NHL Stanley Cup playoffs schedule 2024: Dates, times, TV for first round of bracket

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs get under way on Saturday, starting with the New York Islanders visiting the Carolina Hurricanes.

The other Eastern Conference series are New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Western Conference series are Dallas Stars vs. defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL has released the schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Here are the times and TV information for the eight series. Follow along for scores once the games get underway.

NHL PLAYOFFS: Everything to know about the first-round series

NHL Eastern Conference playoff schedule

All times p.m. ET. x-if necessary

Florida Panthers (Atlantic 1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (wild card 1)

Game 1: April 21, Lightning at Panthers, 12:30, ESPN

Game 2: April 23, Lightning at Panthers, 7:30, ESPN2

Game 3: April 25, Panthers at Lightning, 7 TBS

Game 4: April 27, Panthers at Lightning, 5, TBS

x-Game 5: April 29, Lightning at Panthers, TBD

x-Game 6: May 1, Panthers at Lightning, TBD

x-Game 7: May 4, Lightning at Panthers, TBD

Boston Bruins (Atlantic 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic 3)

Game 1: April 20, Maple Leafs at Bruins, 8, TBS, truTV

Game 2: April 22, Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7, ESPN

Game 3: April 24, Bruins at Maple Leafs, 7, ESPN

Game 4: April 27: Bruins at Maple Leafs, 8, TBS, truTV

x-Game 5: April 30, Maple Leafs at Bruins, TBD

x-Game 6: May 2, Bruins at Maple Leafs, TBD

x-Game 7: May 4, Maple Leafs at Bruins, TBD

New York Rangers (Metropolitan 1) vs. Washington Capitals (wild card 2)

Game 1: April 21, Capitals at Rangers, 3 ESPN

Game 2: April 23, Capitals at Rangers, 7, ESPN

Game 3: April 26, Rangers at Capitals, 7, TNT, truTV

Game 4: April 28, Rangers at Capitals, 8, TBS, truTV

x-Game 5: May 1, Capitals at Rangers, TBD

x-Game 6: May 3, Rangers at Capitals, TBD

x-Game 7: May 5, Capitals at Rangers, TBD

Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan 2) vs. New York Islanders (Metropolitan 3)

Game 1: April 20, Islanders at Hurricanes, 5, TBS, truTV

Game 2: April 22, Islanders at Hurricanes, 7:30, ESPN2

Game 3: April 25, Hurricanes at Islanders, 7:30, ESPN2

Game 4: April 27, Hurricanes at Islanders, 2, TBS, truTV

x-Game 5: April 30, Islanders at Hurricanes, TBD

x-Game 6: May 2, Hurricanes at Islanders, TBD

x-Game 7: May 4, Islanders at Hurricanes, TBD

NHL Western Conference playoff schedule

Dallas Stars (Central 1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (wild card 2)

Game 1: April 22, Golden Knights at Stars, 9:30, ESPN

Game 2: April 24, Golden Knights at Stars, 9:30, ESPN

Game 3: April 27, Stars at Golden Knights, 10:30, TBS, truTV

Game 4: April 29, Stars at Golden Knights, TBD

x-Game 5: May 1, Golden Knights at Stars, TBD

x-Game 6: May 3, Stars at Golden Knights, TBD

x-Game 7: May 5, Golden Knights at Stars, TBD

Winnipeg Jets (Central 2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (Central 3)

Game 1: April 21, Avalanche at Jets, 7, ESPN2

Game 2: April 23, Avalanche at Jets, 9:30, ESPN

Game 3: April 26, Jets at Avalanche, April 26, TNT

Game 4: April 28, Jets at Avalanche, 2:30, TNT, truTV

x-Game 5: April 30, Avalanche at Jets, TBD

x-Game 6: May 2, Jets at Avalanche, TBD

x-Game 7: May 4, Avalanche at Jets, TBD

Vancouver Canucks (Pacific 1) vs. Nashville Predators (wild card 1)

Game 1: April 21, Predators at Canucks, 10, ESPN

Game 2: April 23, Predators at Canucks, 10, ESPN2

Game 3: April 26, Canucks at Predators, 7:30, TBS

Game 4: April 28, Canucks at Predators, 5, TBS, truTV

x-Game 5: April 30, Predators at Canucks, TBD

x-Game 6: May 3, Canucks at Predators, TBD

x-Game 7: May 5, Predators at Canucks, TBD

Edmonton Oilers (Pacific 2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (Pacific 3)

Game 1: April 22, Kings at Oilers, 10, ESPN2

Game 2: April 24, Kings at Oilers, 10, TBS

Game 3: April 26, Oilers at Kings, 10:30, TBS

Game 4: April 28, Oilers at Kings, 10:30, TBS, truTV

Game 5: May 1, Kings at Oilers, TBD

Game 6: May 3, Oilers at Kings, TBD

Game 7: May 5, Kings at Oilers, TBD