With the 2021-22 regular season (essentially) over, we now know all eight playoff series matchups between 16 NHL teams. That goes from the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Panthers and West-winning Avalanche all the way down to two wild-card teams per conference.
[NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2022 schedule, TV info]
All eight First Round NHL matchups in 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference
• Atlantic Division bracket
Florida Panthers (ATL 1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC 2)
Down the stretch, the Capitals have been struggling, losing four games in a row and five of six (with Alex Ovechkin also suffering a troubling injury). Meanwhile, the Panthers have been on absolute fire, rarely losing unless they sit basically everyone but the team trainer. Florida looms as the favorites, but Washington has that vaunted “veteran savvy.”
When exams are over but you still need to show up anyway pic.twitter.com/9HwkXCyYKX
— Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) April 30, 2022
We’ll see if someone gets schooled.
FLORIDA PANTHERS v. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Game 1: May 3, 7:30 p.m. ET - Capitals at Panthers (ESPN2, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 2: May 5 7:30 p.m. ET - Capitals at Panthers (TBS, SN360, TVA Sports )
Game 3: May 7, 1 p.m. ET - Panthers at Capitals (ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 9, 7 p.m. ET - Panthers at Capitals (TBS, SN1, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 11, TBD - Capitals at Panthers (TBD)
*Game 6: May 13, TBD - Panthers at Capitals (TBD)
*Game 7: May 15, TBD - Capitals at Panthers (TBD)
Toronto Maple Leafs (ATL 2) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (ATL 3)
With 54 wins and 115 standings points, the Maple Leafs put together the most prolific regular season in franchise history. Their reward is very fitting for the star-crossed Maple Leafs franchise: facing the repeat champion Lightning. On paper, this could be one of the best First Round playoff series in recent NHL history, and hopefully it reaches or exceeds that potential on the ice.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS v. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Game 1: May 2, 7:30 p.m. ET - Lightning at Maple Leafs (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2)
Game 2: May 4, 7:30 p.m. ET - Lightning at Maple Leafs (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2)
Game 3: May 6, 7:30 p.m. ET - Maple Leafs at Lightning (TBS, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 8, 7 p.m. ET - Maple Leafs at Lightning (TBS, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 10, TBD - Lightning at Maple Leafs (TBD)
*Game 6: May 12, TBD - Maple Leafs at Lightning (TBD)
*Game 7: May 14, TBD - Lightning at Maple Leafs (TBD)
• Metropolitan Division bracket
Carolina Hurricanes (MET 1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC 1)
For years, the Hurricanes have been knocking on the door; first it was to make the playoffs, now it’s to put together a deep run. Don’t blame the Hurricanes if they feel like they’ve finally “broken through” if they beat a Bruins team that eliminated them twice in a row (2018-19 and 2019-20), once by a sweep, the other in five games. The Bruins already presented a challenging First Round opponent for the Hurricanes, yet with Carolina’s goalies banged up, there’s a real chance history can repeat itself.
CAROLINA HURRICANES v. BOSTON BRUINS
Game 1: May 2, 7 p.m. ET - Bruins at Hurricanes (ESPN, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 2: May 4, 7 p.m. ET - Bruins at Hurricanes (ESPN, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 3: May 6, 7 p.m. ET - Hurricanes at Bruins (TNT, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 8, 12:30 p.m. ET - Hurricanes at Bruins (ESPN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 10, TBD - Bruins at Hurricanes (TBD)
*Game 6: May 12, TBD - Hurricanes at Bruins (TBD)
*Game 7: May 14, TBD - Bruins at Hurricanes (TBD)
New York Rangers (MET 2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (MET 3)
For a portion of the season, the Rangers’ overall play didn’t quite match their lofty place in the standings, while the Penguins showed sneaky-promise. Lately, the Rangers really started to cook, while the Penguins have been running out of gas. With some injury concerns for both teams, there’s some mystery to the series, but overall the Rangers look like strong favorites.
