The 2018-19 NHL regular season is over, and while some teams turn their attention to the "Lose for Hughes" lottery, others are prepping for a playoff run.
The Tampa Bay Lightning head into the 2019 NHL playoffs as the odds-on Stanley Cup favorite after running away with the Presidents' Trophy. Is this the year Steven Stamkos and Co. lift the Stanley Cup? Only time will tell who this year's playoff heroes and losers will be.
Below is the full 2019 NHL playoff bracket and schedule, along with updated odds for the Stanley Cup.
SN STAFF PREDICTIONS:
Eastern Conference | Western Conference | Stanley Cup
When do the 2019 NHL playoffs start?
The first 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs begin Wednesay, April 10, with five games on the schedule. The remaining three series get under way Thursday, April 11.
2019 NHL playoffs bracket
How do the Stanley Cup playoffs work?
Eight teams in each conference qualify. Each best-of-seven series is played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, and the winners advance to the next round.
In the first round, the top seed in each conference plays the second wild card winner while the other division winner plays the first wild card. In each division, the second and third place teams battle it out to see who will advance to the conference semifinals.
Teams that advance to the conference semifinals face off against the remainder of their bracket to determine who will play in the conference final.
NHL playoff schedule, results by series
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at Tampa Bay | 7 p.m. ET (USA, SN360, TVA) |
| April 12 | Game 2 at Tampa Bay | 7 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN360, TVA) |
| April 14 | Game 3 at Columbus | 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN360, TVA) |
| April 16 | Game 4 at Columbus | 7 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN360, TVA) |
| *April 19 | Game 5 at Tampa Bay | TBD |
| *April 21 | Game 6 at Columbus | TBD |
| *April 23 | Game 7 at Tampa Bay | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Game 1 at Boston | 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 13 | Game 2 at Boston | 8 p.m. ET (NBC, CBC, TVA) |
| April 15 | Game 3 at Toronto | 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 17 | Game 4 at Toronto | 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| *April 19 | Game 5 at Boston | TBD |
| *April 21 | Game 6 at Toronto | TBD |
| *April 23 | Game 7 at Boston | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Game 1 at Washington | 7:30 p.m. ET (USA, SN360, TVA) |
| April 13 | Game 2 at Washington | 3 p.m. ET (NBC, SN, TVA) |
| April 15 | Game 3 at Carolina | 7 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN, TVA) |
| April 18 | Game 4 at Carolina | 7 p.m. ET (SN 360, TVA) |
| *April 20 | Game 5 at Washington | TBD |
| *April 22 | Game 6 at Carolina | TBD |
| *April 24 | Game 7 at Washington | TBD |
(*if necessary)
New York Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at NY Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 12 | Game 2 at NY Islanders | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 14 | Game 3 at Pittsburgh | Noon ET (NBC, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 16 | Game 4 at Pittsburgh | 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| *April 18 | Game 5 at NY Islanders | TBD |
| *April 20 | Game 6 at Pittsburgh | TBD |
| *April 22 | Game 7 at NY Islanders | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Western Conference
Calgary Flames (P1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 11 | Game 1 at Calgary | 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 13 | Game 2 at Calgary | 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 15 | Game 3 at Colorado | 10 p.m. ET (CNBC, CBC, TVA) |
| April 17 | Game 4 at Colorado | 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN, CBC, TVA) |
| *April 19 | Game 5 at Calgary | TBD |
| *April 21 | Game 6 at Colorado | TBD |
| *April 23 | Game 7 at Calgary | TBD |
(*if necessary)
San Jose Sharks (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at San Jose | 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, TVA) |
| April 12 | Game 2 at San Jose | 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN360, TVA) |
| April 14 | Game 3 at Vegas | 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, TVA) |
| April 16 | Game 4 at Vegas | 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN360, TVA) |
| *April 18 | Game 5 at San Jose | TBD |
| *April 21 | Game 6 at Vegas | TBD |
| *April 23 | Game 7 at San Jose | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Nashville Predators (C1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC1)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at Nashville | 9:30 p.m. ET (USA, SN1, TVA) |
| April 13 | Game 2 at Nashville | 6 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN, TVA) |
| April 15 | Game 3 at Dallas | 9:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN, TVA) |
| April 17 | Game 4 at Dallas | 8 p.m. ET (USA, SN, TVA) |
| *April 20 | Game 5 at Nashville | TBD |
| *April 22 | Game 6 at Dallas | TBD |
| *April 24 | Game 7 at Nashville | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
| Date | Matchup | Time (TV channel) |
| April 10 | Game 1 at Winnipeg | 8 p.m. ET (NHLN, SN, TVA) |
| April 12 | Game 2 at Winnipeg | 9:30 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN, TVA) |
| April 14 | Game 3 at St. Louis | 7:30 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN, CBC, TVA) |
| April 16 | Game 4 at St. Louis | 9:30 p.m. ET (CNBC, SN, TVA) |
| *April 18 | Game 5 at Winnipeg | TBD |
| *April 20 | Game 6 at St. Louis | TBD |
| *April 22 | Game 7 at Winnipeg | TBD |
(*if necessary)
Updated odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup
| Team | Odds* |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 9/4 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 8/1 |
| San Jose Sharks | 10/1 |
| Calgary Flames | 10/1 |
| Washington Capitals | 10/1 |
| Boston Bruins | 12/1 |
| St. Louis Blues | 12/1 |
| Nashville Predators | 12/1 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 12/1 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 16/1 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 20/1 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 30/1 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 30/1 |
| Dallas Stars | 30/1 |
| New York Islanders | 40/1 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 50/1 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80/1 |