NHL Playoffs Central: Schedule, scores, highlights, analysis
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 first 12 games of the playoffs all on ESPN networks, as well as 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: Full playoff schedule
Ranking players that need a Cup
Jump to:
Atlantic: FLA-WSH | TOR-TB
Metro: CAR-BOS | NYR-PIT
Central: COL-NSH | MIN-STL
Pacific: CGY-DAL | EDM-LA
Regular-season records:
Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points
Capitals: 44-26-12, 100 points
Leading scorers:
Panthers: LW Jonathan Huberdeau, 115 points (30 G, 85 A)
Capitals: LW Alex Ovechkin, 90 points (50 G, 40 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at FLA): Tues., May 3, 7:30 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 2 (at FLA): Thurs., May 5, 7:30 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 3 (at WSH): Sat., May 7, 1 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 4 (at WSH): Mon., May 9, 7 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 5 (at FLA): TBA
Game 6 (at WSH): TBA
Game 7 (at FLA): TBA
Regular-season records:
Maple Leafs: 54-21-7, 115 points
Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points
Leading scorers:
Maple Leafs: C Auston Matthews, 106 points (60 G, 46 A)
Lightning: C Steven Stamkos, 106 points (42 G, 64 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at TOR): Mon., May 2, 7:30 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 2 (at TOR): Weds., May 4, 7:30 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 3 (at TB): Fri., May 6, 7:30 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 4 (at TB): Sun., May 8, 7 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 5 (at TOR): TBA
Game 6 (at TB): TBA
Game 7 (at TOR): TBA
Regular-season records:
Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points
Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points
Leading scorers:
Hurricanes: C Sebastian Aho, 81 points (37 G, 44 A)
Bruins: LW Brad Marchand, 80 points (32 G, 48 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at CAR): Mon., May 2, 7 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 2 (at CAR): Weds., May 4, 7 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 3 (at BOS): Fri., May 6, 7 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 4 (at BOS): Sun., May 8, 12:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 5 (at CAR): TBA
Game 6 (at BOS): TBA
Game 7 (at CAR): TBA
Regular-season records:
Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Penguins: 46-25-11, 103 points
Leading scorers:
Rangers: LW Artemi Panarin, 96 points (22 G, 74 A)
Penguins: C Sidney Crosby, 84 points (31 G, 53 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at NYR): Tues., May 3, 7 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 2 (at NYR): Thurs., May 5, 7 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 3 (at PIT): Sat., May 7, 7 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 4 (at PIT): Mon., May 9, 7 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 5 (at NYR): TBA
Game 6 (at PIT): TBA
Game 7 (at NYR): TBA
Regular-season records:
Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points
Predators: 45-30-7, 97 points
Leading scorers:
Avalanche: RW Mikko Rantanen, 92 points (36 G, 56 A)
Predators: D Roman Josi, 95 points (23 G, 72 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at COL): Tues., May 3, 9:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 2 (at COL): Thurs., May 5, 9:30 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 3 (at NSH): Sat., May 7, 4:30 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 4 (at NSH): Mon., May 9, 9:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 5 (at COL): TBA
Game 6 (at NSH): TBA
Game 7 (at COL): TBA
Regular-season records:
Wild: 53-22-7, 113 points
Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points
Leading scorers:
Wild: LW Kirill Kaprizov, 108 points (47 G, 61 A)
Blues: RW Vladimir Tarasenko, 82 points (34 G, 48 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at MIN): Mon., May 2, 9:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 2 (at MIN): Weds., May 4, 9:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview
Game 3 (at STL): Fri., May 6, 9:30 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 4 (at STL): Sun., May 8, 4:30 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 5 (at MIN): TBA
Game 6 (at STL): TBA
Game 7 (at MIN): TBA
Regular season records:
Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points
Stars: 46-30-6, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Flames: LW Johnny Gaudreau, 115 points (40 G, 75 A)
Stars: C Joe Pavelski, 81 points (27 G, 54 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at CGY): Tues., May 3, 10 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 2 (at CGY): Thurs., May 5, 10 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 3 (at DAL): Sat., May 7, 9:30 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 4 (at DAL): Mon., May 9, 9:30 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 5 (at CGY): TBA
Game 6 (at DAL): TBA
Game 7 (at CGY): TBA
Regular season records:
Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points
Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points
Leading scorers:
Oilers: C Connor McDavid, 123 points (44 G, 79 A)
Kings: C Anze Kopitar, 67 points (19 G, 48 A)
Schedule:
Game 1 (at EDM): Mon., May 2, 10 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 2 (at EDM): Weds., May 4, 10 ET (ESPN2) | Preview
Game 3 (at LA): Fri., May 6, 10 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 4 (at LA): Sun., May 8, 10 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 5 (at EDM): TBA
Game 6 (at LA): TBA
Game 7 (at EDM): TBA