play

Which NHL teams have exceeded expectations this season? Paul Bissonnette weighs in

Paul Bissonnette weighs in on which NHL teams have exceeded expectations this season

Sports Seriously

The NHL playoff bracket offers plenty of intriguing matchups.

There’s the Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The 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.

The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are meeting for a second consecutive year. This time, though, winger Mikko Rantanen is playing for the other side after being traded by the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes, who later dealt him to the Stars.

Here are the playoff matchups, schedule and results for the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven):

Eastern Conference NHL playoff schedule

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)

Capitals lead series 2-0

Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) | StoryGame 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1Game 3: Friday, April 25, Capitals at Canadiens, 7, TNT, truTV, MaxGame 4: Sunday, April 27, 6:30, Capitals at Canadiens, TBS, truTV, Maxx-Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Canadiens at Capitals, TBDx-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Capitals at Canadiens, TBDx-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Canadiens at Capitals, TBDCarolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Hurricanes lead series 2-0

Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1Game 3: Friday, April 25, Hurricanes at Devils, 8, TBS, MaxGame 4: Sunday, April 27, Hurricanes at Devils, 3:30, TBS, truTV, Maxx-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Devils at Hurricanes, TBDx-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Hurricanes at Devils, TBDx-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Devils at Hurricanes, TBDToronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Maple Leafs lead series 3-0

Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)Game 3:  Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT)Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Maple Leafs at Senators, 7, TBS, truTV, Maxx-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBDx-Game 6:  Friday, May 1, Maple Leafs at Senators, TBDx-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Senators at Maple Leafs, TBDTampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Panthers lead series 2-0

Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0 | StoryGame 3: Saturday, April 26, Lightning at Panthers, 1, TBS, truTV, MaxGame 4: Monday, April 28, Lightning at Panthers, TBDx-Game 5: Wednesday, April 30, Panthers at Lightning, TBDx-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Lightning at Panthers, TBDx-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Panthers at Lightning, TBDWestern Conference NHL 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)

Jets lead series 2-1

Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2Game 4: Sunday, April 27, Jets at Blues, 1, TBS, truTV, MaxGame 5: Wednesday, April 30, Blues at Jets, TBDx-Game 6: Friday, May 2, Jets at Blues, TBDx-Game 7: Sunday, May 4, Blues at Jets, TBDDallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)

Stars lead series 2-1

Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) | StoryGame 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT) | StoryGame 4: Saturday, April 26, Stars at Avalanche, 9:30, TBS, truTV, MaxGame 5: Monday, April 28, Avalanche at Stars, 9:30, ESPNx-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Stars at Avalanche, TBDx-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Avalanche at Stars, TBDVegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)

Wild lead series 2-1

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Golden Knights at Wild, 4, TBS, truTV, MaxGame 5: Tuesday, April 29, Wild at Golden Knights, TBDx-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Golden Knights at Wild, TBDx-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Wild at Golden Knights, TBDLos Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Kings lead series 2-0

Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5 | StoryGame 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2Game 3: Friday, April 25, Kings at Oilers, 10, TNT, truTV, MaxGame 4: Sunday, April 27, Kings at Oilers, 9:30,TBS, truTV, Maxx-Game 5: Tuesday, April 29, Oilers at Kings, TBDx-Game 6: Thursday, May 1, Kings at Oilers, TBDx-Game 7: Saturday, May 3, Oilers at Kings, TBD