Sports
Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Conference final matchups, schedule are set
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:
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Hurricanes: Defeated Islanders in six, Devils in five
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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:
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Golden Knights: Defeated Jets in five, Oilers in six
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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
0:49
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:
Game 1 (at TOR): Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at TOR): Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at FLA): Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at FLA): Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at TOR): Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs
Consensus pick: Maple Leafs
Metro Division
0:40
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:
Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 6, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at NJ): Devils 8, Hurricanes 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at NJ): Hurricanes 6, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Devils 2 | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Devils
Consensus pick: Devils
Central Division
0:47
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:
Game 1 (at DAL): Kraken 5, Stars 4 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at DAL): Stars 4, Kraken 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at SEA): Kraken 7, Stars 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at SEA): Stars 6, Kraken 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at DAL): Stars 5, Kraken 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at SEA): Kraken 6, Stars 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at DAL): Stars 2, Kraken 1 | Recap
Keys to the offseason for the Kraken
Consensus pick: Stars
Pacific Division
1:47
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:
Game 1 (at VGK): Golden Knights 6, Oilers 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at VGK): Oilers 5, Golden Knights 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Golden Knights 5, Oilers 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Oilers 4, Golden Knights 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at VGK): Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at EDM): Golden Knights 5, Oilers 2 | Recap | Replay
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
0:36
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:
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Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points
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Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points
Leading scorers:
Results:
Game 1 (at BOS): Bruins 3, Panthers 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at BOS): Panthers 6, Bruins 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at FLA): Bruins 4, Panthers 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at FLA): Bruins 6, Panthers 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at BOS): Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at FLA): Panthers 7, Bruins 5 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at BOS): Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Bruins
Consensus pick: Bruins (28 of 29 picks)
2:26
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:
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Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points
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Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Results:
Game 1 (at TOR): Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 7, Lightning 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 4 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at TOR): Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Lightning
Consensus pick: Maple Leafs (22 of 29 picks)
Metro Division
1:33
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
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Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points
Leading scorers:
Results:
Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 4, Islanders 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at NYI): Islanders 5, Hurricanes 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at NYI): Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Islanders 3, Hurricanes 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at NYI): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Islanders
Consensus pick: Tied (14 of 28 picks for each team)
0:43
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
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Rangers: 47-22-13, 107 points
Leading scorers:
Results:
Game 1 (at NJ): Rangers 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at NJ): Rangers 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at NYR): Devils 2, Rangers 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at NYR): Devils 3, Rangers 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at NJ): Devils 4, Rangers 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Devils 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at NJ): Devils 4, Rangers 0 | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Rangers
Consensus pick: Rangers (18 of 29 picks)
Central Division
2:05
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:
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Avalanche: 51-24-7, 109 points
-
Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points
Leading scorers:
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Avalanche: C Nathan MacKinnon, 111 points (42 G, 69 A)
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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): Avalanche 3, Kraken 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at SEA): Avalanche 6, Kraken 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at SEA): Kraken 3, Avalanche 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Kraken 3, Avalanche 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at SEA): Avalanche 4, Kraken 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at COL): Kraken 2, Avalanche 1 | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Avalanche
Consensus pick: Avalanche (27 of 29 picks)
1:00
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
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Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points
Leading scorers:
Results:
Game 1 (at DAL): Wild 3, Stars 2 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at DAL): Stars 7, Wild 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at MIN): Wild 5, Stars 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at MIN): Stars 3, Wild 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at DAL): Stars 4, Wild 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at MIN): Stars 4, Wild 1 | Recap | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Wild
Consensus pick: Stars (22 of 29 picks)
Pacific Division
1:38
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:
Game 1 (at VGK): Jets 5, Golden Knights 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at VGK): Golden Knights 5, Jets 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at WPG): Golden Knights 5, Jets 4 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at WPG): Golden Knights 4, Jets 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at VGK): Golden Knights 4, Jets 1 | Recap | Replay
Consensus pick: Golden Knights (25 of 29 picks)
Keys to the offseason for the Jets
0:40
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:
Game 1 (at EDM): Kings 4, Oilers 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at EDM): Oilers 4, Kings 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at LA): Kings 3, Oilers 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at LA): Oilers 5, Kings 4 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at EDM): Oilers 6, Kings 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at LA): Oilers 5, Kings 4 | Recap
Keys to the offseason for the Kings
Consensus pick: Oilers (27 of 29 picks)