2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bracket, Schedule, TV Channel, How to Watch

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Arguably the most thrilling, unpredictable, and difficult postseasons in the wide world of sports are officially underway: the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

You know the drill: eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs, including the top three teams in each division plus two wild card selections. Win sixteen games, and your team hoists the most magnificent trophy in sports.

After weeks of thrilling end-to-end hockey from coast to coast, the Stanley Cup Final matchup is set! It'll be the Vegas Golden Knights making their second-ever Final appearance out of the West (losing to the Capitals their first time around in 2018) taking on the Florida Panthers in the East, who are making their first appearance in the Final since 1996, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a sweep.

Both teams have had equally intriguing roads to get to this point. First off, Florida was arguably the biggest underdog in the entire playoff field as they barely squeaked into the postseason in the first place. They shocked the entire hockey world when they took down what looked to be an unbeatable Boston Bruins team on enemy ice in overtime of Game 7 of the first round. Then, two rounds later, they demolished arguably the second-best regular season team this year, the Carolina Hurricanes, in a sweep.

As for Vegas, their road to Lord Stanley was different yet also very impressive. They coasted over Winnipeg in five games in round one, had a bit of trouble with Edmonton in round two but also took care of them in six games, then finally dominated the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final in six games. The feel of that series was different than the final score might suggest: Vegas was head and shoulders better than their opponent. So, it's all set. Stanley Cup Final, here we come!

With all the drama set to take place in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, here’s everything you need to know:

2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs How to Watch

When: The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Monday, April 17, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The Stanley Cup Final begins June 3, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. EST.

TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT and TBS

Stream: ESPN+

Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket:

(All times EST)

Stanley Cup Final

Florida Panthers vs. Vegas Golden Knights (VGK leads series 1-0)

Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Panthers 2

Game 2: Monday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Game 3: Thursday, June 8 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Game 4: Saturday, June 10 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, June 13 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, June 19 at 8:00 p.m. on TNT

Third Round: Conference Finals

Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights (VGK wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Golden Knights 4, Stars 3 (OT)

Game 2: Golden Knights 3, Stars 2 (OT)

Game 3: Golden Knights 4, Stars 0

Game 4: Stars 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT)

Game 5: Stars 4, Golden Knights 2

Game 6: Golden Knights 6, Stars 0

Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes (FLA wins series 4-0)

Game 1: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2 (4OT)

Game 2: Panthers 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT)

Game 3: Panthers 1, Hurricanes 0

Game 4: Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3

Second Round: Division Finals

Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (FLA wins series 4-1)

Game 1: Panthers 4, Maple Leafs 2

Game 2: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2

Game 3: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)

Game 4: Maple Leafs 2, Panthers 1

Game 5: Panthers 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT)

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils (CAR wins series 4-1)

Game 1: Hurricanes 5, Devils 1

Game 2: Hurricanes 6, Devils 1

Game 3: Devils 8, Hurricanes 4

Game 4: Hurricanes 6, Devils 1

Game 5: Hurricanes 3, Devils 2 (OT)

Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken (DAL wins series 4-3)

Game 1: Kraken 5, Stars 4 (OT)

Game 2: Stars 4, Kraken 2

Game 3: Kraken 7, Stars 2

Game 4: Stars 6, Kraken 3

Game 5: Stars 5, Kraken 2

Game 6: Kraken 6, Stars 3

Game 7: Stars 2, Kraken 1

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers (VGK wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Golden Knights 6, Oilers 4

Game 2: Oilers 5, Golden Knights 1

Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Oilers 1

Game 4: Oilers 4, Golden Knights 1

Game 5: Golden Knights 4, Oilers 3

Game 6: Golden Knights 5, Oilers 2

First Round

Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers (FLA wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Bruins 3, Panthers 1

Game 2: Panthers 6, Bruins 3

Game 3: Bruins 4, Panthers 2

Game 4: Bruins 6, Panthers 2

Game 5: Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (OT)

Game 6: Panthers 7, Bruins 5

Game 7: Panthers 4, Bruins 3 (OT)

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (TOR wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3

Game 2: Maple Leafs 7, Lightning 2

Game 3: Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3 (OT)

Game 4: Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 4 (OT)

Game 5: Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 2

Game 6: Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 1 (OT)

Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders (CAR wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1

Game 2: Hurricanes 4, Islanders 3 (OT)

Game 3: Islanders 5, Hurricanes 1

Game 4: Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2

Game 5: Islanders 3, Hurricanes 2

Game 6: Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 (OT)

New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers (NJ wins series 4-3)

Game 1: Rangers 5, Devils 1

Game 2: Rangers 5, Devils 1

Game 3: Devils 2, Rangers 1 (OT)

Game 4: Devils 3, Rangers 1

Game 5: Devils 4, Rangers 0

Game 6: Rangers 5, Devils 2

Game 7: Devils 4, Rangers 0

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild (DAL wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Wild 3, Stars 2 (2OT)

Game 2: Stars 7, Wild 3

Game 3: Wild 5, Stars 1

Game 4: Stars 3, Wild 2

Game 5: Stars 4, Wild 0

Game 6: Stars 4, Wild 1

Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken (SEA wins series 4-3)

Game 1: Kraken 3, Avalanche 1

Game 2: Avalanche 3, Kraken 2

Game 3: Avalanche 6, Kraken 4

Game 4: Kraken 3, Avalanche 2 (OT)

Game 5: Kraken 3, Avalanche 2

Game 6: Avalanche 4, Kraken 1

Game 7: Kraken 2, Avalanche 1

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets (VGK wins series 4-1)

Game 1: Jets 5, Golden Knights 1

Game 2: Golden Knights 5, Jets 2

Game 3: Golden Knights 5, Jets 4 (2OT)

Game 4: Golden Knights 4, Jets 2

Game 5: Golden Knights 4, Jets 1

Oilers vs. Kings (EDM wins series 4-2)

Game 1: Kings 4, Oilers 3 (OT)

Game 2: Oilers 4, Kings 2

Game 3: Kings 3, Oilers 2 (OT)

Game 4: Oilers 5, Kings 4 (OT)

Game 5: Oilers 6, Kings 3

Game 6: Oilers 5, Kings 4