The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to start on Saturday, April 19.
Western Conference
(Central Division No. 1) Winnipeg Jets vs (Wild Card No. 2) St. Louis Blues
The Winnipeg Jets will host the 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in the opening round. Winnipeg enters the series having defeated the Blues in three of their four regular-season matchups. The Jets have superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has won the Jennings Trophy in back-to-back seasons—becoming the first player in NHL history to achieve that feat. Hellebuyck is also the frontrunner for a second straight Vezina Trophy. While the Jets have recent dominance in the regular season, it was the Blues who won the only previous playoff series between the two teams in 2019.
(Central Division No. 2) Dallas Stars vs (Central Division No. 3) Colorado Avalanche
The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche will meet again in the playoffs a high-stakes matchup. The major storyline centers around Finnish star Mikko Rantanen, who started the season with the Avalanche, won a Stanley Cup with them in 2022, but was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in January—only to be dealt again to Dallas in March. Now, Rantanen will face his former teammates in Denver. The Avalanche won two of the three regular-season meetings, though Dallas eliminated them in last year’s playoffs. The Stars, however, ended their season with a 0-5-2 finish after a seven-game win streak.
(Pacific Division No. 1) Las Vegas Golden Knights vs (Wild Card No. 1) Minnesota Wild
The 2023 Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, who topped the Pacific Division, will face the Minnesota Wild. Vegas swept the Wild in all three of their regular-season matchups. The Knights are back at full strength with Jack Eichel returning from injury just in time for the playoffs. For the Wild, this could be the final playoff run for future Hall of Fame goaltender Marc-André Fleury, who is expected to retire after 21 NHL seasons and 575 career regular-season wins. While Fleury brings championship experience, Filip Gustavsson is likely the top option at goaltender for Minnesota.
(Pacific Division No. 2) Los Angeles Kings vs (Pacific Division No. 3) Edmonton Oilers
The Kings and Oilers meet in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, with Edmonton winning each of the previous three series, winning in seven games in the first matchup to five in last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. However, the Kings won the regular-season series this seasn, 3-1, including two shutouts over Edmonton. The Oilers still have star power in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, though both dealt with injuries down the stretch. Edmonton’s top defenseman Mattias Ekholm will miss the first round due to injury.
Eastern Conference
(Atlantic Division No. 1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs (Wild Card No. 2) Ottawa Senators
“Battle of Ontario” will take place in the playoffs for the first time since 2004, as the top-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs face the Ottawa Senators. Despite being a wild card, Ottawa swept the regular-season series 3-0. Toronto, under new head coach and former Stanley Cup winner Craig Berube, is once again under pressure to deliver in the postseason. The Leafs will look to overcome their playoff struggles in a rivalry with high stakes.
(Atlantic Division No. 2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs (Atlantic Division No. 3) Florida Panthers
The in-state rivalry between the Lightning and Panthers will take place in the first round. Tampa Bay has reached the Stanley Cup Final three times in the last five years, winning two, while Florida enters as the defending champion. The teams split their regular-season meetings 2-2, and Tampa has won two playoff series, while Florida got their revenge last season. This will be a physical and high-intensity series.
(Metropolitan Division No. 1) Washington Capitals vs (Wild Card No. 1) Montreal Canadiens
The Washington Capitals secured the best record in the eastern conference and will have home-ice advantage over the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal clinched their playoff ticket on the final day of the regular season, making the playoffs for the first time in four years. Washington won the regular season series 2-0-1 and will look to continue their strong season with a veteran core and playoff-tested roster.
(Metropolitan Division No. 2) Carolina Hurricanes vs (Metropolitan Division No. 3) New Jersey Devils
The Hurricanes and Devils split their regular-season series, but the playoff advantage leans in Carolina’s favor with them winning four of the five postseason matchups against New Jersey, including the most recent series win in 2023. Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, formerly with the Maple Leafs, has struggled in the postseason and will aim to turn the tide.
