<
>

2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Bracket, schedule, scores, highlights, analysis

The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs represented a return to normalcy, after a bubble-encased postseason in 2020 and a 2021 tournament that featured realigned intradivisional play, followed by a rebracketing for the final two rounds. Sixteen teams started and only the Colorado Avalanche were left standing at the end, skating the Stanley Cup around the ice after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. It was the first Cup title for the Avalanche since 2000-2001.

Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Cup final.

More: Playoff schedule
Under-the-radar playoff stars
How officials handle the pressure of playoffs
Ranking the top 50 players in the playoffs

Stanley Cup Final

Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Leading playoff scorers:

How Nathan MacKinnon molded the Avalanche into Stanley Cup champions

Avalanche win first Stanley Cup since 2001 with comeback victory in Game 6

Avs open as favorites to win 2023 Stanley Cup

Keys to the offseason for Avs and Lightning (ESPN+)

Video: Cooper -- "I think I'll remember this team the most"

Avalanche win, 4-2

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 7, Lightning 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 6, Avalanche 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Lightning 3, Avalanche 2 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Avalanche 2, Lightning 1 | Replay

Conference finals

Jump to:
East: NYR-TB
West: COL-EDM

Eastern Conference

New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: 'A unique, special talent:' How Nikita Kucherov became one of the NHL's best

Wyshynski: 'It's the way I've always played:' Jacob Trouba isn't looking to be a villain

Wyshynski: Takeaways after two games: What we've seen and what's ahead

Wyshynski: Shesterkin vs. Vasilevskiy: Inside the playoffs' ultimate goalie showdown

Wyshynski: Full series preview

Lightning advance, 4-2

Game 1 (at NYR): Rangers 6, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 3, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 4, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Lightning 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 2, Rangers 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Rangers


Western Conference

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers

Leading playoff scorers:

Shilton: Why the Cup Final-bound Avalanche must be seen to be believed

Shilton: Top takeaways after the first two games -- and what it all means for the series

Shilton: "Family comes first..." or does it? Josh Manson faces his father, an Oilers assistant

Shilton: Full series preview

Avalanche advance, 4-0

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 8, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Avalanche 4, Oilers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Avalanche 6, Oilers 5 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Oilers

Second round

Jump to:
FLA-TB
CAR-NYR
COL-STL
CGY-EDM

Atlantic Division

No. 1 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

Regular-season records:

  • Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points

  • Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: Where does Panthers-Lightning fit in rankings of NHL rivalries?

Lightning advance, 4-0

Game 1 (at FLA): Lightning 4, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Lightning 2, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 5, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 2, Panthers 0 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Panthers


Metropolitan Division

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 2 New York Rangers

Regular-season records:

  • Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points

  • Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: How the Rangers' 'Kid Line' has sparked New York's offense

Wyshynski: The ex-Rangers fueling the Hurricanes this postseason

Wyshynski: Will some 'added nastiness' bring out the best of the Rangers?

Wyshynski: Hurricanes swear road woes are 'nonissue' in Game 6

Rangers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Rangers 6, Hurricanes 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Hurricanes


Central Division

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 St. Louis Blues

Regular-season records:

  • Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points

  • Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Wyshynski: Can the Blues still win without Jordan Binnington?

Shilton/Wyshynski: Why the Avs are the NHL's postseason juggernaut

Wyshynski: 'You never know what to expect:' Why Cale Makar continues to fluster opponents

Avalanche advance 4-2

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Blues 4, Avalanche 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Avalanche 5, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Avalanche 6, Blues 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Blues 5, Avalanche 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Blues


Pacific Division

No. 1 Calgary Flames vs. No. 2 Edmonton Oilers

Regular-season records:

  • Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points

  • Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points

Leading playoff scorers:

Shilton: The wild past and furious present of the Battle of Alberta

Shilton: Flames star Matthew Tkachuk sends shout out to young Oilers fan battling brain cancer

Shilton: How Connor McDavid has somehow taken his game to another level

Shilton: 'This team is in our blood:' How Oilers, Flames fans bring the action outside the arenas

Wyshynski: Mike Smith is the playoffs' most fascinating player

Oilers advance, 4-1

Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 9, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Oilers 4, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 4 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Flames


First round

Jump to:
Atlantic: FLA-WSH | TOR-TB
Metro: CAR-BOS | NYR-PIT
Central: COL-NSH | MIN-STL
Pacific: CGY-DAL | EDM-LA

Atlantic Division

No. 1 Florida Panthers vs. No. 4 Washington Capitals

Regular-season records:

  • Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points

  • Capitals: 44-26-12, 100 points

Leading scorers:

Claude Giroux's fun new world with the Panthers

Panthers advance 4-2:

Game 1 (at FLA): Capitals 4, Panthers 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at WSH): Capitals 6, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at WSH): Panthers 3, Capital 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 5 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at WSH): Panthers 4, Capitals 3 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Capitals


No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

Regular-season records:

  • Maple Leafs: 54-21-7, 115 points

  • Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points

Leading scorers:

Why the Lightning's three-peat quest will be so difficult

Lightning advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at TOR): Lightning 5, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 7 (at TOR): Lightning 2, Maple Leafs 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs


Metropolitan Division

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins

Regular-season records:

  • Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points

  • Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Hurricanes advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at BOS): Bruins 4, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Bruins 2 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Bruins


No. 2 New York Rangers vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular-season records:

  • Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points

  • Penguins: 46-25-11, 103 points

Leading scorers:

Rangers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at NYR): Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (3OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 4 | Replay
Game 4 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at PIT): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 7 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Penguins 3 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Penguins


Central Division

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators

Regular-season records:

  • Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points

  • Predators: 45-30-7, 97 points

Leading scorers:

Avalanche advance 4-0:

Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 7, Predators 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 2, Predators 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 3 (at NSH): Avalanche 7, Predators 3 | Replay
Game 4 (at NSH): Avalanche 5, Predators 3 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Predators


No. 2 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 3 St. Louis Blues

Regular-season records:

  • Wild: 53-22-7, 113 points

  • Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points

Leading scorers:

Blues advance 4-2:

Game 1 (at MIN): Blues 4, Wild 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at MIN): Wild 6, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Wild 5, Blues 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at MIN): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 1 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Wild


Pacific Division

No. 1 Calgary Flames vs. No. 4 Dallas Stars

Regular season records:

  • Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points

  • Stars: 46-30-6, 98 points

Leading scorers:

How the Flames' top line continues to ignite their offensive engine

Flames advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 1, Stars 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Stars 2, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at DAL): Flames 4, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 2 (OT) | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Stars


No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Kings

Regular season records:

  • Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points

  • Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points

Leading scorers:

Oilers advance 4-3:

Game 1 (at EDM): Kings 4, Oilers 3 | Replay
Game 2 (at EDM): Oilers 6, Kings 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at LA): Oilers 8, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at LA): Kings 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 5 (at EDM): Kings 5, Oilers 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at LA): Oilers 4, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at EDM): Oilers 2, Kings 0 | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Kings