The chase for the Stanley Cup is underway.
Sixteen NHL teams secured their spot in the 2024 playoff field. The New York Rangers led the Eastern Conference by earning the Presidents’ Trophy, while the Dallas Stars shined brightest in the West. The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights were also back in the playoff mix, and the reigning runners-up Florida Panthers have some unfinished business.
Watch NBC6 free wherever you are
>Here’s everything to know about the NHL’s first-round schedule:
When did the NHL playoffs start?
Get local news you need to know to start your day with NBC 6's News Headlines newsletter.
>The 2024 playoffs began on Saturday, April 20.
NHL first-round playoff matchups
Here were the first-round matchups in each conference:
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic 1 Florida Panthers vs. Wild Card 1 Tampa Bay Lightning: Panthers won series 4-1
- Atlantic 2 Boston Bruins vs. Atlantic 3 Toronto Maple Leafs: Bruins won series 4-3
- Metropolitan 1 New York Rangers vs. Wild Card 2 Washington Capitals: Rangers won series 4-0
- Metropolitan 2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Metropolitan 3 New York Islanders: Hurricanes won series 4-1
Western Conference
- Central 1 Dallas Stars vs. Wild Card 2 Vegas Golden Knights: Stars won series 4-3
- Central 2 Winnipeg Jets vs. Central 3 Colorado Avalanche: Avalanche won series 4-1
- Pacific 1 Vancouver Canucks vs. Wild Card 1 Nashville Predators: Canucks won series 4-2
- Pacific 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. Pacific 3 Los Angeles Kings: Oilers won series 4-1
NHL first-round playoff schedule
NHL
Here's a look at the first-round results:
Eastern Conference
Panthers vs. Lightning
- Game 1: Panthers 3, Lightning 2
- Game 2: Panthers 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
- Game 3: Panthers 5, Lightning 3
- Game 4: Lightning 6, Panthers 3
- Game 5: Panthers 6, Lightning 1
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs
- Game 1: Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 1
- Game 2: Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2
- Game 3: Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 2
- Game 4: Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 1
- Game 5: Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 1 (OT)
- Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 1
- Game 7: Bruins 2, Maple Leafs 1 (OT)
Rangers vs. Capitals
- Game 1: Rangers 4, Capitals 1
- Game 2: Rangers 4, Capitals 3
- Game 3: Rangers 3, Capitals 1
- Game 4: Rangers 4, Capitals 2
Hurricanes vs. Islanders
- Game 1: Hurricanes 3, Islanders 1
- Game 2: Hurricanes 5, Islanders 3
- Game 3: Hurricanes 3, Islanders 2
- Game 4: Islanders 3, Hurricanes 2 (2OT)
- Game 5: Hurricanes 6, Islanders 3
Western Conference
Stars vs. Golden Knights
- Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Stars 3
- Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Stars 1
- Game 3: Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (2 OT)
- Game 4: Stars 4, Golden Knights 2
- Game 5: Stars 3, Golden Knights 2
- Game 6: Golden Knights 2, Stars 0
- Game 7: Stars 2, Golden Knights 1
Jets vs. Avalanche
- Game 1: Jets 7, Avalanche 6
- Game 2: Avalanche 5, Jets 2
- Game 3: Avalanche 6, Jets 2
- Game 4: Avalanche 5, Jets 1
- Game 5: Avalanche 6, Jets 3
Canucks vs. Predators
- Game 1: Canucks 4, Predators 2
- Game 2: Predators 4, Canucks 1
- Game 3: Canucks 2, Predators 1
- Game 4: Canucks 4, Predators 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Predators 2, Canucks 1
- Game 6: Canucks 1, Predators 0
Oilers vs. Kings
- Game 1: Oilers 7, Kings 4
- Game 2: Kings 5, Oilers 4 (OT)
- Game 3: Oilers 6, Kings 1
- Game 4: Oilers 1, Kings 0
- Game 5: Oilers 4, Kings 3