The NHL playoff bracket offers plenty of intriguing matchups.
There’s the Battle of Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. The always-intense Battle of Ontario (Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators) returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers meet for the fourth year in a row.
The Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche series features winger Mikko Rantanen, who was traded by the Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season and will now face his former team after a trade to the Stars.
The NHL announced the two opening postseason games and said the full schedule would be released on Thursday, April 17.
Here are the playoff matchups and schedule for the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs (all times p.m. ET, series are best of seven):
Eastern Conference
Key: M-Metropolitan; A-Atlantic; WC-wild card
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)
Schedule TBA
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)
Schedule TBA
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)
Schedule TBA
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)
Schedule TBA
Western Conference
Key: C-Central; P-Pacific; WC-wild card
Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)
Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)
Schedule TBA
Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)
Schedule TBA