NHL playoffs 2023: What are the first round series in Stanley Cup Playoffs?
The bracket for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is (nearly) complete.
The Eastern Conference first-round matchups locked into place Thursday night as most teams completed their regular season schedule. The playoff picture in the West will not be fully complete until Friday, when the defending champion Colorado Avalanche take on the Nashville Predators in the final game of the 2022-23 NHL regular season. If the Avs win, they will overtake the Dallas Stars for the Central Division title and will play the wild card Seattle Kraken in the first round. If the Avs lose Friday, they will begin their title defense against the Minnesota Wild. Â
Here’s a look at every first round playoff series that is set in stone (with team seeds in parenthesis).
(This post will be updated)
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins (Atlantic 1) vs. Florida Panthers (Wild Card 2)
The Bruins (65-12-5) enter the playoffs having completed the best regular season of all time by wins (65) and points (135). That, of course, puts a lot of pressure on them to perform. They will look to avoid the fate of the 2018-19 Lightning, who lit up the NHL with a then record-tying 62 wins only to be swept in the first round. Boston will play last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Florida Panthers (42-32-8), who rallied for a playoff spot after an uneven season under first-year coach Paul Maurice.Â
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of picking generational talent Connor Bedard with the first overall pick. The Anaheim Ducks (23-47-12), who ended the season on a 13-game losing streak and won just 13 games in regulation all year, have the best lottery odds after finishing 32nd in the NHL with 58 points. They needed help, though, and they got it Thursday – the Columbus Blue Jackets, who play their final game Friday, defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime to move one point clear of the Ducks. Had the Blue Jackets lost their final two games in regulation, they would have locked up the top lottery odds with 57 points.  Â
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