NHL Playoffs First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where to Watch

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Saturday as the dates and times for every first-round series were announced.

The schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is here.

The NHL announced the dates for each first-round matchup after the final games of the regular season on April 18.

Here's more on each series, including network coverage. Times are listed in eastern time (ET) and are subject to change. Click on each team name to head over to its respective site at The Hockey News.

The Hurricanes finished three points short of the Presidents' Trophy, but they have home ice as the No. 2 Metropolitan seed against the No. 3 Islanders. It's a rematch of last year's first-round matchup when Carolina eliminated the Isles in six games. They split the season series 2-2, with each squad getting one win in overtime.

Game 1: NY Islanders at Carolina, Saturday, April 20, 5 p.m. at PNC Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNW, SNP, SN360, TVAS)

Game 2: NY Islanders at Carolina, Monday, April 22, 7:30 p.m. at PNC Arena (ESPN2, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Carolina at NY Islanders, Thursday, April 25, 7:30 p.m. at UBS Arena (ESPN2, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Carolina at NY Islanders, Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m. ET at UBS Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 5: NY Islanders at Carolina, Tuesday, April 30, time 7:30 p.m. at PNC Arena (TBS, MAX, SN360, TVA Sports)

Carolina Hurricanes win series 4-1

These foes have faced off in the playoffs three times in the last 11 years, with the Bruins advancing each time. The Bruins swept the season series 4-0, and they have home-ice advantage being in the Atlantic Division's second seed compared to Toronto's No. 3 seed.

Game 1: Toronto at Boston, Saturday, April 20, 8 p.m. at TD Garden (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 2: Toronto at Boston, Monday, April 22, 7 p.m. at TD Garden (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 3: Boston at Toronto, Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena (SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN)

Game 4: Boston at Toronto, Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena (SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, truTV, MAX

Game 5: Toronto at Boston, Tuesday, April 30, 7 p.m. at TD Garden (ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVA Sports)

Game 6: Boston at Toronto, Thursday, May 2, 8 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena (CBC, TVAS, TBS, MAX)

If necessary:

Game 7: Toronto at Boston, Saturday, May 4, 8 p.m. at TD Garden (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

The Panthers clinched the top seed in the Atlantic Division on April 16, setting up a highly anticipated series with their in-state rival, the Lightning. Tampa Bay sits in the first wild-card spot, but the Panthers won the season series 2-1.

Game 1: Tampa Bay at Florida, Sunday, April 21, 12:30 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena (ESPN, SN, TVAS)

Game 2: Tampa Bay at Florida, Tuesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena (ESPN2, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Florida at Tampa Bay, Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m. at Amalie Arena (TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 4: Florida at Tampa Bay, Saturday, April 27, 5 p.m. at Amalie Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNW, SNP, TVAS)

Game 5: Tampa Bay at Florida, Monday, April 29, 7 p.m. at Amerant Bank Arena (ESPN, SN, TVAS)

Florida Panthers win series 4-1

The Rangers clinched their fourth Presidents' Trophy in franchise history as the NHL's top regular-season team. They face the Washington Capitals, which came back from a seven-point deficit in early March to clinch the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot in their final game. Both squads tied their season series 2-2.

Game 1: Washington at NY Rangers, Sunday, April 21, 3 p.m. at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, SN, TVAS)

Game 2: Washington at NY Rangers, Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden (ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS)

Game 3: NY Rangers at Washington, Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena (TNT, truTV, MAX, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: NY Rangers at Washington, Sunday, April 28, 8 p.m. at Capital One Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS)

New York Rangers win series 4-0

In a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference final, Dallas looks to avenge its loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champions as they meet in the first round this time. The Golden Knights swept the season series 3-0, with one game decided in overtime and another in a shootout.

Game 1: Vegas at Dallas, Monday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center (ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS)

Game 2: Vegas at Dallas, Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center (ESPN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 3: Dallas at Vegas, Saturday, April 27, 10:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 4: Dallas at Vegas, Monday, April 29, 9:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN, SN, TVAS)

Game 5: Vegas at Dallas, Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center (ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS)

Game 6: Dallas at Vegas, Friday, May 3, 10 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena (TNT, MAX, SN, SN360, TVAS)

Game 7: Vegas at Dallas, Sunday, May 5, 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)

This is the first time the Jets and Avalanche face off against each other in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Winnipeg won all three games against Colorado this season, and they enter the post-season on an eight-game winning streak while the Avalanche are 4-4-2 in their last 10.

Game 1: Colorado at Winnipeg, Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m. at Canada Life Centre (SN, TVAS, ESPN2)

Game 2: Colorado at Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 23, 9:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre (CBC, TVAS, ESPN)

Game 3: Winnipeg at Colorado, Friday, April 26, 10 p.m. at Ball Arena (TNT, truTV, MAX, CBC, TVAS)

Game 4: Winnipeg at Colorado, Sunday, April 28, 2:30 p.m. at Ball Arena (TNT, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 5: Colorado at Winnipeg, Tuesday, April 30, time 9:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre (SNW, CBC, TVAS, ESPN)

Colorado Avalanche win series 4-1

After both teams missed the playoffs last season, they're back, with the Canucks finishing third in the Western Conference and the Predators finishing one point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for the first wild-card seed. Vancouver swept the series 3-0, all in regulation.

Game 1: Nashville at Vancouver, Sunday, April 21, 10 p.m. at Rogers Arena (SN, SN360, TVAS, ESPN)

Game 2: Nashville at Vancouver, Tuesday, April 23, 10 p.m. at Rogers Arena (SN, TVAS, ESPN2)

Game 3: Vancouver at Nashville, Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena (TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville, Sunday, April 28, 5 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 5: Nashville at Vancouver, Tuesday, April 30, 10 p.m. at Rogers Arena (SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, TBS, MAX

Game 6: Vancouver at Nashville, Friday, May 3, 7 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena (TNT, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Vancouver Canucks win series 4-2

For the third straight post-season, the Oilers and Kings battle it out in the first round. Edmonton took the last two series, the first in seven games and the second in six games. The Oilers won this year's season series 3-1, with one game ending in a shootout.

Game 1: Los Angeles at Edmonton, Monday, April 22, 10 p.m. at Rogers Place (SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2)

Game 2: Los Angeles at Edmonton, Wednesday, April 24, 10 p.m. at Rogers Place (SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, MAX)

Game 3: Edmonton at Los Angeles, Friday, April 26, 10:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena (TBS, MAX, SN, TVAS)

Game 4: Edmonton at Los Angeles, Sunday, April 28, 10:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena (TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, SN1, TVAS)

Game 5: Los Angeles at Edmonton, Wednesday, May 1, 10 p.m. ET at Rogers Place (ESPN, SN, SN1, CBC, TVAS)

Edmonton Oilers win series 4-1

Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here.