There will soon be just eight NHL teams in contention for the Stanley Cup.
The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is nearing its conclusion, with three Eastern Conference series wrapped up.
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The Metropolitan Division’s No. 2-seeded Carolina Hurricanes were the first team to advance to the conference semifinals, taking down the Metro’s No. 3-seeded New Jersey Devils in five games. Sebastian Aho scored a series-clinching goal in double-overtime of Game 5, booking the franchise’s fifth consecutive conference semifinal appearance.
The second team to reach Round 2 also happens to be Carolina’s next opponent: the East’s No. 1-seeded Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin and the Caps made it out of the first round for the first time since their 2018 Stanley Cup title run by eliminating the wild-card Montreal Canadiens in five games.
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The conference semis will also feature the defending champion Florida Panthers. Florida, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, bounced the Tampa Bay Lighting, the Atlantic’s No. 2 seed, in five games in Round 1 for a second straight postseason. The Panthers, who last year won their first Stanley Cup title, are looking to join an exclusive group of repeat winners.
With five second-round berths still to be awarded, what could the other conference semifinal matchups look like? And when will the next round begin? Here’s what we know:
The NHL hasn’t announced a start date for Round 2 yet. For what it’s worth, the last potential Game 7s of the first round are slated for Sunday, May 4.
Just like the NBA playoffs, teams aren’t reseeded after the first round of the NHL postseason. The Stanley Cup Playoffs have a bracket format.
Here’s an updated look at the Round 2 bracket possibilities:
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
This section will be updated as second-round schedule details are released (* = if necessary):
Eastern Conference
Hurricanes vs. Capitals
