It’s finally here.
After an exciting end to the regular season, the 2023 NHL playoffs are finally here. The 16 teams playing in the postseason know their first-round opponents, as they get set to embark on the quest for the Stanley Cup.
The first round features a number of intriguing matchups, including rematches of 2022 first-round series with the Maple Leafs vs. Lightning and the Oilers vs. Kings. There is also a Hudson River rivalry, as the Devils and Rangers square off.
MORE: NHL playoff bracket, schedule, scores
The Sporting News has the full schedule for every first-round series of the 2023 NHL playoffs.
NHL playoff schedule 2023
All times in Eastern Standard (ET)
* = if necessary
First Round
Eastern Conference: (A1) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Mon., April 17 | at Boston | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS |
| Wed., April 19 | at Boston | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., April 21 | at Florida | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS |
| Sun., April 23 | at Florida | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, SN1, TVAS |
| *Wed., April 26 | at Boston | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri., April 28 | at Florida | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., April 30 | at Boston | TBD | TBD |
Eastern Conference: (A2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., April 18 | at Toronto | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS |
| Thu., April 20 | at Toronto | 7 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sat., April 22 | at Tampa Bay | 7 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Mon., April 24 | at Tampa Bay | 7:30 p.m. | TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC |
| *Thu., April 27 | at Toronto | TBD | TBD |
| *Sat., April 29 | at Tampa Bay | TBD | TBD |
| *Mon., May 1 | at Toronto | TBD | TBD |
Eastern Conference: (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) New York Islanders
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Mon., April 17 | at Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2 |
| Wed., April 19 | at Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN2, SN360, TVAS |
| Fri., April 21 | at New York | 7 p.m. | TBS, SN1, TVAS |
| Sun., April 23 | at New York | 1 p.m. | TNT, SN360, TVAS |
| *Tue., April 25 | at Carolina | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri., April 28 | at New York | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., April 30 | at Carolina | TBD | TBD |
Eastern Conference: (M2) New Jersey Devils vs. (M3) New York Rangers
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., April 18 | at New Jersey | 7 p.m. | TBS, SN360, TVAS2 |
| Thu., April 20 | at New Jersey | 7:30 p.m. | TBS, SN360, TVAs |
| Sat., April 22 | at New York | 8 p.m. | ABC, SN1, City, TVAS |
| Mon., April 24 | at New York | 7 p.m. | ESPN, SN360, TVAS |
| *Thu., April 27 | at New Jersey | TBD | TBD |
| *Sat., April 29 | at New York | TBD | TBD |
| *Mon., May 1 | at New Jersey | TBD | TBD |
Western Conference: (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., April 18 | at Colorado | 10 p.m. | ESPN, SN360, TVAS |
| Thu., April 20 | at Colorado | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS |
| Sat. April 22 | at Seattle | 10 p.m. | TBS, SN360, TVAS |
| Mon., April 24 | at Seattle | 10 p.m. | TBS, SN360, TVAS |
| *Wed., April 26 | at Colorado | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri., April 28 | at Seattle | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., April 30 | at Colorado | TBD | TBD |
Western Conference: (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Mon., April 17 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Wed., April 19 | at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., April 21 | at Minnesota | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sun., April 23 | at Minnesota | 6:30 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| *Tue., April 25 | at Dallas | TBD | TBD |
| *Fri. April 28 | at Minnesota | TBD | TBD |
| *Sun., April 30 | at Dallas | TBD | TBD |
Western Conference: (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., April 18 | at Vegas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2 |
| Thu., April 20 | at Vegas | 10 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sat. April 22 | at Winnipeg | 4 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Mon., April 24 | at Winnipeg | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN, SNW, TVAS |
| *Thu., April 27 | at Vegas | TBD | TBD |
| *Sat., April 29 | at Winnipeg | TBD | TBD |
| *Mon., May 1 | at Vegas | TBD | TBD |
Western Conference: (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings
| Date | Site | Time (ET) | TV |
| Mon., April 17 | at Edmonton | 10 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Wed., April 19 | at Edmonton | 10 p.m. | ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Fri., April 21 | at Los Angeles | 10 p.m. | TNT, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| Sun., April 23 | at Los Angeles | 9 p.m. | TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS |
| *Tue., April 25 | at Edmonton | TBD | TBD |
| *Sat. April 29 | at Los Angeles | TBD | TBD |
| *Mon., May 1 | at Edmonton | TBD | TBD |
How to watch the 2023 NHL playoffs
- TV channel (U.S.): ESPN, ABC, TNT, TBS
- TV channel (Canada): Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS
- Live stream (U.S.): ESPN+, SlingTV, Fubo
- Live stream (Canada): SN NOW, CBC Gem
The NHL playoffs will be split in the United States between the ESPN family of networks and Turners. The two media corporations are in the second year of their seven-year contracts with the league.
In the first round, Saturday night games will air on ABC. Other first-round contests will air on ESPN and TNT’s other channels, such as ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, TBS or TruTV.
ESPN and TNT are splitting the second-round series, as well as the conference final. Since ESPN aired the Stanley Cup Final last year, it is TNT’s turn, the first time the network will broadcast hockey’s championship series.
Fans in the United States looking to stream the NHL playoffs have options. Games on ESPN’s platforms can be streamed through ESPN+ or through Fubo, while those on TNT can be streamed through the TNT app and SlingTV.
In Canada, all the playoff games will be aired on Sportsnet and CBC. TVA Sports will also air for the French-speaking audience.
For the Canadian audience, games on Sportsnet are available to stream on SN NOW. Any contests on CBC can be streamed through CBC Gem.
What is the format of the 2023 NHL playoffs?
The Stanley Cup playoffs consist of four rounds throughout the entire postseason — first round, second round, conference finals and Stanley Cup Final.
In the first round, the top team in the conference plays the second wild-card team. The other division winner takes on the first wild-card team. The No. 2 team from a division plays the No. 3 team from the same division.
After that, the teams do not get reseeded in the second round. Rather, the series winner with the No. 2 and No. 3 teams for a division plays the victor of the series with their division winner playing the wild-card team.
For example, for this postseason, the Bruins, Maple Leafs and Lightning placed first through third in the Atlantic, in that order. So the Bruins face a wild-card team and the Maple Leafs and Lightning play each other. The winner of those two series play against each other in the second round, regardless if the wild-card team is not from the Atlantic.
After the second round, the two teams remaining in each conference play in the conference finals. The Eastern Conference winner receives the Prince of Wales Trophy, while the Western Conference victor is awarded the Clarence S. Campbell Trophy.
Finally, the champions from each conference meet in the Stanley Cup Final to determine the season champion.