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In sports, there's nothing quite like playoff hockey. The 2025 NHL Playoffs are here, and the path to the Stanley Cup has been set for every contender in the league. For fans, that means it's time to circle dates on calendars and plan out watch parties.
A whopping 10 different teams entered the playoffs with odds of +1200 or shorter to in it all, so it should be a wide-open race. After winning the Presidents' Trophy as the top team during the regular season, the Jets barely made it into the second round with a Game 7 miracle. The top team in the East, the Capitals, had an easier time and also looks like a strong contender.
Don't count out the reigning champion Panthers, who prevailed in the Battle of Florida to open the playoffs and face Toronto in a tough second-round matchup. Translation: it's a wide-open race. And if any team has a chance to win it all, every game will be worth watching.
Looking forward to postseason hockey? Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL playoff bracket 2025
Second Round
Eastern Conference
| (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Florida Panthers | Tied 0-0 |
| (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes | Tied 0-0 |
Western Conference
| (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C2) Dallas Stars | Tied 0-0 |
| (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers | Tied 0-0 |
First Round
Eastern Conference
| (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators | Toronto wins 4-2 |
| (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Florida Panthers | Florida wins 4-1 |
| (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens | Washington wins 4-1 |
| (M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) New Jersey Devils | Carolina wins 4-1 |
Western Conference
| (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues | Tied 3-3 |
| (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Colorado Avalanche | Dallas wins 4-3 |
| (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild | Vegas wins 4-2 |
| (P2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers | Edmonton wins 4-2 |
NHL playoffs schedule, scores 2025
Second Round
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers
| May 5 | Game 1 at Toronto | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 7 | Game 2 at Toronto | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
| May 9 | Game 3 at Florida | 7 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 11 | Game 4 at Florida | 7:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 14 | Game 5 at Toronto* | TBD | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
| May 16 | Game 6 at Florida* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
| May 18 | Game 7 at Toronto* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
* If necessary
Capitals vs. Hurricanes
| May 6 | Game 1 at Washington | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, TVAS |
| May 8 | Game 2 at Washington | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, TVAS |
| May 10 | Game 3 at Carolina | 6 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, TVAS |
| May 12 | Game 4 at Carolina | 7 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, TVAS |
| May 15 | Game 5 at Washington* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
| May 17 | Game 6 at Carolina* | TBD | TBD, TVAS |
| May 19 | Game 7 at Washington* | TBD | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
* If necessary
Jets vs. Stars
| May 7 | Game 1 at Winnipeg | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 9 | Game 2 at Winnipeg | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 11 | Game 3 at Dallas | 4:30 p.m. | TBS, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 13 | Game 4 at Dallas | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 15 | Game 5 at Winnipeg* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
| May 17 | Game 6 at Dallas* | TBD | TBD, TVAS |
| May 19 | Game 7 at Winnipeg* | TBD | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
* If necessary
Golden Knights vs. Oilers
| May 6 | Game 1 at Vegas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 8 | Game 2 at Vegas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 10 | Game 3 at Edmonton | 9 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 12 | Game 4 at Edmonton | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| May 14 | Game 5 at Vegas* | TBD | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
| May 16 | Game 6 at Edmonton* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
| May 18 | Game 7 at Vegas* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
* If necessary
First Round
Maple Leafs vs. Senators — Toronto wins 4-2
| April 20 | Game 1: Leafs 6, Senators 2 |
| April 22 | Game 2: Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT) |
| April 24 | Game 3: Leafs 3, Senators 2 (OT) |
| April 26 | Game 4: Senators 4, Leafs 3 (OT) |
| April 29 | Game 5: Senators 4, Leafs 0 |
| May 1 | Game 6: Leafs 4, Senators 2 |
Lightning vs. Panthers — Florida wins 4-1
| April 22 | Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2 |
