Stanley Cup playoffs: Cup Final matchup, schedule, highlights

The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs represent a return to normalcy, after a bubble-encased postseason in 2020 and a 2021 tournament that featured realigned intradivisional play, followed by a rebracketing for the final two rounds. Sixteen teams have qualified for a shot, but only one will get to skate the sacred chalice this June.

From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered, including the entire Cup finals on ABC and ESPN+.

Plus, tune in to The Point every weekday afternoon throughout the playoffs for analysis, storytelling and previews of that night’s action. And if you miss anything, watch full-game replays on demand on ESPN+, along with highlights from every game on In The Crease.

Read on for the full playoff picture, including previews, analysis, highlights, schedule and more for each team and series.

More: Playoff schedule
Under-the-radar playoff stars
How officials handle the pressure of playoffs
Ranking the top 50 players in the playoffs
Ranking players that need a Cup

Stanley Cup Final

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Artturi Lehkonen puts the Avalanche up 3-1 over the Lightning in the first period with a powerful strike.

Leading playoff scorers:

Shilton/Wyshynski: Full series preview

NHL insiders: Picks for the Cup champ, Conn Smythe Trophy

NHL insiders: Burning questions ahead of Game 1

Shilton: The most pivotal players in the Stanley Cup Final

Shilton: Why the Avs must be seen to be believed

Wyshynski: Quest for a three-peat alive: What we’ve learned about the Lightning

Schedule:

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Sat., June 18, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview
Game 3 (at TB): Mon., June 20, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview
Game 4 (at TB): Weds., June 22, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview
Game 5* (at COL): Fri., June 24, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview
Game 6* (at TB): Sun., June 26, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview
Game 7* (at COL): Tues., June 28, 8 ET (ABC, ESPN+) | Preview

* If necessary

Conference finals

Jump to:
East: NYR-TB
West: COL-EDM

Eastern Conference

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The Lightning advance to the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive season as they hold off the Rangers in the final moments for a 2-1 Game 6 win.

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: ‘A unique, special talent:’ How Nikita Kucherov became one of the NHL’s best

Wyshynski: ‘It’s the way I’ve always played:’ Jacob Trouba isn’t looking to be a villain

Wyshynski: Takeaways after two games: What we’ve seen and what’s ahead

Wyshynski: Shesterkin vs. Vasilevskiy: Inside the playoffs’ ultimate goalie showdown

Wyshynski: Full series preview

Lightning advance, 4-2

Game 1 (at NYR): Rangers 6, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 3, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 4, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Lightning 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 2, Rangers 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Rangers

Western Conference

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Gabriel Landeskog fights his way to a goal to bring the Avalanche within one vs. the Oilers.

Leading playoff scorers:

Shilton: Why the Cup Final-bound Avalanche must be seen to be believed

Shilton: Top takeaways after the first two games — and what it all means for the series

Shilton: “Family comes first…” or does it? Josh Manson faces his father, an Oilers assistant

Shilton: Full series preview

Avalanche advance, 4-0

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 8, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Avalanche 4, Oilers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Avalanche 6, Oilers 5 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Oilers

Second round

Jump to:
FLA-TB
CAR-NYR
COL-STL
CGY-EDM

Atlantic Division

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The Panthers can’t score on a great chance as Ondrej Palat scores the series-clinching empty-net goal.

Regular-season records:

• Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points

• Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: Where does Panthers-Lightning fit in rankings of NHL rivalries?

Lightning advance, 4-0

Game 1 (at FLA): Lightning 4, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Lightning 2, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 5, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 2, Panthers 0 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Panthers

Metropolitan Division

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Rangers foil Canes’ comeback attempt with Chytil’s goal

Regular-season records:

• Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points

• Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: How the Rangers’ ‘Kid Line’ has sparked New York’s offense

Wyshynski: The ex-Rangers fueling the Hurricanes this postseason

Wyshynski: Will some ‘added nastiness’ bring out the best of the Rangers?

Wyshynski: Hurricanes swear road woes are ‘nonissue’ in Game 6

Rangers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Rangers 6, Hurricanes 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Hurricanes

Central Division

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Darren Helm rips a shot past Ville Husso in the final seconds to send the Avalanche to the Western Conference finals.

Regular-season records:

• Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points

• Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: Can the Blues still win without Jordan Binnington?

