The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are poised to become legendary. Parity was the name of the game for the 2024-25 season, boasting a stellar team with both the East and West boasting up and down the rankings. This is not the season when there is one clear favorite for each meeting, but the four or five teams that can be believed to have what it takes to go all the way, that four or five teams on either side of the bracket.
The most appealing series of the first round is the Dallas star facing the Colorado Avalanches, coming out from the west. This is a matchup with a rich selection of best-lit individual performances, but also emotion-high as Mikko Lantanen faces his previous team. Meanwhile, the East focuses on Alex Ovechkin and the capital, but the Canadian three-man team that played offs with Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal are also looking to move on.
Avalanches and Carolina hurricanes are the best Stanley Cup title odds When a pack drops in a postseason tournament, it’s in the Fan Duell Sportsbook. The Hurricane is a favorite that comes out of the Eastern Conference just in front of the Florida Panthers. The avalanche is a favorite that comes out of the Western Conference just in front of the Golden Knights in Vegas.
It includes schedules, TV information, scores and more for the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. All times listed are Eastern.
nhl.com
Eastern Conference
First round Ottawa Senator
(WC2, 97 points) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (1A, 108 points) Game 1:
Senator Maple Leafs, Sunday, April 20th, 7pm Game 2:
Senator Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 22nd, 7:30pm Game 3:
Maple is Senator Leaf, Thursday, April 24th, 7pm Game 4:
Maple was held on Saturday, April 26th at 7pm at Senator Leaf. Game 5:
Maple Leafs Senator, Tuesday, April 29th, TBD * Game 6:
Thursday, May 1st, Senator Maple Leafs, TBD * Game 7:
Maple Leafs Senator, Saturday, May 3rd, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Maple Leafs-182Total Game
: 5.5 – -170 or higher, less than +138
Florida Panthers (3A, 98 points) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2A, 102 points) Game 1:
Panthers Lightning, Tuesday, April 22nd, 8:30pm Game 2:
Thursday, April 24th at 6:30pm at the Panthers of Lightning Game 3:
Thunder at the Panthers on Saturday, April 26th at 1pm Game 4:
Panthers Lightning, Monday, April 28th, TBD Game 5:
Wednesday, April 30th, Lightning’s Panthers, TBD * Game 6:
Lightning bolts at the Panthers on Friday, May 2nd, TBD * Game 7:
Sunday, May 4th, Lightning’s Panthers, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Panthers-118Total Game
: 5.5 – -188 or higher, less than +152
Montreal Canadian (WC2, 91 points) vs. Washington Capitals (1m, 111 points) Game 1:
Monday, April 21st, 7pm, Capitals’ Canadian Game 2:
Capitals’ Canadian on Wednesday, April 23rd at 7pm Game 3:
Canadian capital, Friday, April 25th, 7pm Game 4:
Canadian Capital, Sunday, April 27th, 6:30pm Game 5:
Wednesday, April 30th, Capitals’ Canadian, TBD * Game 6:
Canadian capital, Friday May 2nd, TBD * Game 7:
Canadiens/At Capitals, Sunday, May 4th, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Capital-275Total Game
: 5.5 – -148 or higher, less than +120 New Jersey Devils (3m, 91 points) vs. Carolina Hurricane
(2m, 99 points) Game 1:
Hurricane Devil, Sunday, April 20th, 3pm Game 2:
Hurricane Devil, Tuesday, April 22nd, 6pm Game 3:
Devils Hurricane, Friday, April 25th at 8pm Game 4:
Devils Hurricane, Sunday, April 27th, 3:30pm Game 5:
Hurricane Devil, Tuesday, April 29th, TBD * Game 6:
Friday, May 2nd, Devils Hurricane, TBD * Game 7:
Sunday, May 4th, Hurricane Devils, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Hurricane-280Total Game
: 5.5 – -152 or higher, less than +124
Western Conference
First round
St. Louis Blues (WC2, 96 points) vs. Winnipeg Jets (1C, 116 points) Game 1:
Blues 5, Jets 3 (WPG Lead Series 1-0) Game 2:
Monday, April 21st, at 7:30pm, Jets Blues Game 3:
Thursday, April 24th at 9:30pm at Blues Jet Game 4:
Jet at Blues on Sunday, April 27th at 1pm Game 5:
Wednesday, April 30th, Jets Blues, TBD * Game 6:
Friday May 2nd, Blues Jets, TBD * Game 7:
Sunday, May 4th, Jets Blues, TBD *Favorites of the series
:Jet-225Total Game
: 5.5 – -168 or higher, less than +136 Colorado Avalanche
(3c, 102 points) vs. Dallas Star (2c, 106 points) Game 1:
Saturday, April 19th, at 8:30pm, Stars’ Avalanche Game 2:
Monday, April 21st, 9:30pm Stars avalanche Game 3:
Wednesday, April 23rd, 9:30pm, Avalanche Star Game 4:
Saturday, April 26th, 9:30pm, Avalanche Star Game 5:
Monday, April 28th, TBD *, Stars’ Avalanche Game 6:
Thursday, May 1st, Avalanche star, TBD * Game 7:
Saturday, May 3rd, Stars’ AvalancheFavorites of the series
: Avalanche-152Total Game
: 5.5 – -188 or higher, less than +152
Minnesota Wild (WC1, 97 points) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1 point, 110 points) Game 1:
Golden Knights Wild, Sunday, April 20th, 10pm Game 2:
Golden Knights Wild, Tuesday, April 22nd, 11pm Game 3:
Thursday, April 24th at 9pm at Wild Golden Knights Game 4:
Saturday, April 26th, 4pm, Wild Golden Knights Game 5:
Tuesday, April 29th, Golden Knights Wild, TBD * Game 6:
Thursday, May 1st, Wild Golden Knights, TBD * Game 7:
Saturday, May 3rd, Golden Knights Wild, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Golden Knights-235Total Game
: 5.5 – -158 or more, less than +128
Edmonton Oilers (3p, 101 points) vs. Los Angeles Kings (2p, 105 points) Game 1:
Kings’ Oilers, Monday, April 21st, 10pm Game 2:
Kings’ Oilers, Wednesday, April 23rd, 10pm Game 3:
King of the Oilers, Friday, April 25th, 10 PMFDSNW Game 4:
King of the Oilers, Sunday, April 27th, 9:30pm Game 5:
Kings’ Oilers, Tuesday, April 29th, TBD * Game 6:
Thursday, May 1st, King of the Oilers, TBD * Game 7:
Saturday, May 3rd, Kings’ Oilers, TBD *Favorites of the series
: Oilers-132Total Game
: 5.5 – -180 or more, less than +146
