The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are poised to be legendary. Parity was the name of the game in the 2024-25 season with both the east and west boasting stellar teams up and down the standings. This is not a season where there’s a single, clear-cut favorite in each conference, but rather four or even five teams on each side of the bracket that you can believe has what it takes to go all the way.
Unquestionably the most fascinating series in the first round comes out of the west with the Dallas Stars facing the Colorado Avalanche. It’s a matchup rich in top-flight individual performances, but also high in emotion as Mikko Rantanen faces his former team. Meanwhile in the east there will be a ton of focus on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, but also the three Canadian teams who made the playoffs with Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal all trying to move on.
The Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes have the best Stanley Cup title odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as the puck drops on the postseason tournament. The Hurricanes are favorites just ahead of the Florida Panthers to come out of the Eastern Conference. The Avalanche are favorites just ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights to come out of the Western Conference.
Here are the schedules, TV information, scores, and more for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. All times listed are Eastern. (*) means if necessary.
Eastern Conference
First round
Ottawa Senators (WC2, 97 points) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (1A, 108 points)
Game 1: Maple Leafs 6, Senators 2 (TOR leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (TOR leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Maple Leafs 3, Senators 2 (TOR leads series 3-0)
Game 4: Maple Leafs at Senators, Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m.
Game 5: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday, April 29, TBD *
Game 6: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday, May 1, TBD *
Game 7: Senators at Maple Leafs, Saturday, May 3, TBD *
Series favorite: Maple Leafs -182
Post- Game 1 series favorite: Maple Leafs -450
Post- Game 2 series favorite: Maple Leafs -710
Post- Game 3 series favorite: Maple Leafs -3500
Total games: 5.5 — Over -170, Under +138
Post- Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -138, Under +108
Post- Game 2 total games: 5.5 — Over +110, Under -134
Florida Panthers (3A, 98 points) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2A, 102 points)
Game 1: Panthers 6, Lightning 2 (FLA leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Panthers 2, Lightning 0 (FLA leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Lightning 5, Panthers 1 (FLA leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Lightning at Panthers, Monday, April 28, TBD
Game 5: Panthers at Lightning, Wednesday, April 30, TBD *
Game 6: Lightning at Panthers, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Panthers at Lightning, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
Series favorite: Panthers -118
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Panthers -230
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Panthers -650
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Panthers -285
Total games: 5.5 — Over -188, Under +152
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -188, Under +152
Post-Game 2 total games: 5.5 — Over +106, Under -136
Post-Game 3 total games: 6.5 — Over +160, Under -200
Montreal Canadiens (WC2, 91 points) vs. Washington Capitals (1M, 111 points)
Game 1: Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT) (WSH leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Capitals 3, Canadiens 1 (WSH leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Canadiens 6, Capitals 3 (WSH leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Capitals at Canadiens, Sunday, April 27, 6:30 p.m.
Game 5: Canadiens at Capitals, Wednesday, April 30, TBD *
Game 6: Capitals at Canadiens, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Canadiens/at Capitals, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
Series favorite: Capitals -275
Post Game 1 series favorite: Capitals -650
Post Game 2 series favorite: Capitals -1300
Post Game 3 series favorite: Capitals -450
Total games: 5.5 — Over -148, Under +120
Post Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -113, Under -113
Post Game 2 total games: 5.5 — Over +152, Under -188
Post Game 3 total games: 5.5 — Over -225, Under +180
New Jersey Devils (3M, 91 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (2M, 99 points)
Game 1: Hurricanes 4, Devils 1 (CAR leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Hurricanes 3, Devils 1 (CAR leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT) (CAR leads sereis 2-1)
Game 4: Hurricanes at Devils, Sunday, April 27, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday, April 29, TBD *
Game 6: Hurricanes at Devils, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
Series favorite: Hurricanes -280
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Hurricanes -950
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Hurricanes -3000
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Hurricanes -950
Total games: : 5.5 — Over -152, Under +124
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over +118, Under -144
Post-Game 2 total games: 4.5 — Over -164, Under +128
Post-Game 3 total games: 5.5 — Over -162, Under +126
Western Conference
First round
St. Louis Blues (WC2, 96 points) vs. Winnipeg Jets (1C, 116 points)
Game 1: Jets 5, Blues 3 (WPG leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Jets 2, Blues 1 (WPG leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Blues 7, Jets 2 (WPG leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Jets at Blues, Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m.
Game 5: Blues at Jets, Wednesday, April 30, TBD *
Game 6: Jets at Blues, Friday, May 2, TBD *
Game 7: Blues at Jets, Sunday, May 4, TBD *
Series favorite: Jets -225
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Jets -530
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Jets -1450
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Jets -410
Total games: 5.5 — Over -152, Under +124
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -115, Under -105
Post-Game 2 total games: 4.5 — Over -210, Under +168
Post-Game 3 total games: 6.5 — Over +180, Under -225
Colorado Avalanche (3C, 102 points) vs. Dallas Stars (2C, 106 points)
Game 1: Avalanche 5, Stars 1 (COL leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT) (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Stars 2 Avalanche 1 (DAL leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Stars at Avalanche, Saturday, April 26, 9:30 p.m.
Game 5: Avalanche at Stars, Monday, April 28, TBD *
Game 6: Stars at Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, TBD *
Game 7: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday, May 3, TBD*
Series favorite: Avalanche -152
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Avalanche -430
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Avalanche -176
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Stars -165
Total games: 5.5 — Over -188, Under +152
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -106, Under -114
Post-Game 2 total games: 6.5 — Over +156, Under -194
Post-Game 3 total games: 6.5 — Over +116, Under -148
Minnesota Wild (WC1, 97 points) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1P, 110 points)
Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Wild 2 (VGK leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Wild 5, Golden Knights 2 (MIN leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Wild 3 (OT) (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday, April 29, TBD *
Game 6: Golden Knights at Wild, Thursday, May 1, TBD *
Game 7: Wild at Golden Knights, Saturday, May 3, TBD *
Series favorite: Golden Knights -235
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Golden Knights -600
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Golden Knights -210
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Each team -110
Post-Game 4 series favorite: Golden Knights -195
Total games: 5.5 — Over -158, Under +128
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -108, Under -112
Post-Game 2 total games: 6.5 — Over +154, Under -200
Post-Game 3 total games: 6.5 — Over +114, Under -140
Post-Game 4 total games: 6.5 — Over -115, Under -111
Edmonton Oilers (3P, 101 points) vs. Los Angeles Kings (2P, 105 points)
Game 1: Kings 6, Oilers 5 (LA leads series 1-0)
Game 2: Kings 6, Oilers 2 (LA leads series 2-0)
Game 3: Oilers 7, Kings 4 (LA leads series 2-1)
Game 4: Kings at Oilers, Sunday, April 27, 9:30 p.m.
Game 5: Oilers at Kings, Tuesday, April 29, TBD *
Game 6: Kings at Oilers, Thursday, May 1, TBD *
Game 7: Oilers at Kings, Saturday, May 3, TBD *
Series favorite: Oilers -132
Post-Game 1 series favorite: Kings -230
Post-Game 2 series favorite: Kings -465
Post-Game 3 series favorite: Kings -205
Total games: 5.5 — Over -180, Under +146
Post-Game 1 total games: 5.5 — Over -194, Under +150
Post-Game 2 total games: 5.5 — Over -118, Under -104
Post-Game 3 total games: 6.5 — Over +130, Under -160