| April 24 | Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0 |
| April 26 | Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1 |
| April 28 | Game 4: Panthers 4, Lightning 2 |
| April 30 | Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 3 |
Capitals vs. Canadiens — Washington wins 4-1
| April 21 | Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) |
| April 23 | Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1 |
| April 25 | Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3 |
| April 27 | Game 4: Capitals 5, Canadiens 2 |
| April 30 | Game 5: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1 |
Hurricanes vs. Devils — Carolina wins 4-1
| April 20 | Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1 |
| April 22 | Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 |
| April 25 | Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 |
| April 27 | Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Devils 2 |
| April 29 | Game 5: Hurricanes 5, Devils 4 (2 OT) |
Jets vs. Blues — Winnipeg wins 4-3
| April 19 | Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3 |
| April 21 | Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1 |
| April 24 | Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2 |
| April 27 | Game 4: Blues 5, Jets 1 |
| April 30 | Game 5: Jets 5, Blues 3 |
| May 2 | Game 6: Blues 5, Jets 2 |
| May 4 | Game 7: Jets 4, Blues 3 (2 OT) |
Kings vs. Oilers — Edmonton wins 4-2
| April 21 | Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5 |
| April 23 | Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2 |
| April 25 | Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4 |
| April 27 | Game 4: Oilers 4, Kings 3 (OT) |
| April 29 | Game 5: Oilers 3, Kings 1 |
| May 1 | Game 6: Oilers 6, Kings 4 |
Golden Knights vs. Wild — Vegas wins 4-2
| April 20 | Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2 |
| April 22 | Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 |
| April 24 | Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 |
| April 26 | Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 |
| April 29 | Game 5: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 (OT) |
| May 1 | Game 6: Golden Knights 3, Wild 2 |
Avalanche vs. Stars — Dallas wins 4-3
| April 19 | Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1 |
| April 21 | Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) |
| April 23 | Game 3: Stars 2, Avalanche 1 (OT) |
| April 26 | Game 4: Avalanche 4, Stars 0 |
| April 28 | Game 5: Stars 6, Avalanche 2 |
| May 1 | Game 6: Avalanche 7, Stars 4 |
| May 3 | Game 7: Stars 4, Avalanche 2 |
What channel is the 2025 NHL playoffs on?
- TV channel (U.S.): ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV
- TV channel (Canada): Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
The NHL playoffs will be split in the United States between the ESPN family of networks and the Turner channels. The two media corporations are in the fourth year of their seven-year contracts with the league.
ESPN and TNT are splitting the second-round series, as well as the conference final. The Stanley Cup Final will air on ABC.
In Canada, all the playoff games will be aired on Sportsnet and CBC in English and TVA Sports in French.
NHL playoffs 2025 live streams
Fans in the United States and Canada looking to watch the NHL playoffs have options even if they don't have cable. Games on ESPN's platforms can be streamed through ESPN+ or through Fubo, while those on TNT's network of channels can be streamed through the TNT app and Sling.
Canadians have streaming options as well, with Sportsnet games available to stream on SN NOW and CBC games streamable through CBC Gem.
NHL Playoffs 2025 radio coverage
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Fans can listen to the 2025 NHL Playoffs on SiriusXM, with live play-by-play coverage for every game of the postseason.
New subscribers can enjoy SiriusXM for free for four months. Listen to live NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL games, plus NASCAR, college sports and more. Stay updated with all the news and get all the analysis on multiple sport-specific channels.
How will the 2025 NHL playoffs work?
Sixteen teams qualify for the NHL playoffs, eight from each conference. The top three teams in each division will get the top six seeds in their respective conference's playoff bracket. The remaining two spots in each conference will be filled with the next two highest-placed finishers, regardless of division. So, theoretically, one division could send five teams to the playoffs while the other sends only three.
In the first round, the division winner with the best record in each conference will face the worst wild-card team. Then, the teams that finished second and third in their division will face off. The winners from those games will play each other in the second round. Those winners will duke it out in the conference finals, sending one representative to the Stanley Cup Finals from each conference. Each round of the playoffs is best-of-seven, so the first team to win four games will advance.
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