Sports

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Conference final highlights, schedule

Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Conference final highlights, schedule

The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are here, as 16 teams compete for the most magnificent trophy in sports.

The record-setting

Consensus pick: Bruins (28 of 29 picks)


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2:26

Maple Leafs advance for 1st time in 19 years off Tavares’ OT winner

John Tavares scores in overtime as the Maple Leafs advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Regular-season records:

  • Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points

  • Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

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

Keys to the offseason for the Lightning

Consensus pick: Maple Leafs (22 of 29 picks)


Metro Division

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1:33

Canes eliminate Islanders with OT winner

Paul Stastny nets the game-winner in overtime to move the Hurricanes on to Round 2.

Regular-season records:

  • Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points

  • Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 4, Islanders 3 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at NYI): Islanders 5, Hurricanes 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at NYI): Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Islanders 3, Hurricanes 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at NYI): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Islanders

Consensus pick: Tied (14 of 28 picks for each team)


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0:43

Erik Haula slaps home one-timer to pad the Devils’ lead

Erik Haula puts the Devils up 3-0 in the third period of Game 7.

Regular-season records:

  • Devils: 52-22-8, 112 points

  • Rangers: 47-22-13, 107 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Game 1 (at NJ): Rangers 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at NJ): Rangers 5, Devils 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at NYR): Devils 2, Rangers 1 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at NYR): Devils 3, Rangers 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at NJ): Devils 4, Rangers 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Devils 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at NJ): Devils 4, Rangers 0 | Recap | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Rangers

Consensus pick: Rangers (18 of 29 picks)


Central Division

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2:05

Kraken knock off defending champion Avs to advance

The Kraken become the first expansion franchise to win their first playoff series against a defending champion with a 2-1 win vs. the Avalanche in Game 7.

Regular-season records:

  • Avalanche: 51-24-7, 109 points

  • Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points

Leading scorers:

  • Avalanche: C Nathan MacKinnon, 111 points (42 G, 69 A)

  • Kraken: LW Jared McCann, 70 points (40 G, 30 A)

Schedule:

Game 1 (at COL): Kraken 3, Avalanche 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 3, Kraken 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at SEA): Avalanche 6, Kraken 4 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at SEA): Kraken 3, Avalanche 2 (OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Kraken 3, Avalanche 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at SEA): Avalanche 4, Kraken 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 7 (at COL): Kraken 2, Avalanche 1 | Recap | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Avalanche

Consensus pick: Avalanche (27 of 29 picks)


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1:00

Mason Marchment beats the buzzer to extend Stars lead

Mason Marchment scores a goal on the breakaway with 0.5 seconds remaining in the second period as the Stars lead 3-0.

Regular-season records:

  • Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points

  • Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

Game 1 (at DAL): Wild 3, Stars 2 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at DAL): Stars 7, Wild 3 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at MIN): Wild 5, Stars 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at MIN): Stars 3, Wild 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at DAL): Stars 4, Wild 0 | Recap | Replay
Game 6 (at MIN): Stars 4, Wild 1 | Recap | Replay

Keys to the offseason for the Wild

Consensus pick: Stars (22 of 29 picks)


Pacific Division

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1:38

Golden Knights defeat Jets with ease to advance in Stanley Cup playoffs

The Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Vegas wins series, 4-1

Regular-season records:

Leading scorers:

Results:

Game 1 (at VGK): Jets 5, Golden Knights 1 | Recap | Replay
Game 2 (at VGK): Golden Knights 5, Jets 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 3 (at WPG): Golden Knights 5, Jets 4 (2OT) | Recap | Replay
Game 4 (at WPG): Golden Knights 4, Jets 2 | Recap | Replay
Game 5 (at VGK): Golden Knights 4, Jets 1 | Recap | Replay

Consensus pick: Golden Knights (25 of 29 picks)

Keys to the offseason for the Jets


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0:40

Kostin’s 2nd goal puts the Oilers ahead

Klim Kostin nets his second goal of the game as the Oilers take a 4-3 lead vs. the Kings.

Regular-season records:

  • Oilers: 50-23-9, 109 points

  • Kings: 47-25-10, 104 points

Leading scorers:

Results:

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

Keys to the offseason for the Kings

Consensus pick: Oilers (27 of 29 picks)