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While the 2021 NHL regular season won't officially be over untilthe final horn sounds at the conclusion of Wednesday'safternoon matinee between the Canucks and Flames, the playoffs will already be in full swing. The 2021 playoffs begin Saturday when the Bruins and Capitals hit the ice in Washington, D.C.
Unlikethe 2020 summer bubble, there will be no qualifying round in 2021; that's right, we're down to the usual sweet 16. But, hockey fans, that's the only part of this postseason that's normal. No one will be avoiding touching or maybe they will, every team has its own Justin Britt Jersey superstition the Campbell Bowl (Western Conference champion) or the Prince of Wales Trophy (Eastern Conference champion) this year.
With teams realigned because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the division champions will square off in the final four, with the winners battling it out for the greatest trophy in all of sports: the Stanley Cup.
Who will be left standing at the end is anyone's gue s, which is what makes the NHL's playoffs so mesmerizing and heart-thumping. Below is the full 2021 NHL playoff bracket and schedule, along with updated odds for who will raise Lord Stanley's Cup.
When do the 2021 NHL playoffs start?
The Stanley Cup playoffs were set to begin May 11following a May 8 conclusion to the regular season. The NHL announced May 10 that the Bruins and Capitals would begin their first-round series on Saturday, May 15.
The NHL announced the remainder of the playoff schedule Thursday, with the North Division starting the latest. No. 1 seed Toronto will begin its series againstfellow Original Six squad Montreal on Thursday, May 20. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitland the Oilers will start their best-of-seven set against the Jets one night prior.
2021NHL playoffs bracket
How do the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs work?
The 2021 season is unlike any other, . Unlike previous years, there will not be an Eastern Conference or a Western Conference champion. Instead, there will be four division champions meeting in the semis.
Before teams reach the final four, the playoffs will start with teams battling inside their division. The top-seeded squadin eachdivision will face the No. 4 team in the division; the second-place team will play the No. 3 squad.
The first-round winners will square off in the second round, and then the champions George Fant Jersey of each division will meet in the 2021 Stanley Cup semifinals. Teams will be reseeded by regular-season points totals for the semis; the team with the best regular-season record will play the team with the fourth-best record, and No. 2 will play No. 3. The semifinal winners will then compete for Lord Stanley's Cup in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Each series in 2021 will be a best of seven.
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NHL playoff first-round schedule
(All timesEastern)
East Division
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) New York Islanders
Date Matchup Time (TV channel) Sun., May 16at PittsburghNoon (NBC, SN, TVA Sports)Tue., May 18at Pittsburgh7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, CBC Ezekiel Ansah Jersey , TVA Sports)Thu., May 20at New York7 p.m.(NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports)Sat., May 22at New York3 p.m.(NBC, SN, TVA Sports)*Mon., May 24at PittsburghTBD*Wed., May 26at New YorkTBD*Fri., May 28at PittsburghTBD
(* If nece sary)
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(2) Washington Capitals vs. (3) Boston Bruins
Date Matchup Time (TV channel) Sat., May 15at Washington7:15 p.m. (NBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports, OMNI)Mon., May 17at Washington7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Wed., May 19at Boston6:30 p.m.(NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVA Sports)Fri., May 21at Boston6:30 p.m.(NBCSN, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVA Sports)Sun., May 23at Washington7 p.m. (USA, SN1, TVA Sports)*Tue., May 25at BostonTBD*Thu., May 27at WashingtonTBD
(* If nece sary)
North Division
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Montreal Canadiens
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Thu., May 20at Toronto7:30 p.m. (NHL Network, SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Sat., May 22at Toronto7 p.m. (CNBC, SN, CBC, TVA Sports, OMNI)Mon., May 24at Montreal7 p.m. ET (SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Tue., May 25at MontrealTBD* Bobby Wagner Jersey Thu., May 27at TorontoTBD*Sat., May 29at MontrealTBD*Mon., May 31at TorontoTBD
(* If nece sary)
(2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Wed., May 19at Edmonton9 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Fri., May 21at Edmonton9 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Sun., May 23at Winnipeg7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA Sports)Mon., May 24at WinnipegTBD*Wed., May 26at EdmontonTBD*Fri., May 28at WinnipegTBD*Sun., May 30at EdmontonTBD
(* If nece sary)
Central Division
(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (4) Nashville Predators
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Mon., May 17at Carolina8 p.m. (CNBC, SNE, TVA Sports)Wed., May 19at Carolina8 p.m. (CNBC, FX-CA, TVA Sports)Fri., May 21at Nashville7 p.m.(USA, FXX-CA, TVA Sports)Sun., May 23at Nashville2:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports)*Tue., May 25at CarolinaTBD*Thu., May 27at NashvilleTBD*Sat., May 29at CarolinaTBD
(* If nece sary)
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(2) Florida Panthers vs. (3) Tampa Bay Lightning
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Sun., May 16at Florida7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports)Tue., May 18at Florida8 p.m. (CNBC, SNE, TVA Sports)Thu., May 20at Tampa Bay6:30 p.m.(USA, FX-CA, TVA Sports)Sat., May 22at Tampa Bay12:30 p.m.(CNBC, SN, TVA Sports Seattle Seahawks Jersey )*Mon., May 24at FloridaTBD*Wed., May 26at Tampa BayTBD*Fri., May 28at FloridaTBD
(* If nece sary)
West Division
(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) St. Louis Blues
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Mon., May 17at Colorado10 p.m. (NBCSN, SN1, TVA Sports)Wed., May 19at Colorado10:30 p.m. (CNBC, SN360, TVA Sports)Fri., May 21at St. Louis9:30 p.m.(USA, SN360, TVA Marquise Blair Jersey Sports)Sun., May 23at St. Louis5 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports)*Tue., May 25at ColoradoTBD*Thu., May 27at St. LouisTBD*Sat., May 29at ColoradoTBD
(* If nece sary)
(2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Minnesota Wild
DateMatchupTime (TV channel)Sun., May 16at Vegas3 p.m. (NBC, SN, TVA Sports)Tue., May 18at Vegas10 p.m. (NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports)Thu., May 20at Minnesota9:30 p.m.(NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports)Sat., May 22at Minnesota8 p.m.(NBC, SN360, TVA Sports)*Mon., May 24at VegasTBD*Wed., May 26at MinnesotaTBD*Fri., May 28at VegasTBD
(* If nece sary)
Updated oddsto win the 2021 Stanley CupTeamOdds*Colorado Avalanche+450Vegas Golden Knights+550Toronto Maple Leafs+650Tampa Bay Lightning+750Carolina Hurricanes+850Boston Bruins+1300Pittsburgh Penguins+1300Washington Capitals+1300Florida Panthers+1500New York Islanders+1600Edmonton Oilers+2200Minnesota Wild+2500Winnipeg Jets+2800Montreal Canadiens+3000Nashville Predators+4100St. Louis Blues+4
