Sports
Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, scores, highlights
-
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
Top 50 players in the playoffs
Wyshynski’s bracket
Lapsed fan’s guide
Megapreview
Experts’ picks
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
1:36
Pastrnak, Marchand help Bruins grab Game 1 victory
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand each collect a goal as the Bruins defeat the Panthers 3-1 in Game 1 of the East first round.
Regular-season records:
-
Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points
-
Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at BOS): Bruins 3, Panthers 1 | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Bruins (28 of 29 picks)
1:56
Michael Bunting’s ejection leads to Lightning goal
Michael Bunting is ejected for an illegal check and Corey Perry capitalizes with the goal as the Lightning lead 5-2.
Regular-season records:
-
Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points
-
Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at TOR): Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Maple Leafs (22 of 29 picks)
Metro Division
1:22
Canes hold off Isles in Game 1
Hurricanes use two power-play goals and a big third-period penalty kill to carry them to a Game 1 victory over the Islanders
Regular-season records:
-
Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points
-
Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Tied (14 of 28 picks for each team)
0:52
Rangers go up 3-0 on nasty goal from Ryan Lindgren
Ryan Lindgren gives the Rangers a 3-0 lead with a beautiful goal.
Regular-season records:
-
Devils: 52-22-8, 112 points
-
Rangers: 47-22-13, 107 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at NJ): Rangers 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at NJ): April 20, 7:30 ET (TBS)
Game 3 (at NYR): April 22, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+)
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
Consensus pick: Rangers (18 of 29 picks)
Wyshynski: Battle of the Hudson 101: The Rangers-Devils rivalry explained
Central Division
0:36
Morgan Geekie’s 1st career playoff goal pads Kraken lead
Morgan Geekie notches his first career playoff goal as the Kraken pad their lead to 3-1 vs. the Avalanche.
Regular-season records:
-
Avalanche: 51-24-7, 109 points
-
Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points
Leading scorers:
-
Avalanche: C Nathan MacKinnon, 111 points (42 G, 69 A)
-
Kraken: LW Jared McCann, 70 points (40 G, 30 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at COL): Kraken 3, Avalanche 1 | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Avalanche (27 of 29 picks)
1:25
Wild outlast Stars in 2OT after Ryan Hartman’s game winner
Ryan Hartman puts home the winning goal as the Wild defeat the Stars 3-2 in double overtime.
Regular-season records:
-
Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points
-
Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at DAL): Wild 3, Stars 2 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Stars (22 of 29 picks)
Pacific Division
1:10
Jets score a pair of goals in the second period
Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois score two quick goals to put the Jets ahead.
Regular-season records:
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at VGK): Jets 5, Golden Knights 1 | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Golden Knights (25 of 29 picks)
1:06
Kings prevail in OT after Alex Iafallo’s winning goal
The Kings complete their comeback victory over the Oilers as Alex Iafallo nets a power-play goal in overtime.
Regular-season records:
-
Oilers: 50-23-9, 109 points
-
Kings: 47-25-10, 104 points
Leading scorers:
Schedule:
Game 1 (at EDM): Kings 4, Oilers 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
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
Consensus pick: Oilers (27 of 29 picks)