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Stanley Cup playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores, highlights

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Mark Messier presents the opening of the NHL playoffs (1:35)

Mark Messier details all the twists and turns of the upcoming NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. (1:35)

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.

The No. 8 seed Panthers have kept on rolling, all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they will face the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights.

Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Stanley Cup Final.

More: Playoff schedule
Conference final preview
Conn Smythe Watch
Top 50 players in the playoffs
Wyshynski's bracket
Experts picks

Conference final round

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

Eastern Conference

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

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1:05
Tkachuk sends Panthers to Stanley Cup Final with unbelievable goal in final seconds

Matthew Tkachuk nets the game-winning goal with five seconds to spare to send the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final.

Earlier results:

  • Hurricanes: Defeated Islanders in six, Devils in five

  • Panthers: Defeated Bruins in seven, Maple Leafs in five

Leading scorers:

Results:

Game 1 (at CAR): Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2 (4OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Panthers 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at FLA): Panthers 1, Hurricanes 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at FLA): Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3 | Recap | Replay


Western Conference

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars

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1:36
Joe Pavelski's OT winner keeps the Stars alive

Joe Pavelski nets the winning goal in overtime as the Stars defeat the Golden Knights in Game 4 to stave off elimination.

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): Golden Knights 4, Stars 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at VGK): Golden Knights 3, Stars 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at DAL): Golden Knights 4, Stars 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at DAL): Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
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

No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Florida Panthers

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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:

  • Maple Leafs: Defeated Lightning in six

  • Panthers: Defeated Bruins in seven

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

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 2 New Jersey Devils

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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:

  • Hurricanes: Defeated Islanders in six

  • Devils: Defeated Rangers in seven

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

No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. No. 4 Seattle Kraken

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2:24
Stars defeat the Kraken in Game 7 to advance to the WCF

Stars take care of business at home to defeat the Kraken in Game 7 as they advance to take on the Vegas Golden Knights.

First-round results:

  • Stars: Defeated Wild in six

  • Kraken: Defeated Avalanche in seven

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 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Kraken

Consensus pick: Stars


Pacific Division

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 2 Edmonton Oilers

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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:

  • Golden Knights: Defeated Jets in five

  • Oilers: Defeated Kings in six

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

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 4 Florida Panthers

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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:

  • Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points

  • 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)


No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

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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:

  • Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points

  • 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

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 New York Islanders

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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

  • 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)


No. 2 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 3 New York Rangers

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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

  • 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

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 4 Seattle Kraken

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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:

  • 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): 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)


No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild

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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

  • 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

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Winnipeg Jets

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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:

  • Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points

  • Jets: 46-33-3, 95 points

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


No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Kings

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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)