NHL playoffs 2017: Stanley Cup Final schedule set, plus full results

Who will face the Predators?

The Stanley Cup Final will officially begin on May 29. Now that the Nashville Predators have clinched their spot, we know exactly what the layout of the final round of the NHL playoffs will be.

Nashville punched its ticket with a 6-3 victory over the Ducks on Monday in the Western Conference Final. The Predators bested Anaheim in six games to earn their first ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

We’re still waiting on the results of the Eastern Conference Final, where the Penguins and the Senators are down to one final game on Thursday night. The Penguins had a 3-2 series lead after a 7-0 win on Sunday, but they were unable to close out the series, losing 2-1 on Tuesday.

Because the Predators are in the Stanley Cup Final, we know the Eastern Conference team will have home ice advantage during the series. Nashville finished as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and both the Penguins and Senators have more points than the Predators.

All times below are Eastern.

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Eastern Conference Finals schedule

All times ET.

Game 1: Sat., May 13 at 7 p.m. — Ottawa 2, Pittsburgh 1, OT (recap)
Game 2: Mon., May 15 at 8 p.m. — Pittsburgh 1, Ottawa 0 (recap)
Game 3: Wed., May 17 at 8 p.m. — Ottawa 5, Pittsburgh 1
Game 4: Fri., May 19 at 8 p.m. — Pittsburgh 3, Ottawa 2
Game 5: Sun., May 21 at 3 p.m. — Pittsburgh 7, Ottawa 0
Game 6: Tue., May 23 at 8 p.m. — Ottawa 2, Pittsburgh 1 (recap)
Game 7: Thu., May 25 at 8 p.m. — Ottawa at Pittsburgh (NBCSN, CBC)

Western Conference Finals schedule

All times ET.

Game 1: Fri., May 12 at 9 p.m. — Nashville 3, Anaheim 2, OT (recap)
Game 2: Sun., May 14 at 7:30 p.m. — Anaheim 5, Nashville 3 (recap)
Game 3: Tue., May 16 at 8 p.m. — Nashville 2, Anaheim 1 (recap)
Game 4: Thu., May 18 at 8 p.m. — Anaheim 3, Nashville 2 (OT)
Game 5: Sat., May 20 at 7:15 p.m. — Nashville 3, Anaheim 1
Game 6: Mon., May 22 at 8 p.m. — Nashville 6, Anaheim 3

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Second-round schedule

All times ET.

Eastern Conference

No. 2 Senators vs. WC Rangers (OTT wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 27: Ottawa 2, New York 1
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 29: Ottawa 6, New York 5 (OT)
Game 3 - Tues., May 2: New York 4, Ottawa 1
Game 4 - Thu., May 4: Ottawa 1, New York 4
Game 5 - Sat., May 6: New York 5, Ottawa 4 (OT)
Game 6 - Tues., May 9: Ottawa 4, New York 0

No. 1 Capitals vs. No. 2 Penguins (PIT wins, 4-3)

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 27: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 29: Pittsburgh 6, Washington 2
Game 3 - Mon., May 1: Washington 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT)
Game 4 - Wed., May 3: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2
Game 5 - Sat., May 6: Pittsburgh 2, Washington 4
Game 6 - Mon., May 8: Washington 5, Pittsburgh 2
Game 7 - Wed., May 10: Pittsburgh 2, Washington 0

Western Conference

No. 3 Blues vs. WC 2 Predators (NSH wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 26: Nashville 4, St. Louis 3
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 28: St. Louis 3, Nashville 2
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 30: Nashville 3, St. Louis 1
Game 4 - Tues., May 2: Nashville 2, St. Louis 1
Game 5 - Fri., May 5: Nashville 1, St. Louis 2
Game 6 - Sun., May 7: St. Louis 1, Nashville 3

No. 1 Ducks vs. No. 2 Oilers (ANA wins, 4-3)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 26: Edmonton 5, Anaheim 3
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 28: Edmonton 2, Anaheim 1
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 30: Anaheim 6, Edmonton 3
Game 4 - Wed., May 3: Anaheim 4, Edmonton 3 (OT)
Game 5 - Fri., May 5: Anaheim 4, Edmonton 3 (2OT)
Game 6 - Sun., May 7: Anaheim 1, Edmonton 7
Game 7 - Wed., May 10: Anaheim 2, Edmonton 1

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First-round schedule

All times ET.

