NHL Playoff Bracket: A Thrilling Race to the Stanley Cup
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are heating up! While the Eastern Conference first-round series mostly wrapped up, the Western Conference is a nail-biter with four crucial Game 6s taking place on Thursday night. Let's dive into the current state of the bracket and what to expect.
Eastern Conference: Clear Victors
The Washington Capitals, celebrating their first series win since their 2018 Stanley Cup victory, eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in five games. Alex Ovechkin contributed a goal, and Logan Thompson shone in net with 28 saves in the decisive Game 5. They'll face the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers, defending champions, defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a hard-fought five-game series, showcasing impressive scoring depth and stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. Their next opponent will be either the Toronto Maple Leafs or Ottawa Senators.
Western Conference: Still Wide Open
The Western Conference is a different story. No team has clinched yet! As of Thursday, May 1st, four pivotal Game 6 matches were scheduled: Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues. The outcome of these games will significantly impact the second-round matchups. The Winnipeg Jets, despite losing key center Mark Scheifele in Game 5, managed to take a 3-2 series lead over the Blues thanks to Kyle Connor's strong performance. Scheifele's status for Game 6 remains uncertain.
2025 NHL Playoff Bracket Update (Post Game 5)
Here's a snapshot of the bracket after several first-round series concluded:
- Eastern Conference: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals; Florida Panthers vs. (Toronto Maple Leafs/Ottawa Senators)
- Western Conference: Four Game 6s determining the remaining matchups.
For complete schedules and recaps of every first-round matchup, head over to CBS Sports. The intensity is undeniable; stay tuned for an exciting second round!