Shilton/Wyshynski: Why the Avs are the NHL’s postseason juggernaut

Wyshynski: ‘You never know what to expect:’ Why Cale Makar continues to fluster opponents

Avalanche advance 4-2

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Blues 4, Avalanche 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Avalanche 5, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Avalanche 6, Blues 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Blues 5, Avalanche 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Blues

Pacific Division

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Darnell Nurse and Jesse Puljujarvi score in rapid succession to tie it up for the Oilers against the Flames.

Regular-season records:

• Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points

• Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Shilton: The wild past and furious present of the Battle of Alberta

Shilton: Flames star Matthew Tkachuk sends shout out to young Oilers fan battling brain cancer

Shilton: How Connor McDavid has somehow taken his game to another level

Shilton: ‘This team is in our blood:’ How Oilers, Flames fans bring the action outside the arenas

Wyshynski: Mike Smith is the playoffs’ most fascinating player

Oilers advance, 4-1

Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 9, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Oilers 4, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 4 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Flames

First round

Jump to:
Atlantic: FLA-WSH | TOR-TB
Metro: CAR-BOS | NYR-PIT
Central: COL-NSH | MIN-STL
Pacific: CGY-DAL | EDM-LA

Atlantic Division

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Carter Verhaeghe receives the pass in front of goal and finishes the backhanded shot for the Panthers in overtime.

Regular-season records:

• Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points

• Capitals: 44-26-12, 100 points

Leading scorers:

Claude Giroux’s fun new world with the Panthers

Panthers advance 4-2:

Game 1 (at FLA): Capitals 4, Panthers 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at WSH): Capitals 6, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at WSH): Panthers 3, Capital 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 5 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at WSH): Panthers 4, Capitals 3 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Capitals

play

Tampa Bay’s Nick Paul shows off his stick work to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.

Regular-season records:

• Maple Leafs: 54-21-7, 115 points

• Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points

Leading scorers:

Why the Lightning’s three-peat quest will be so difficult

Lightning advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at TOR): Lightning 5, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 7 (at TOR): Lightning 2, Maple Leafs 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs

Metropolitan Division

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Max Domi grabs his second goal of the game as he zips it in to pad the Hurricanes lead to 3-1 vs. the Bruins.

Regular-season records:

• Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points

• Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at BOS): Bruins 4, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Bruins 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Bruins

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Artemi Panarin’s power-play goal in overtime lifts the Rangers past the Penguins in Game 7.

Regular-season records:

• Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points

• Penguins: 46-25-11, 103 points

Leading scorers:

Rangers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at NYR): Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (3OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 4 | Replay
Game 4 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at PIT): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 7 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Penguins 3 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Penguins

Central Division

play

Nate MacKinnon scores an empty-netter to seal the Avalanche’s four-game sweep of the Predators.

Regular-season records:

• Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points

• Predators: 45-30-7, 97 points

Leading scorers:

Avalanche advance 4-0:

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 7, Predators 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 2, Predators 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 3 (at NSH): Avalanche 7, Predators 3 | Replay
Game 4 (at NSH): Avalanche 5, Predators 3 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Predators

play

Colton Parayko finds the net as the Blues secure a 5-1 win over the Wild and advance to the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Regular-season records:

• Wild: 53-22-7, 113 points

• Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points

Leading scorers:

Blues advance 4-2:

Game 1 (at MIN): Blues 4, Wild 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at MIN): Wild 6, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Wild 5, Blues 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at MIN): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Wild

Pacific Division

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The Scotiabank Saddledome goes wild as Johnny Gaudreau gets the overtime winner to send the Flames to the second round over the Stars.

Regular season records:

• Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points

• Stars: 46-30-6, 98 points

Leading scorers:

How the Flames’ top line continues to ignite their offensive engine

Flames advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 1, Stars 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Stars 2, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at DAL): Flames 4, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 2 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Stars

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Connor McDavid lets out a roar of excitement after he outworks the Kings to score a nice second-chance goal.

Regular season records:

• Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points

• Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at EDM): Kings 4, Oilers 3 | Replay
Game 2 (at EDM): Oilers 6, Kings 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at LA): Oilers 8, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at LA): Kings 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 5 (at EDM): Kings 5, Oilers 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at LA): Oilers 4, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at EDM): Oilers 2, Kings 0 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Kings

Source: www.espn.com