How to Watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Lyan Babilonia / Updated Jul 05, 2024 | Pub. Apr 19, 2024

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This week, the National Hockey League announced the dates, start times, and national television coverage for the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which start on Saturday. DISH brings all the excitement to you [1].

If you want to watch your team’s performance and follow the standings, just check out DISH channels with NHL programming. Teams will battle for the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Although the playoffs are around the corner, you’d better know the standings to cheer for the best teams.

Catch NHL playoffs season on DISH

NHL Playoff Standings

Eastern Conference

New York Rangers – p – Record: 55-23-4 – Points:114

Carolina Hurricanes – x- Record: 52-23-7 – Points:111

Florida Panthers – y – Record: 52-24-6 – Points:110

Boston Bruins – x – Record: 47-20-15 – Points:109

Toronto Maple Leafs- x – Record: 46-26-10 – Points:102

Tampa Bay Lightning – wc – Record: 45-29-8 – Points: 98

New York Islanders – x – 39-27-16 – Points: 94

Washington Capitals – wc – 40-31-11 – Points: 91

Detroit Red Wings – o – Record: 41-32-9 – Points: 91

Pittsburgh Penguins – o – Record: 38-32-12 – Points: 88

Philadelphia Flyers – o- Record: 38-33-11 – Points:87

Buffalo Sabres – o – Record: 39-37-6 – Points:84

New Jersey Devils – o – Record: 38-39-5 – Points:81

Ottawa Senators – o – Record: 37-41-4 – Points:78

Montréal Canadiens – o – Record: 30-36-16 – Points:76

Columbus Blue Jackets – o – Record: 27-43-12 – Points: 66

Western Conference

Dallas Stars – z – Record: 52-21-9 – Points:113

Vancouver Canucks – y – Record: 50-22-9 – Points:109

Winnipeg Jets – x – Record: 51-24-6 – Points:108

Colorado Avalanche – x – Record: 49-25-7 – Points:105

Edmonton Oilers – x – Record: 49-26-6 – Points:104

Nashville Predators – wc – Record: 47-30-5 – Points:99

Vegas Golden Knights – x – Record: 45-28-8 – Points: 98

Los Angeles Kings – wc – Record: 43-27-11 – Points:97

St. Louis Blues – o – Record: 43-33-6 – Points:92

Minnesota Wild – o – Record: 39-33-9 – Points: 86

Calgary Flames – o – Record: 37-39-5 – Points:79

Seattle Kraken – o – Record: 33-35-13 -Points:79

Arizona Coyotes – o – Record: 36-41-5 – Points:77

Anaheim Ducks – o – Record: 26-50-5 – Points:57

Chicago Blackhawks – o – Record: 23-53-5 – Points:51

San Jose Sharks – o- Record: 19-53-9 – Points:47

(Glossary: Team has won the President’s Trophy (p). Team has won their division (y). Team has secured a top three spot in their division (x). Team has secured a wild card spot (wc). Team is not in the playoffs (o). [2]

Watch First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

How Do NHL Playoffs Work

The NHL playoffs serve as the pathway to determine the league champion and ultimately award the prestigious Stanley Cup [3]. Here’s an overview of how they unfold:

Regular Season Standings: At the end of the NHL regular season, the top teams from each division qualify for the playoffs based on their standings. Additionally, a few wildcard teams from each conference may also qualify based on their overall point totals.

Seeding: The teams are seeded according to their regular season performance, with the division winners typically receiving the top three seeds in each conference. The remaining teams are seeded based on their overall point totals.

Bracket Format: The playoffs are structured as a bracket, with teams seeded in a 1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, and 4 vs. 5 format within each conference.

Series Format: Each playoff series follows a best-of-seven format, meaning the first team to win four games advances to the next round. The higher-ranked team plays more games at their home arena. The lower-ranked team plays fewer games at home

Elimination Rounds: Teams compete in rounds where the winners move on and the losers are out of the playoffs." This process continues until two teams remain, one from each conference.

Stanley Cup Final: The winners of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals face off in the Stanley Cup Final, which is also a best-of-seven series. The team that wins four games first is awarded the Stanley Cup and crowned NHL champion.

All teams have now filled all 16 spots in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Only ten NHL regular season games remain, making the playoff picture clearer, especially in the Western Conference.

As the playoffs continue, the intensity and excitement increase. Teams are fighting for the chance to win the Stanley Cup, which is the most prestigious trophy in professional hockey.

Here you’ll find NHL broadcasting partners

When do Stanley Cup Playoffs Start?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs start on April 20th with the New York Islanders visiting the Carolina Hurricanes.

These playoff encounters come after a lot of emotions.

Last Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights lost 4-1 against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. This means that they secured the second wild card in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Western Conference [4].

Even though Vegas was in third place in the Pacific Division, they fell behind the Los Angeles Kings by one point. The Kings won 5-4 in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks on the same day.

The Golden Knights will play against the Dallas Stars. The Stars secured the top spot in both the Central Division and the Western Conference. Worth noting that Vegas triumphed over Dallas in six games during last season’s Western Conference Final.

This sport is full of surprises, but currently, the Dallas Stars are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup this season.

Dallas Stars is one of the favorites!

Stanley Cup Playoff Round One Schedule

Here you’ll find the Eastern Conference schedule.

