Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Conference final matchups, schedule are set

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2023

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The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are here, as 16 teams compete for the most magnificent trophy in sports.

The record-setting Boston Bruins were the No. 1 overall seed, but they were ousted in Round 1 by the Florida Panthers. Out West, the defending Cup champion Colorado Avalanche hoped to continue their reign atop the league, but they were upset by the Seattle Kraken in the latter club’s first trip to the postseason.

And now, we’re down to the final four: the Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers in the East, while the Dallas Stars take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the West.

What will happen next? 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

Conference final round

Jump to:
East: CAR-FLA
West: VGK-DAL

Eastern Conference

Earlier results:

Hurricanes: Defeated Islanders in six, Devils in five
Panthers: Defeated Bruins in seven, Maple Leafs in five

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

Game 1 (at CAR): Thu., May 18: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 2 (at CAR): Sat., May 20: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 3 (at FLA): Mon., May 22: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 4 (at FLA): Wed., May 24: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 5 (at CAR): Fri., May 26: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 6 (at FLA): Sun., May 28: 8 ET (TNT)
Game 7 (at CAR): Tue., May 30: 8 ET (TNT)

Western Conference

Earlier results:

Golden Knights: Defeated Jets in five, Oilers in six
Stars: Defeated Wild in six, Kraken in seven

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

Game 1 (at VGK): Fri., May 19: 8:30 ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 2 (at VGK): Sun., May 21: 3 ET (ABC/ESPN+)
Game 3 (at DAL): Tue., May 23: 8 ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 4 (at DAL): Thu., May 25: 8 ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 5 (at VGK): Sat., May 27: 8 ET (ABC/ESPN+)
Game 6 (at DAL): Mon., May 29: 8 ET (ESPN/ESPN+)
Game 7 (at VGK): Wed., May 31: 9 ET (ESPN/ESPN+)

Second round

Jump to:
Atlantic: TOR-FLA
Metro: CAR-NJ
Central: DAL-SEA
Pacific: VGK-EDM

Atlantic Division

Nick Cousins’ OT winner advances Panthers to East finals

Nick Cousins scores in overtime to eliminate the Maple Leafs as the Panthers advance to the East finals.

First-round results:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs

Consensus pick: Maple Leafs

Metro Division

Canes advance to East finals with OT winner

The Hurricanes eliminate the Devils with an OT winner by Jesper Fast in Game 5.

First-round results:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Devils

Consensus pick: Devils

Central Division

Wyatt Johnston’s impressive goal pads Stars’ lead in the 3rd

Wyatt Johnston fakes out the goalie and scores to give the Stars a 2-0 lead in the third period.

First-round results:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Kraken

Consensus pick: Stars

Pacific Division

Marchessault’s natural hat trick sends Vegas to Western Conference final

Jonathan Marchessault scores three consecutive goals for the natural hat trick as the Golden Knights advance to the Western Conference finals.

First-round results:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Oilers

Consensus pick: Oilers

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

Carter Verhaeghe ends Bruins’ season in OT

The Florida Panthers end the Boston Bruins’ season with a stunning OT goal from Carter Verhaeghe.

Regular-season records:

Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points
Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Bruins

Consensus pick: Bruins (28 of 29 picks)

Maple Leafs advance for 1st time in 19 years off Tavares’ OT winner

John Tavares scores in overtime as the Maple Leafs advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Regular-season records:

Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points
Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Lightning

Consensus pick: Maple Leafs (22 of 29 picks)

Metro Division

Canes eliminate Islanders with OT winner

Paul Stastny nets the game-winner in overtime to move the Hurricanes on to Round 2.

Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points
Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Islanders

Consensus pick: Tied (14 of 28 picks for each team)

Erik Haula slaps home one-timer to pad the Devils’ lead

Erik Haula puts the Devils up 3-0 in the third period of Game 7.

Regular-season records:

Devils: 52-22-8, 112 points
Rangers: 47-22-13, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Rangers

Consensus pick: Rangers (18 of 29 picks)

Central Division

Kraken knock off defending champion Avs to advance

The Kraken become the first expansion franchise to win their first playoff series against a defending champion with a 2-1 win vs. the Avalanche in Game 7.

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:

Keys to the offseason for the Avalanche

Consensus pick: Avalanche (27 of 29 picks)

Mason Marchment beats the buzzer to extend Stars lead

Mason Marchment scores a goal on the breakaway with 0.5 seconds remaining in the second period as the Stars lead 3-0.

Regular-season records:

Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points
Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Wild

Consensus pick: Stars (22 of 29 picks)

Pacific Division

Golden Knights defeat Jets with ease to advance in Stanley Cup playoffs

The Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Vegas wins series, 4-1

Regular-season records:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Consensus pick: Golden Knights (25 of 29 picks)

Keys to the offseason for the Jets

Kostin’s 2nd goal puts the Oilers ahead

Klim Kostin nets his second goal of the game as the Oilers take a 4-3 lead vs. the Kings.

