Apr 17, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Taylor Hall (71) trips in front of Ottawa Senators right wing drake Batherson (19) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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2025 NHL Playoff Picture: Full Bracket, Seedings & Schedule Breakdown

The best time of the hockey season is finally here, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are ready to begin this Saturday, and the full field of 16 teams is officially set. With months of hard-fought games in the rearview mirror, it’s now do-or-die time as teams gear up to compete for the most prized trophy in the sport.

In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals have emerged as the top seed after a dominant regular season. Their first-round matchup is now confirmed: they’ll go head-to-head with the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal earned the final Wild Card spot in the East after a clutch 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, sealing their place in the postseason at the very last moment.

Over in the West, the Winnipeg Jets have made franchise history by winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time, locking in the top seed in their conference. They’re set to take on the St. Louis Blues in Round 1, a team that, along with the Minnesota Wild, secured its playoff berth earlier this week.

NHL Playoff Seeding Format

1. Qualification:

The top 3 teams in each division (Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific) automatically qualify, totaling 12 teams.
2 wild-card spots per conference are awarded to the next two highest-ranked teams based on regular-season points, regardless of division, bringing the total to 16 playoff teams.

2. First Round Matchups:

The division winner with the best record in each conference faces the lower-seeded Wild Card team.
The other division winner plays the higher-seeded Wild Card team.
The second and third place teams within each division compete against each other.

3. Bracket Structure:

The playoff bracket is fixed; teams do not get reseeded after each round.
Each series follows a best-of-seven format with a 2–2–1–1–1 home-ice structure:
- The higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary).
- The lower-seeded team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6 (if necessary).

2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule

The first-round matchups across both the Eastern and Western Conferences are locked in, with the action officially beginning on Saturday, April 19. Below is a complete breakdown of the first-round schedule for all eight matchups.

Eastern Conference

Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens (TBD—To be disclosed)

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Canadiens at Capitals	Mon, Apr 21	7:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet
2	Canadiens at Capitals	Wed, Apr 23	7:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC
3	Capitals at Canadiens	Fri, Apr 25	7:00 PM	TNT/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
4	Capitals at Canadiens	Sun, Apr 27	6:30 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
*5	Canadiens at Capitals	Wed, Apr 30	TBD	TBD
*6	Capitals at Canadiens	Fri, May 2	TBD	TBD
*7	Canadiens at Capitals	Sun, May 4	TBD	TBD

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Devils at Hurricanes	Sun, Apr 20	3:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet
2	Devils at Hurricanes	Tue, Apr 22	6:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet360
3	Hurricanes at Devils	Fri, Apr 25	8:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet360
4	Hurricanes at Devils	Sun, Apr 27	3:30 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet
*5	Devils at Hurricanes	Tue, Apr 29	TBD	TBD
*6	Hurricanes at Devils	Fri, May 2	TBD	TBD
*7	Devils at Hurricanes	Sun, May 4	TBD	TBD

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Senators at Maple Leafs	Sun, Apr 20	7:00 PM	ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
2	Senators at Maple Leafs	Tue, Apr 22	7:30 PM	ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
3	Maple Leafs at Senators	Thu, Apr 24	7:00 PM	ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
4	Maple Leafs at Senators	Sat, Apr 26	7:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
*5	Senators at Maple Leafs	Tue, Apr 29	TBD	TBD
*6	Maple Leafs at Senators	Thu, May 1	TBD	TBD
*7	Senators at Maple Leafs	Sat, May 3	TBD	TBD

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Panthers at Lightning	Tue, Apr 22	8:30 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet360
2	Panthers at Lightning	Thu, Apr 24	6:30 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet360
3	Lightning at Panthers	Sat, Apr 26	1:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet
4	Lightning at Panthers	Mon, Apr 28	TBD	TBD
*5	Panthers at Lightning	Wed, Apr 30	TBD	TBD
*6	Lightning at Panthers	Fri, May 2	TBD	TBD
*7	Panthers at Lightning	Sun, May 4	TBD	TBD

Western Conference

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Blues at Jets	Sat, Apr 19	6:00 PM	TNT/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
2	Blues at Jets	Mon, Apr 21	7:30 PM	ESPN2, CBC
3	Jets at Blues	Thu, Apr 24	9:30 PM	ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
4	Jets at Blues	Sun, Apr 27	1:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
*5	Blues at Jets	Wed, Apr 30	TBD	TBD
*6	Jets at Blues	Fri, May 2	TBD	TBD
*7	Blues at Jets	Sun, May 4	TBD	TBD

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Avalanche at Stars	Sat, Apr 19	8:30 PM	TNT/Max, Sportsnet
2	Avalanche at Stars	Mon, Apr 21	8:30 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet360
3	Stars at Avalanche	Wed, Apr 23	9:30 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet360
4	Stars at Avalanche	Sat, Apr 26	9:30 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet
*5	Avalanche at Stars	Mon, Apr 28	TBD	TBD
*6	Stars at Avalanche	Thu, May 1	TBD	TBD
*7	Avalanche at Stars	Sat, May 3	TBD	TBD

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Wild at Golden Knights	Sun, Apr 20	10:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet
2	Wild at Golden Knights	Tue, Apr 22	11:00 PM	ESPN, Sportsnet
3	Golden Knights at Wild	Thu, Apr 24	9:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet360
4	Golden Knights at Wild	Sat, Apr 26	4:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet
*5	Wild at Golden Knights	Tue, Apr 29	TBD	TBD
*6	Golden Knights at Wild	Thu, May 1	TBD	TBD
*7	Wild at Golden Knights	Sat, May 3	TBD	TBD

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Game	Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
1	Oilers at Kings	Mon, Apr 21	10:00 PM	ESPN2, Sportsnet
2	Oilers at Kings	Wed, Apr 23	10:00 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
3	Kings at Oilers	Fri, Apr 25	10:00 PM	TNT/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
4	Kings at Oilers	Sun, Apr 27	9:30 PM	TBS/Max, Sportsnet, CBC
*5	Oilers at Kings	Tue, Apr 29	TBD	TBD
*6	Kings at Oilers	Thu, May 1	TBD	TBD
*7	Oilers at Kings	Sat, May 3	TBD	TBD

With all matchups now finalized and the puck set to drop this weekend, the chase for the Cup is officially on. Expect thrilling overtimes, breakout performances, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat action only the Stanley Cup Playoffs can deliver.

Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

2025 NHL Playoff

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!