NEW YORK RANGERS v. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Game 1: May 3, 7 p.m. ET - Penguins at Rangers (ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 2: May 5, 7 p.m. ET - Penguins at Rangers (TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 3: May 7, 7 p.m. ET - Rangers at Penguins (TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 9, 7 p.m. ET - Rangers at Penguins (ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 11, TBD - Penguins at Rangers (TBD)
*Game 6: May 13, TBD - Rangers at Penguins (TBD)
*Game 7: May 15, TBD - Penguins at Rangers (TBD)
* if necessary
TBD - To Be Determined
JIP - Joined In Progress
Western Conference
• Central Division bracket
Colorado Avalanche (CEN 1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC 2)
If possibly being without Juuse Saros didn’t already lower expectations for the Predators as they ace the awe-inspiring Avalanche, Nashville’s stunning regular-season-ending collapse to the Coyotes should do the trick. Hockey’s a strange sport, and the Predators already defied expectations by making the NHL playoff mix in the first place. In a First Round brimming with tough calls, few will pick the Predators over the Avalanche (unless it’s a bit).
COLORADO AVALANCHE v. NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Game 1: May 3, 9:30 p.m. ET - Predators at Avalanche (ESPN, SNE, SN360 [JIP], TVA Sports)
Game 2: May 5, 9:30 p.m. ET - Predators at Avalanche (TNT, SNE, SN360 [JIP], TVA Sports)
Game 3: May 7, 4:30 p.m. ET - Avalanche at Predators (TNT, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 9, 9:30 p.m. ET - Avalanche at Predators (ESPN, SN1, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 11, TBD - Predators at Avalanche (TBD)
*Game 6: May 13, TBD - Avalanche at Predators (TBD)
*Game 7 May 15, TBD - Predators at Avalanche (TBD)
Minnesota Wild (CEN 2) vs. St. Louis Blues (CEN 3)
No doubt about it, the Wild and Blues finished their seasons among the hottest teams in the NHL. For teams often associated with grinding hockey, both teams are lighting up scoreboards more than usual. This one could really go either way, setting the stage for a truly fascinating series.
MINNESOTA WILD v. ST. LOUIS BLUES
Game 1: May 2, 9:30 p.m. ET - Blues at Wild (ESPN, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 2: May 4, 9:30 p.m. ET - Blues at Wild (ESPN, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 3: May 6, 9:30 p.m. ET - Wild at Blues (TNT, SN360, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 8, 4:30 p.m. ET - Wild at Blues (TBS, SN360, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 10, TBD - Blues at Wild (TBD)
*Game 6: May 12, TBD - Wild at Blues (TBD)
*Game 7 May 14, TBD - Blues at Wild (TBD)
[NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2022 schedule, TV info]
• Pacific Division bracket
Calgary Flames (PAC 1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC 1)
At face value, it’s tempting to frame the Flames and Stars as two defense-oriented teams. The gulf between the two is significant, though; consider the Flames’ +85 goal differential compared to the Stars’ -8 mark as just one example. Beyond that defensive acumen, both the Stars and Flames boast top lines with a claim for best line in the NHL, so there’s room for this to get interesting. Consider the Flames the overwhelming favorites over the Stars, however.
CALGARY FLAMES v. DALLAS STARS
Game 1: May 3, 10 p.m. ET - Stars at Flames (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2)
Game 2: May 5, 10 p.m. ET - Stars at Flames (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, TBS)
Game 3: May 7, 9:30 p.m. ET - Flames at Stars (TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 9, 9:30 p.m. ET - Flames at Stars (TBS, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 11, TBD - Stars at Flames (TBD)
*Game 6: May 13, TBD - Flames at Stars (TBD)
*Game 7 May 15, TBD - Stars at Flames (TBD)
Edmonton Oilers (PAC 2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (PAC 3)
As improved as the Oilers’ team play has been under Jay Woodcroft, this series still screams “Kings’ system vs. Oilers’ stars.” There’s a ton of pressure on Connor McDavid and the Oilers to deliver, while the Kings appear ahead of their rebuild schedule. Perhaps that underdog mentality will work for the crafty Kings?
EDMONTON OILERS vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS
Game 1: May 2, 10 p.m. ET - Kings at Oilers (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2)
Game 2: May 4, 10 p.m. ET - Kings at Oilers (Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports, ESPN2)
Game 3: May 6, 10 p.m. ET - Oilers at Kings (TBS, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
Game 4: May 8, 10 p.m. ET - Oilers at Kings (TBS, Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports)
*Game 5: May 10, TBD - Kings at Oilers (TBD)
*Game 6: May 12, TBD - Oilers at Kings (TBD)
*Game 7: May 14, TBD - Kings at Oilers (TBD)
* if necessary
TBD - To Be Determined
JIP - Joined In Progress
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.