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The final stretch of the Stanley Cup race is here. The NHL regular season closes on Friday, April 18, with the 16 playoff teams ready to begin the fierce battle to reach the Finals, which will be played in mid-June.
The top three teams in each division entered the postseason, along with the two teams ranked next highest in each conference, for a total of 16 teams.
The top division leader faces the worst wild card, and the second-best division leader faces the best wild card. The second-place team in a division faces the third-place team in the opposing division, and vice versa. The playoffs are played in series to win three out of five games.
vs. #StanleyCup
? NHL (@NHL) April 18, 2025
: @StLouisBlues vs @NHLJets Game 1 TOMORROW at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, @Sportsnet and @TVASports!
Read more https://t.co/zAd8cuUO2Fpic.twitter.com/ronWQgKqq4
How will the first round of the playoffs be played?
In the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs will face the Ottawa Senators, the Tampa Bay Lightning will face the Florida Panthers, the Washington Capitals will face the Montreal Canadiens, and the Carolina Hurricanes will face the New Jersey Devils.
In the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Winnipeg Jets will face the St. Louis Blues, the Dallas Stars will face the Colorado Avalanche, the Las Vegas Golden Knights will face the Minnesota Wild, and the Los Angeles Kings will face the Edmonton Oilers.
The Jets and Blues open the first round on Saturday the 19th, followed that same day by the first game of the series between the Stars and the Avalanche. The Stanley Cup Finals will conclude no later than June 23.
Think youll be the one with a perfect bracket?!
? NHL (@NHL) April 17, 2025
now https://t.co/M437jkieUn
The #StanleyCup Playoffs start on April 19 on @NHL_On_TNT, @espn, @Sportsnet and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/OPuK0pWnky
Where to watch the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
ESPN, ABC, and TNT will broadcast the NHL postseason this year. Fans will also be able to stream the games through FUBO TV and any service that includes ESPN, ABC, or TNT.