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NHL Playoff Bracket 2023 | Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule & Format

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2023

The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs start Monday, April 17.

The defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche, reached the NHL postseason but now will have to conquer not only their Western Conference foes but the Boston Bruins, who set an NHL record with a ludicrous total of 65 wins.

Read about the hockey postseason structure, and download our printable PDF bracket for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

NHL Playoff Bracket 2023 Printable

Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket 2023 Finals

Download our Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket PDF.

How Do the Stanley Cup Playoffs Work?

This was the most difficult playoff to qualify for in NHL history, with only 16 of the 32 teams (50 percent) qualifying for the annual postseason tournament. As many as 76.2 percent qualified — 16 of the 21-team league — as recently as 1990.

The postseason consisted of four best-of-seven rounds, with the Cup champion needing to win 16 games to lift the trophy. Eight teams from each conference qualify — three from each division plus a pair of wild cards in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

See which teams I listed as the best bets to win the Stanley Cup.

Eastern Conference NHL Playoffs

Round 1

ATLANTIC DIVISION

  • A1 Boston Bruins vs WC2 Florida Panthers
  • A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs A3 Tampa Bay Lightning

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

  • M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs WC1 New York Islanders
  • M2 New Jersey Devils vs M3 New York Rangers

Round 2

ATLANTIC DIVISION

  • A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs WC2 Florida Panthers

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

  • M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs M2 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference NHL Playoffs

Round 1

CENTRAL DIVISION

  • C1 Colorado Avalanche vs WC1 Seattle Kraken
  • C2 Dallas Stars vs C3 Minnesota Wild

PACIFIC DIVISION

  • P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs WC2 Winnipeg Jets
  • P2 Edmonton Oilers vs P3 Los Angeles Kings

Round 2

CENTRAL DIVISION

  • C2 Dallas Stars vs WC1 Seattle Kraken

PACIFIC DIVISION

  • P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs P2 Edmonton Oilers

NHL Playoffs Conference Finals

EASTERN CONFERENCE

  • M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs WC2 Florida Panthers

WESTERN CONFERENCE

  • P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs C2 Dallas Stars

NHL Playoffs: Stanley Cup Final

  • Vegas Golden Knights vs Florida Panthers

Follow our full Stanley Cup Final best bets coverage.


How to Bet on the NHL Playoffs

The playoffs are among the most exciting events to bet on the North American sports calendar. Betting on the postseason is as easy as placing a Futures bet at the moment, but more props and picks — including taking odds and bets on whether any bubble teams will miss the postseason — are available to wager at most online sportsbooks.

NHL Playoff Promotions

There will undoubtedly be boosts and prop promos come playoff time — aside from the aforementioned wagers we mentioned above. Be on the lookout for those in the coming days.

Author

Pat Pickens

Pat Pickens is a seasoned sportswriter who has covered pro sports since 2013 for various websites, including The New York Times, NHL.com, Bleacher Report, Sportsnet.ca, USA Today, the Associated Press and many others. His debut book, titled "The Whalers" about the history of the NHL's Hartford Whalers, was released in October 2021.

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