2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Dates, teams, format, history & more

The pinnacle of the NHL season, 16 teams will battle it out for supremacy in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

2024 Stanley Cup playoffs start date

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Saturday 20th April following the conclusion of the regular season.

2024 Stanley Cup playoff teams

Eastern Conference

• Florida Panthers
• New York Rangers
• Boston Bruins
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• New York Islanders
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Washington Capitals

Western Conference

• Dallas Stars
• Vancouver Canucks
• Winnipeg Jets
• Edmonton Oilers
• Colorado Avalanche
• Los Angeles Kings
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Nashville Predators

2024 Stanley Cup playoffs schedule

Eastern Conference - First Round

(1A) Florida Panthers v Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Florida
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Florida
• Game 3: Thursday 25 April @ Tampa Bay
• Game 4: Saturday 27 April @ Tampa Bay
• Game 5 (if necessary): Monday 29 April @ Florida
• Game 6 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Tampa Bay
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Florida

(2A) Boston Bruins v Toronto Maple Leafs (3A)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ Boston
• Game 2: Monday 22 April @ Boston
• Game 3: Wednesday 24 April @ Toronto
• Game 4: Saturday 27 April @ Toronto
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Boston
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Toronto
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ New York

(1M) New York Rangers v Washington Capitals (WC2)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ New York
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ New York
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Washington
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Washington
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ New York
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Washington
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ New York

(2M) Carolina Hurricanes v New York Islanders (3M)

• Game 1: Saturday 20 April @ Raleigh
• Game 2: Monday 22 April @ Raleigh
• Game 3: Thursday 25 April @ New York
• Game 4: Saturday 27 April @ New York
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Raleigh
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ New York
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Raleigh

Western Conference - First Round

(1C) Dallas Stars v Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)

• Game 1: Monday 22 April @ Dallas
• Game 2: Wednesday 24 April @ Dallas
• Game 3: Saturday 27 April @ Las Vegas
• Game 4: Monday 29 April @ Las Vegas
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Dallas
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Las Vegas
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Dallas

(2C) Winnipeg Jets v Colorado Avalanche (3C)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Winnipeg
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Winnipeg
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Denver
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Denver
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Winnipeg
• Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday 2 May @ Denver
• Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday 4 May @ Winnipeg

(1P) Vancouver Canucks v Nashville Predators (WC1)

• Game 1: Sunday 21 April @ Vancouver
• Game 2: Tuesday 23 April @ Vancouver
• Game 3: Friday 26 April @ Tennessee
• Game 4: Sunday 28 April @ Tennessee
• Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday 30 April @ Vancouver
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Tennessee
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Vancouver

(2P) Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings (3P)

• Game 1: Monday 22 April @ Edmonton
• Game 2: Wednesday 24 April @ Edmonton
• Game 3: Saturday 27 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 4: Monday 29 April @ Los Angeles
• Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday 1 May @ Dallas
• Game 6 (if necessary): Friday 3 May @ Los Angeles
• Game 7 (if necessary): Sunday 5 May @ Dallas

2024 Stanley Cup playoffs format

There are four rounds in the Stanley Cup playoffs; First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Finals.

Competing in a best-of-seven, each series is played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the team with the better record will receive home advantage in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.

With eight teams from each conference, the 16 competitors are seeded in the first round i.e. the top team in the conference will play the second wildcard team.

In the next round, teams are not reseeded and the victors in the second round will face off in the conference finals. Each conference winner will then meet in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup history

The previous two Stanley Cup winners were first-time victors with the Vegas Golden Knights triumphant in 2023 and Florida Panthers coming out on top in 2024.

Colorado Avalanche were triumphant in 2022, sealing their third Stanley Cup and maintaining their status as the only team in history with a 100% record in the Finals.

Montreal Canadiens are by far and away the most successful team in NHL history, making 35 Finals appearances and winning 24 titles, though their last success was all the way back in 1993.

Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't reached the Finals since 1967, are second on the all-time list with 13 Stanley Cups, ahead of Detroit Red Wings on 11.

Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks are the most successful teams in the 21st century, winning three Stanley Cups apiece.

Most Stanley Cups

	Titles	Finals Appearances
Montreal Canadiens	24	35
Toronto Maple Leafs	13	21
Detroit Red Wings	11	24
Boston Bruins	6	20
Chicago Blackhawks	6	13
Edmonton Oilers	5	8
Pittsburgh Penguins	5	6
New York Rangers	4	11
New York Islanders	4	5