NHL playoff schedule 2018: Dates, times, matchups
The 2017-18 NHL season is drawing to a close and the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs are finally upon us. Who will your team have to face in the first round?
The insane wild-card race in the NHL’s Western Conference has finally played itself out, and the Colorado Avalanche found themselves on the right side of a 5-2 outcome against the St. Louis Blues in a win-and-you’re-in situation.
The Eastern Conference playoff matchups weren’t finalized until down to the wire thanks to the rescheduled matchup between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers Sunday night.
If the Bruins had gotten a win over the Panthers in any fashion, they would usurp the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Atlantic Division’s No. 1 seed — and the Eastern Conference’s, as well. Alas, the Bruins couldn’t get it done, and Tampa Bay held on to the No. 1 seed in the East.
The No. 1 seed in the West, of course, belongs to the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Nashville Predators, who face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at all the dates for the first round matchups of the 2017-18 postseason.
2018 Stanley Cup playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic 1) vs. New Jersey Devils (WC 2)
Thursday, April 12, 7pm: Devils @ Lightning
Saturday, April 14, 3pm: Devils @ Lightning
Monday, April 16, 7:30pm: Lightning @ Devils
Wednesday, April 18, 7:30pm: Lightning @ Devils
*Saturday, April 21, TBD: Devils @ Lightning
*Monday, April 23, TBD: Lightning @ Devils
*Wednesday, April 25, TBD: Devils @ Lightning
Boston Bruins (Atlantic 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic 3)
Thursday, April 12, 7pm: Maple Leafs @ Bruins
Saturday, April 14, 8pm: Maple Leafs @ Bruins
Monday, April 16, 7pm: Bruins @ Maple Leafs
Thursday, April 19, 7pm: Bruins @ Maple Leafs
*Saturday, April 21, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Bruins
*Monday, April 23, TBD: Bruins @ Maple Leafs
*Wednesday, April 25, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Bruins
Washington Capitals (Metropolitan 1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC 1)
Thursday, April 12, 7:30pm: Blue Jackets @ Capitals
Sunday, April 15, 7:30pm: Blue Jackets @ Capitals
Tuesday, April 17, 7:30pm: Capitals @ Blue Jackets
Thursday, April 19, 7:30pm: Capitals @ Blue Jackets
*Saturday, April 21, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Capitals
*Monday, April 23, TBD: Capitals @ Blue Jackets
*Wednesday, April 25, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins (Metropolitan 2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (Metropolitan 3)
Wednesday, April 11, 7pm: Flyers @ Penguins
Friday, April 13, 7pm: Flyers @ Penguins
Sunday, April 15, 3pm: Penguins @ Flyers
Wednesday, April 18, 7pm: Penguins @ Flyers
*Friday, April 20, TBD: Flyers @ Penguins
*Sunday, April 22, TBD: Penguins @ Flyers
*Tuesday, April 24, TBD: Flyers @ Penguins
Western Conference
Nashville Predators (Central 1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC 2)
Thursday, April 12, 9:30pm: Avalanche @ Predators
Saturday, April 14, 3pm: Avalanche @ Predators
Monday, April 16, 10pm: Predators @ Avalanche
Wednesday, April 18, 10pm Predators @ Avalanche
*Friday, April 20, TBD: Avalanche @ Predators
*Sunday, April 22, TBD: Predators @ Avalanche
*Tuesday, April 24, TBD: Avalanche @ Predators
Winnipeg Jets (Central 2) vs. Minnesota Wild (Central 3)
Wednesday, April 11, 7pm: Wild @ Jets
Friday, April 13, 7:30pm: Wild @ Jets
Sunday, April 15, 7pm: Jets @ Wild
Tuesday, April 17, 8pm: Jets @ Wild
*Friday, April 20, TBD: Wild @ Jets
*Sunday, April 22, TBD: Jets @ Wild
*Wednesday, April 25, TBD: Wild @ Jets
Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific 1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC 1)
Wednesday, April 11, 10pm: Kings @ Golden Knights
Friday, April 13, 10pm: Kings @ Golden Knights
Sunday, April 15, 10:30pm: Golden Knights @ Kings
Tuesday, April 17, 10:30pm: Golden Knights @ Kings
*Thursday, April 19, 10pm: Kings @ Golden Knights
*Saturday, April 21, TBD: Golden Knights @ Kings
*Monday, April 23, TBD: Kings @ Golden Knights
Anaheim Ducks (Pacific 2) vs. San Jose Sharks (Pacific 3)
Thursday, April 12, 10:30pm: Sharks @ Ducks
Saturday, April 14, 10:30pm: Sharks @ Ducks
Monday, April 16, 10:30pm: Ducks @ Sharks
Wednesday, April 18, 10:30pm: Ducks @ Sharks
*Friday, April 20, TBD: Sharks @ Ducks
*Sunday, April 22, TBD: Ducks @ Sharks
*Tuesday, April 24, TBD: Sharks @ Ducks
Next: 10 reasons Stanley Cup Playoffs are better than NBA Playoffs
The first round will get underway on Wednesday, April 11.
For more from the NHL playoffs, make sure to follow FanSided and stay tuned to our NHL hub for all the latest news and results.