Regular-season records:

Oilers: 50-23-9, 109 points
Kings: 47-25-10, 104 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Keys to the offseason for the Kings

Consensus pick: Oilers (27 of 29 picks)

Sports

Duran reaches 1-year, $3.85M deal with Red Sox

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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Duran reaches 1-year, .85M deal with Red Sox

Associated Press

Jan 17, 2025, 01:13 PM ET

BOSTON — All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox avoided arbitration when they agreed Friday to a one-year contract guaranteeing $3.85 million, a deal that includes an $8 million team option for 2026.

Duran gets a $3.75 million salary for this year, and the option has a $100,000 buyout.

The option price would increase to $9 million if he finishes among the top 20 in MVP voting, to $10 million if he is among the top 10, to $11 million if among the top five and to $12 million if he wins the honor. If he is not among the top 20 and is picked for second team All-MLB, the option price would be $8.5 million.

He can earn $150,000 in performance bonuses this year for plate appearances: $50,000 each for 450, 500 and 550.

If he is traded, the option would be eliminated and the receiving team would owe him a $100,000 assignment bonus.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Duran had asked for a raise from $760,000 to $4 million and had been offered $3.5 million when figures were exchanged last week.

Duran was eighth in MVP voting last year after hitting .285 with 21 homers, 75 RBI, 34 steals, 48 doubles and 111 runs.

Fifteen players remain on track for arbitration hearings.

Sports

Sources: Mets, LHP Minter reach 2-yr., $22M deal

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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Sources: Mets, LHP Minter reach 2-yr., M deal

Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff WriterJan 17, 2025, 03:42 PM ET
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The New York Mets and left-hander A.J. Minter have agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract Friday, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, giving a team starved for bullpen help one of the best relievers on the free-agent market.

The deal, which is pending a physical, includes an opt-out after the 2025 season. SNY first reported the agreement.

Minter, 31, was a key contributor during the Atlanta Braves’ recent run of success, posting a 3.28 ERA across 384 relief appearances since debuting in 2017. He was a member of the 2021 World Series championship club and enjoyed his best full season the following year, pitching to a 2.06 ERA in 75 games. Hip inflammation limited Minter to 39 appearances in 2024, but he was effective when healthy with a 2.62 ERA over 34 ⅓ innings in a setup role.

He joins a club that prioritized acquiring a top-flight reliever this winter to partner with closer Edwin Diaz late in games. Being a lefty checks another box for New York, which, as it currently stands, has just one other left-handed reliever (Alex Young) on their 40-man roster.

The bullpen addition comes a day after the club reached a one-year deal with veteran outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker, who figures to be primarily used as a DH against right-handed pitchers.

Pete Alonso, the Mets’ homegrown star first baseman, remains a free agent. The two sides have attempted to negotiate a reunion, but they’ve recently reached an impasse over money on a three-year contract, according to a source. Without Alonso, the Mets could move third baseman Mark Vientos, a breakout star in 2024, across the diamond to first base with former top prospect Brett Baty, prospect Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna as internal candidates to start at third base.

Sports

Jays add Straw, cash for Sasaki in Guardians deal

Published

3 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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Jays add Straw, cash for Sasaki in Guardians deal

Associated Press

Jan 17, 2025, 03:07 PM ET

TORONTO — The Blue Jays acquired $2 million in international signing bonus pool allocation from the Cleveland Guardians that could be used in their pursuit of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki as part of a trade Friday that also brought underperforming outfielder Myles Straw to Toronto.

Cleveland will send $3.75 million to the Blue Jays, offsetting some of the $14.75 million Straw is guaranteed for the final two years of a $25 million, five-year contract. The Guardians will receive a player to be named or cash.

Toronto boosted its international signing pool to $8,261,600 and had not signed any players since the 2025 window opened Wednesday, leaving the entire amount available for Sasaki.

Also being being pursued by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the 23-year-old right-hander has until Thursday to reach agreement with a Major League Baseball team. He is considered an international amateur by MLB and can sign only a minor league contract subject to the same bonus pools as Latin American prospects.

Straw has salaries of $6 million this year and $7 million in 2026 and is guaranteed a $1.75 million buyout of a 2027 team option. Cleveland will send Toronto $1 million this year, $1 million in 2026 and $1.75 million at the end of 2026.

Cleveland agreed to the long-term deal in April 2022 but Straw hit just .221 with no homers, 32 RBIs and 21 stolen bases that year, then batted .238 with 1 homer, 29 RBIs and 20 steals in 2023.

He was sent outright to Triple-A Columbus in April and hit .240 with 3 homers, 47 RBIs and 30 steals. Cleveland brought him up in September, and he went 1-for-4 over seven games.