Full first-round schedule for 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The chase for the Stanley Cup is here.

Sixteen NHL teams are left standing to make up the 2024 playoff field. The New York Rangers lead the Eastern Conference after earning the Presidents’ Trophy, while Dallas Stars shined brightest in the West. The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights are also back in the playoff mix, as are the reigning runners-up the Florida Panthers.

Here’s everything to know about the NHL’s first-round schedule before the puck drops in the playoffs:

When do the NHL playoffs start?

The 2024 playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20.

NHL first-round playoff matchups

Here are the first-round matchups in each conference:

Eastern Conference

• Atlantic 1 Florida Panthers vs. Wild Card 1 Tampa Bay Lightning
• Atlantic 2 Boston Bruins Atlantic 3 TorontoMaple Leafs
• Metropolitan 1 New York Rangers vs. Wild Card 2 Washington Capitals
• Metropolitan 2 Carolina Hurricanes Metropolitan 3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

• Central 1 Dallas Stars vs. Wild Card 2 Vegas Golden Knights
• Central 2 Winnipeg Jets Central 3 Colorado Avalanche
• Pacific 1 Vancouver Canucks Wild Card 1 Nashville Predators
• Pacific 2 Edmonton Oilers Pacific 3 Los Angeles Kings

NHL first-round playoff schedule

Here’s an updated look at the first-round schedule (* = if necessary):

Eastern Conference

Panthers vs. Lightning

• Game 1: Lightning at Panthers; Sunday, April 21 (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Lightning at Panthers; Tuesday, April 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• Game 3: Panthers at Lightning; Thursday, April 25 (7 p.m. ET, TBS)
• Game 4: Panthers at Lightning; Saturday, April 27 (5 p.m. ET, TBS)
• Game 5*: Lightning at Panthers; Monday, April 29 (TBD)
• Game 6*: Panthers at Lightning; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD)
• Game 7*: Lightning at Panthers; Saturday, May 4 (TBD)

Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

• Game 1: Maple Leafs at Bruins; Saturday, April 20 (8 p.m. ET, TBS)
• Game 2: Maple Leafs at Bruins; Monday, April 22 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Bruins at Maple Leafs; Wednesday, April 24 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 4: Bruins at Maple Leafs; Saturday, April 27 (8 p.m. ET, TBS)
• Game 5*: Maple Leafs at Bruins; Tuesday, April 30 (TBD)
• Game 6*: Bruins at Maple Leafs; Thursday, May 2 (TBD)
• Game 7*: Maple Leafs at Bruins; Saturday, May 4 (TBD)

Rangers vs. Capitals

• Game 1: Capitals at Rangers; Sunday, April 21 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 2: Capitals at Rangers; Tuesday, April 23 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: Rangers at Capitals; Friday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET, TNT)
• Game 4: Rangers at Capitals; Sunday, April 28 (8 p.m. ET, TBS)
• Game 5*: Capitals at Rangers; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD)
• Game 6*: Rangers at Capitals; Friday, May 3 (TBD)
• Game 7*: Capitals at Rangers; Sunday, May 5 (TBD)

Hurricanes vs. Islanders