2024 NHL Playoffs: First Round Matchups, Scores, and Odds

The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are underway, with 16 teams competing for the championship. The defending champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, are set to defend their title, while the New York Rangers captured the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in the 2023-24 regular season.

The playoff structure includes matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, with the first round schedule and results provided. Key details include the dates, times, TV channels, and scores for each game in the first-round series.

Several compelling matchups are featured in the first round, including the Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers currently lead the Lightning 2-0 in their series, with Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky making an extraordinary save in Game 2.

The New York Rangers also hold a 2-0 lead over the Washington Capitals, with the Rangers appearing as the stronger team. The Carolina Hurricanes lead the New York Islanders 2-0, while the series between the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators are both tied 1-1.

In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights lead the Dallas Stars 2-0, and the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings series is tied 1-1. The Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman, have been an impressive force, while the Kings have struggled to keep pace.

Why this matters: The 2024 NHL playoffs mark the culmination of the season, with the league's top teams vying for the Stanley Cup. The outcomes of these first-round matchups will shape the path to the championship and potentially crown a new champion or see the Vegas Golden Knights defend their title.

As the playoffs progress, the odds for each team to advance and win the Stanley Cup continue to shift. The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have emerged as the betting favorites, with the Hurricanes having the shortest odds at 550-600, followed by the New York Rangers at 650-750 and the Panthers at 600-650. The Edmonton Oilers have the highest odds in the Western Conference after their Game 1 victory, while the Colorado Avalanche have found their footing with a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.

Key Takeaways

• 2024 NHL playoffs underway, 16 teams competing for Stanley Cup
• Defending champions Vegas Golden Knights, Presidents' Trophy winners NY Rangers
• Key first-round matchups: Panthers-Lightning, Bruins-Maple Leafs, Oilers-Kings
• Panthers, Rangers, Hurricanes lead their series 2-0; Oilers-Kings tied 1-1
• Hurricanes, Rangers, Panthers top betting favorites to win Stanley Cup