Florida Panthers (Atlantic 1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (wild card 1)

1st Game: Lightning at Panthers on April 21 at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)

2nd Game: Lightning at Panthers on April 23 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

3rd Game:, Panthers at Lightning on April 25 at 7 p.m. (TBS)

4th Game: Panthers at Lightning on April 27 at 5 p.m. (TBS)

5th Game: Lightning at Panthers on April 29 (TBD)

6 Game: Panthers at Lightning on May 1 (TBD)

7 Game: Lightning at Panthers on May 4 (TBD)

Boston Bruins (Atlantic 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic 3)

1st Game: Maple Leafs at Bruins on April 20 at 8 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

2nd Game: Maple Leafs at Bruins on April 22, at 7 p.m. (ESPN)

3rd Game: Bruins at Maple Leafs on April 24 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)

4th Game: Bruins at Maple Leafs on April 27 at 8 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

5th Game: Maple Leafs at Bruins on April 30 (TBD)

6 Game: Bruins at Maple Leafs on May 2 (TBD)

7 Game: Maple Leafs at Bruins on May 4 (TBD)

New York Rangers (Metropolitan 1) vs. Washington Capitals (wild card 2)

1st Game: Capitals at Rangers on April 21 at 3 p.m. (ESPN)

2nd Game: Capitals at Rangers on April 23 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)

3rd Game: Rangers at Capital on April 26 at 7 p.m. (TNT, truTV)

4th Game: Rangers at Capitals on April 28 at 8 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

5th Game: Capitals at Rangers on May 1 (TBD)

6 Game: Rangers at Capitals on May 3 (TBD)

7 Game: Capitals at Rangers on May 5 (TBD)

Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan 2) vs. New York Islanders (Metropolitan 3)

1st Game: Islanders at Hurricanes on April 20 at 5 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

2nd Game: Islanders at Hurricanes on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

3rd Game: Hurricanes at Islanders on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

4th Game: Hurricanes at Islanders on April 27 at 2 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

5th Game: Islanders at Hurricanes on April 30 (TBD)

6 Game: Hurricanes at Islanders on May 2 (TBD)

7 Game: Islanders at Hurricanes on May 4 (TBD)

NHL Western Conference playoff schedule

Dallas Stars (Central 1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (wild card 2)

1st Game: Golden Knights at Stars on April 22 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

2nd Game: Golden Knights at Stars on April 24 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3rd Game: Stars at Golden Knights on April 27 at 10:30 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

4th Game: Stars at Golden Knights on April 29 (TBD)

5th Game: Golden Knights at Stars on May 1 (TBD)

6 Game: Stars at Golden Knights on May 3 (TBD)

7 Game: Golden Knights at Stars on May 5 (TBD)

Winnipeg Jets (Central 2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (Central 3)

1st Game: Avalanche at Jets, on April 21 at 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

2nd Game: Avalanche at Jets on at April 23 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3rd Game: Jets at Avalanche on April 26 (TNT)

4th Game: Jets at Avalanche on April 28 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV)

5th Game: Avalanche at Jets on April 30 (TBD)

6 Game: Jets at Avalanche on May 2 (TBD)

7 Game: Avalanche at Jets on May 4 (TBD)

Vancouver Canucks (Pacific 1) vs. Nashville Predators (wild card 1)

1st Game: Predators at Canucks on April 21 at 10 (ESPN)

2nd Game: Predators at Canucks on April 23 at 10 (ESPN2)

3rd Game: Canucks at Predators on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. (TBS)

4th Game: Canucks at Predators on April 28 at 5 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

5th Game: Predators at Canucks on April 30 (TBD)

6 Game: Canucks at Predators on May 3 (TBD)

7 Game: Predators at Canucks on May 5 (TBD)

Edmonton Oilers (Pacific 2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (Pacific 3)

1st Game: Kings at Oilers on April 22 at 10 p.m. (ESPN2)

2nd Game: Kings at Oilers on April 24 at 10 p.m. (TBS)

3rd Game: Oilers at Kings on April 26 at 10:30 p.m. (TBS)

4th Game: Oilers at Kings on April 28 at 10:30 p.m. (TBS, truTV)

5th Game: Kings at Oilers on May 1 (TBD)

6 Game: Oilers at Kings on May 3 (TBD)

7 Game: Kings at Oilers on May 5 (TBD)

NHL Eastern Conference Bracket Breakdown

To be more specific, here you’ll find the bracket breakdown for the Eastern teams.

(A1) Panthers vs. (WC1) Lightning

(A2) Bruins vs. (A3) Maple Leafs

(M1) Rangers vs. (WC2) Capitals

(M2) Hurricanes vs. (M3) Islanders

NHL Western Conference Bracket Breakdown

But, what is going to happen with the Western Conference? Here is the answer for you.

(C1) Stars vs. (WC2) Golden Knights

(C2) Jets vs. (C3) Avalanche

(P1) Canucks vs. (WC1) Predators

(P2) Oilers vs. (P3) Kings

How to Watch the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The NHL has announced its broadcasting partners for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which include ESPN, TNT, ABC, and RSN for regional games. Fans can also tune in via streaming platforms such as ESPN+ or Hulu.

Don’t miss a moment of the breathtaking NHL playoff action! You can watch all the exciting games, intense moments, and memorable goals with DISH. The top teams in the league compete for hockey success.

Sign up today to ensure you don’t miss a moment on the road to the Stanley Cup. Witness every slap shot, save, and celebration!

However, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are not the only sports event you can follow on DISH Network. The satellite TV provider offers an extensive variety of sports channels for you.

Subscribe to DISH now and be a part of the sports excitement!