NHL playoffs schedule 2022: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels for every series

The time has finally come. The 2022 NHL playoffs are ready to get started, 

Sixteen teams will compete for the Stanley Cup, eight in the Eastern Conference and eight in the Western Conference. The field slowly will dwindle from 16 to eight to four and then finally two. 

The Lightning are the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, having defeated the Stars in 2020 and the Canadiens in 2021. Tampa Bay is one of the 16 teams eyeing that trophy in 2022. 

There are some exciting matchups in the first round, including the Bruins and Hurricanes, who will start their series Monday night. 

Here is all the TV and schedule info you need for the first round of the 2022 NHL playoffs: 

MORE: Explaining hockey’s postseason format

NHL playoffs 2022: TV channels, live stream

• TV (U.S.): ESPN, ESPN 2, ABC, TNT, TBS
• TV (Canada): Sportsnet, Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, SNE, CBC, TVA Sports
• Stream (U.S.): ESPN+, fuboTV (free trial), Sling TV
• Stream (Canada): SN Now, SN NOW+

Postseason telecasts will be split between the ESPN family of networks and the Turner networks as a part of media rights deals the two companies signed last summer. Both will air first- and second-round series and each network will telecast a conference finals series. The Stanley Cup Final will air exclusively on ESPN. 

Sportsnet will show all the series in Canada. CBC will show some series. 

How will the NHL playoffs work in 2022?

Here’s a quick overview of how the 2022 postseason will work:

• Eight teams in each conference make the postseason: the top three teams in each division and two wild-card teams.
• In the first round, the division winners play the wild-card teams while the second-and third-place teams in each division face off.
• The first-round winners in each conference will play each other in the second round. The winner of the series with the No. 2 and No. 3 teams for one division plays the winner of the series with their division winner playing the wild card team. For example, for this postseason, the winner of the Panthers-Capitals plays the winner of the Maple Leafs-Lightning, regardless of whether the lower seed wins or not, keeping the division “together” in the bracket. 
• The winners of the second-round series will face off in the conference finals.
• The conference champions will meet in the Stanley Cup Final.

MORE: Which team has won the most Stanley Cups?

NHL playoffs schedule, results by series

(All times Eastern)

(*If necessary.)

First-round

Eastern Conference: (A1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals

Eastern Conference: (A2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning

Eastern Conference: (M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins

Eastern Conference: (M2) New York Rangers vs. (M3) Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference: (C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Nashville Predators

Western Conference: (C2) Minnesota Wild vs. (C3) St. Louis Blues

Western Conference: (P1) Calgary Flames vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars

Western Conference: (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings