NHL playoff bracket 2025: Full schedule, TV channels, scores for hockey's road to Stanley Cup
Original Story by The Sporting News
May 30, 2025
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
Stanley Cup Final
Matchup
Series
(P3) Edmonton Oilers vs. (A3) Florida Panthers
Tied 0-0
Conference Finals
Eastern Conference
Matchup
Series
(M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (A3) Florida Panthers
Florida wins 4-1
Western Conference
Matchup
Series
(C2) Dallas Stars vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton wins 4-1
Second Round
Eastern Conference
Matchup
Series
(A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Florida Panthers
Florida wins 4-3
(M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina wins 4-1
Western Conference
Matchup
Series
(C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C2) Dallas Stars
Dallas wins 4-2
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton wins 4-1
First Round
Eastern Conference
Matchup
Series
(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
Matchup
Series
(C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg wins 4-3
(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
Stanley Cup Final
Oilers vs. Panthers
Date
Game
Time (ET)
TV/Live stream
June 4
Game 1 at Edmonton
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 6
Game 2 at Edmonton
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 9
Game 3 at Florida
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 12
Game 4 at Florida
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 14
Game 5 at Edmonton*
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 17
Game 6 at Florida*
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
June 20
Game 7 at Edmonton*
8 p.m.
TNT, Sling, DirecTV, SN, CBC, Fubo CA, TVAS
* If necessary
Eastern Conference Final
Hurricanes vs. Panthers — Florida wins 4-1
Date
Scores
May 20
Game 1: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 2
May 22
Game 2: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0
May 24
Game 3: Panthers 6, Hurricanes 2
May 26
Game 4: Hurricanes 3, Panthers 0
May 28
Game 5: Panthers 5, Hurricanes 3
Western Conference Final
Stars vs. Oilers — Edmonton wins 4-1
Date
Scores
May 21
Game 1: Stars 6, Oilers 3
May 23
Game 2: Oilers 3, Stars 0
May 25
Game 3: Oilers 6, Stars 1
May 27
Game 4: Oilers 4, Stars 1
May 29
Game 5: Oilers 6, Stars 3
Second Round
Maple Leafs vs. Panthers — Florida wins 4-3
Date
Game
May 5
Game 1: Leafs 5, Panthers 4
May 7
Game 2: Leafs 4, Panthers 3
May 9
Game 3: Panthers 5, Leafs 4 (OT)
May 11
Game 4: Panthers 2, Leafs 0
May 14
Game 5: Panthers 6, Leafs 1
May 16
Game 6: Leafs 2, Panthers 0
May 18
Game 7: Panthers 6, Leafs 1
Capitals vs. Hurricanes — Carolina wins 4-1
Date
Game
May 6
Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT)
May 8
Game 2: Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1
May 10
Game 3: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 0
May 12
Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2
May 15
Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 2
Jets vs. Stars — Dallas wins 4-2
Date
Game
May 7
Game 1: Stars 3, Jets 2
May 9
Game 2: Jets 4, Stars 0
May 11
Game 3: Stars 5, Jets 2
May 13
Game 4: Stars 3, Jets 1
May 15
Game 5: Jets 4, Stars 0
May 17
Game 6: Stars 2, Jets 1 (OT)
Golden Knights vs. Oilers — Edmonton wins 4-1
Date
Game
May 6
Game 1: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 2
May 8
Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT)
May 10
Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3
May 12
Game 4: Oilers 3, Golden Knights 0
May 14
Game 5: Oilers 1, Golden Knights 0 (OT)
First Round
Maple Leafs vs. Senators — Toronto wins 4-2
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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
Date
Game
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.
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.
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.
