up a 2023 Western Conference Final rematch with the top-seeded Dallas Stars.
The NHL also unveiled the entire schedule for Round 1.
All times ET.
*If necessary
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers (A1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 21 | 12:30 p.m. | Panthers |
| 2 | April 23 | 7:30 p.m. | Panthers |
| 3 | April 25 | 7 p.m. | Lightning |
| 4 | April 27 | 5 p.m. | Lightning |
| 5* | April 29 | TBD | Panthers |
| 6* | May 1 | TBD | Lightning |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Panthers |
Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 8 p.m. | Bruins |
| 2 | April 22 | 7 p.m. | Bruins |
| 3 | April 24 | 7 p.m. | Maple Leafs |
| 4 | April 27 | 8 p.m. | Maple Leafs |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Bruins |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Maple Leafs |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Bruins |
Metropolitan Division
New York Rangers (M1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 21 | 3 p.m. | Rangers |
| 2 | April 23 | 7 p.m. | Rangers |
| 3 | April 26 | 7 p.m. | Capitals |
| 4 | April 28 | 8 p.m. | Capitals |
| 5* | May 1 | TBD | Rangers |
| 6* | May 3 | TBD | Capitals |
| 7* | May 5 | TBD | Rangers |
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New York Islanders (M3)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 20 | 3 p.m. | Hurricanes |
| 2 | April 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Hurricanes |
| 3 | April 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Islanders |
| 4 | April 27 | 2 p.m. | Islanders |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Hurricanes |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Islanders |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Hurricanes |
Central Division
Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | Stars |
| 2 | April 24 | 9:30 p.m. | Stars |
| 3 | April 27 | 10:30 p.m. | Golden Knights |
| 4 | April 29 | TBD | Golden Knights |
| 5* | May 1 | TBD | Stars |
| 6* | May 3 | TBD | Golden Knights |
| 7* | May 5 | TBD | Stars |
Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. Colorado Avlanche (C3)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 21 | 7 p.m. | Jets |
| 2 | April 23 | 9:30 p.m. | Jets |
| 3 | April 26 | 10 p.m. | Avalanche |
| 4 | April 28 | 2:30 p.m. | Avalanche |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Jets |
| 6* | May 2 | TBD | Avalanche |
| 7* | May 4 | TBD | Jets |
Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 21 | 10 p.m. | Canucks |
| 2 | April 23 | 10 p.m. | Canucks |
| 3 | April 26 | 7:30 p.m. | Predators |
| 4 | April 28 | 5 p.m. | Predators |
| 5* | April 30 | TBD | Canucks |
| 6* | May 3 | TBD | Predators |
| 7* | May 5 | TBD | Canucks |
Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (P3)
| Game | Date | Time | Home Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 22 | 10 p.m. | Oilers |
| 2 | April 24 | 10 p.m. | Oilers |
| 3 | April 26 | 10:30 p.m. | Kings |
| 4 | April 28 | 10:30 p.m. | Kings |
| 5* | May 1 | TBD | Oilers |
| 6* | May 3 | TBD | Kings |
| 7* | May 5 | TBD | Oilers |