The NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2025 postseason. The road to the Stanley Cup is long and grueling, but it all begins with Round 1. In this article, we'll break down the teams, bracket, schedule, and more for the first round of the 2025 NHL playoffs.
Teams and Bracket
A total of 16 teams will compete in the 2025 NHL playoffs, with eight teams from the Eastern Conference and eight teams from the Western Conference. The teams are seeded 1-8 in each conference based on their regular-season performance. The playoff bracket is as follows:
Eastern Conference:
+ (1) Boston Bruins vs. (8) Columbus Blue Jackets
+ (2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (7) New York Islanders
+ (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers
+ (4) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference:
+ (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (8) Nashville Predators
+ (2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (7) Minnesota Wild
+ (3) St. Louis Blues vs. (6) Calgary Flames
+ (4) Dallas Stars vs. (5) Arizona Coyotes
Schedule
The 2025 NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 10, 2025, and will run through June 2025. The schedule for Round 1 is as follows:
Game 1: April 10-12, 2025
Game 2: April 12-14, 2025
Game 3: April 14-16, 2025
Game 4: April 16-18, 2025
Game 5: April 18-20, 2025 (if necessary)
Game 6: April 20-22, 2025 (if necessary)
Game 7: April 22-24, 2025 (if necessary)
TV and Streaming Information
The 2025 NHL playoffs will be broadcast on NBC, NBCSN, and NHL Network in the United States. Fans can also stream games live on the NBC Sports app and NHL.TV. In Canada, games will be broadcast on Sportsnet and CBC.
What to Expect
The 2025 NHL playoffs promise to be an exciting and unpredictable ride. With several top teams competing, including the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, the competition is expected to be fierce. The Boston Bruins, led by captain Patrice Bergeron, are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs, while the Colorado Avalanche are hoping to bring the Stanley Cup back to the Mile High City.
The first round of the playoffs is often the most exciting, with several series expected to go the full seven games. The Toronto Maple Leafs, led by star forward Auston Matthews, will face off against the Philadelphia Flyers in what promises to be a thrilling series. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights will look to continue their postseason magic against the Minnesota Wild.
The 2025 NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the postseason. With a talented field of teams competing, the first round is sure to be exciting. Be sure to tune in to NBC, NBCSN, and NHL Network to catch all the action, and follow along with the latest news and updates on NHL.com. The road to the Stanley Cup begins now โ who will be the last team standing?
Note: The information in this article is based on the current NHL season and playoffs format. The actual teams, bracket, and schedule may vary depending on the final standings and playoff seeding.