Eastern Conference

No. 2 Senators vs. No. 3 Bruins (OTT wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 12: Boston 2, Ottawa 1
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 15: Ottawa 4, Boston 3 (OT)
Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 17: Ottawa 4, Boston 3 (OT)
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 19: Ottawa 1, Boston 0
Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 21: Boston 3, Ottawa 2 (2OT)
Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 23: Ottawa 3, Boston 2 (OT)

No. 1 Canadiens vs. WC Rangers (NYR wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 12: New York 2, Montreal 0
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 14: Montreal 4, New York 3 (OT)
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 16: Montreal 3, New York 1
Game 4 - Tues., Apr. 18: New York 2, Montreal 1
Game 5 - Thu., Apr: 20: New York 3, Montreal 2 (OT)
Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 22: New York 3, Montreal 1

No. 2 Penguins vs. No. 3 Blue Jackets (PIT wins, 4-1)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 12: Pittsburgh 3, Columbus 1
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 14: Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 1
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 16: Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 4 (OT)
Game 4 - Tues., Apr. 18: Columbus 5, Pittsburgh 4
Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 20: Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 2

No. 1 Capitals vs. WC 2 Maple Leafs (WSH wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 13: Washington 3, Toronto 2 (OT)
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 15: Toronto 4, Washington 3 (2OT)
Game 3 - Mon. Apr. 17: Toronto 4, Washington 3 (OT)
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 19: Washington 5, Toronto 4
Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 21: Washington 2, Toronto 1 (OT)
Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 23: Washington 2, Toronto 1 (OT)

Western Conference

No. 2 Wild vs. No. 3 Blues (STL wins, 4-1)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 12: St. Louis 2, Minnesota 1 (OT)
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 14: St. Louis 2, Minnesota 1
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 16: St. Louis 3, Minnesota 1
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 19: Minnesota 2, St. Louis 0
Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 22: St. Louis 4, Minnesota 3

No. 2 Oilers vs. No. 3 Sharks (EDM wins, 4-2)

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 12: San Jose 3, Edmonton 2 (OT)
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 14: Edmonton 2, San Jose 0
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 16: Edmonton 1, San Jose 0
Game 4 - Tues., Apr. 18: San Jose 7, Edmonton 0
Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 20: Edmonton 4, San Jose 3 (OT)
Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 22: Edmonton 3, San Jose 1

No. 1 Blackhawks vs. WC 2 Predators (NSH wins, 4-0)

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 13: Nashville 1, Chicago 0
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 15: Nashville 5, Chicago 0
Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 17: Nashville 3, Chicago 2 (OT)
Game 4 - Thu., Apr. 20: Nashville 4, Chicago 1

No. 1 Ducks vs. WC Flames (ANA wins, 4-0)

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 13: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 15: Anaheim 3, Calgary 2
Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 17: Anaheim 5, Calgary 4 (OT)
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 19: Anaheim 3, Calgary 1

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NHL playoffs format

The top three teams in each division — Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, Pacific — earned automatic postseason berths, while the final four spots were given to two wild card teams in each conference based on point totals. The top seeds in both conferences play against the lowest wild card teams in the first round, and the other division winners face off against the other wild card qualifiers.

Otherwise, the matchups aren't based on conference standings — rather, the second and third seeds in each division square off. From there, whomever emerges from the series involving division champions take on the winners of the series involving the second and third seeds, in what is known as the conference semifinals. The winners advance to the Conference Finals, and then the Stanley Cup Final.

Each series is best-of-seven, played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

Stanley Cup playoff teams

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Montreal Canadiens — 103 points
2. Ottawa Senators — 98 points
3. Boston Bruins — 95 points

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington Capitals — 118 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins — 111 points
3. Columbus Blue Jackets — 108 points

Wild Card

1. New York Rangers — 102 points
2. Toronto Maple Leafs — 95 points

Western Conference

Central Division

1. Chicago Blackhawks — 109 points
2. Minnesota Wild — 106 points
3. St. Louis Blues — 99 points

Pacific Division

1. Anaheim Ducks — 105 points
2. Edmonton Oilers — 103 points
3. San Jose Sharks — 99 points

Wild Card

1. Calgary Flames — 94 points
2. Nashville Predators — 94 points

Stanley Cup playoffs bracket

You can find the full live bracket at our SB Nation NHL playoff guide right here!