2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Central

1:10 AM ET

ESPN staff

The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs represent 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 have qualified for a shot, but only one will get to skate the sacred chalice this June.

From the first round all the way through the Stanley Cup Final, ESPN has you covered, including the first 12 games of the playoffs all on ESPN networks, as well as the entire Cup finals on ABC and ESPN+.

Plus, tune in to The Point every weekday afternoon throughout the playoffs for analysis, storytelling and previews of that night’s action. And if you miss anything, watch full-game replays on demand on ESPN+, along with highlights from every game on In The Crease.

Read on for the full playoff picture, including previews, analysis, highlights, schedule and more for each team and series.

More: Playoff schedule
How officials handle the pressure of playoffs
Previews for all 16 teams | Best bets
Experts’ picks | Wyshynski’s full bracket
Ranking the top 50 players in the playoffs
Lapsed fan’s guide to the playoffs
Ranking players that need a Cup

Games on Thursday, May 12

Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins: BOS 5, CAR 2 (series tied 3-3)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning: TB 4, TOR 3 (OT) (series tied 3-3)
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues: STL 5, MIN 1 (Blues win 4-2)
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings: EDM 4, LA 2 (series tied 3-3)

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

Carter Verhaeghe notches his fifth goal of the series and second goal of the game to give the Panthers an early lead in the third period.

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

Schedule:

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): Fri., May 13, 7:30 ET (TBS) | Preview
Game 7 (at FLA): TBA

Nikita Kucherov scores a power-play goal for the Lightning as they tie the game at 3-3.

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

Schedule:

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): Sat., May 14, 7 ET (TNT) | Preview

Metropolitan Division

Derek Forbort tallies the score to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead as Antti Raanta loses his stick on the play.

Regular-season records:

Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points
Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

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): Sat., May 14, 4:30 ET (ESPN) | Preview

Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere and Jacob Trouba score three unanswered goals for the Rangers in the second period.

Regular-season records:

Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Penguins: 46-25-11, 103 points

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

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): Fri., May 13, 7 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 7 (at NYR): TBA

Central Division

Valeri Nichushkin’s one-timer in the third period gives the Avalanche a 4-3 lead over the Predators.

Regular-season records:

Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points
Predators: 45-30-7, 97 points

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

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

Colton Parayko finds the net as the Blues secure a 5-1 win over the Wild and advance to the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Regular-season records:

Wild: 53-22-7, 113 points
Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points

Leading scorers:

Schedule:

Keys to the offseason for the Wild

Pacific Division

Andrew Mangiapane finds Mikael Backlund in front of goal with a perfect pass as the Flames tie it up against the 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

Schedule:

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): Fri., May 13, 9:30 ET (TNT) | Preview
Game 7 (at CGY): TBA