2023 NHL First Round Matchups

2023

Four More First Round Game 1s Go Tonight

The second night of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature four more Game 1s, with each contest being carried on ESPN and TBS programming in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet and TVA Sports programming in Canada.

New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers

*The First Round series between New Jersey and New York will mark the seventh all-time playoff edition of the historic “Hudson River Rivalry” and first since the 2012 Conference Finals, when the Devils defeated the Rangers in six games. New York yields an all-time series record of 4-2 in its six previous postseason rounds against New Jersey, including a victory in the 1994 Conference Finals when Rangers captain Mark Messier famously guaranteed a win in Game 6 with his team facing elimination.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning

*Toronto and Tampa Bay will tangle in the second straight First Round series between the franchises, with the Lightning earning a win last year via a 2-1 victory at Scotiabank Arena in Game 7. Game 1 marks the beginning of the Lightning’s quest to reach a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup Final, while Toronto looks to foil Tampa Bay’s plans and earn its first series win since the 2004 Conference

Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets

*Vegas will welcome Winnipeg to T-Mobile Arena for Game 1, which marks the opening of the second all-time playoff round between the franchises following the 2018 Conference Finals. The Golden Knights earned a five-game triumph against the Jets in that series to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.

Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche

*Seattle will play its first postseason contest in franchise history when it visits Colorado, which is looking to return to the mountaintop after capturing the Stanley Cup last year. The Kraken and Avalanche will contest the fifth all-time playoff series between an NHL franchise making their postseason debut and a reigning champion, following the 2009 Conference Quarterfinals (CBJ vs. DET), 1983 Division Semifinals (WSH vs. NYI), 1980 Preliminary Round (HFD vs. MTL) and 1929 Quarterfinals (NYA vs. NYR).

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 18, 2023

2023

* It’s the opening night of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs! Monday features four Game 1s, with each contest carried on ESPN or ESPN2 in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet and TVA Sports programming in Canada.

* The four remaining Game 1 games go Tuesday, with the slate featuring the seventh all-time playoff edition of the “Hudson River Rivalry,” the second straight First Round between the Maple Leafs and Lightning, the Golden Knights and Jets meeting in their second all-time series as well as the Kraken making their postseason debut against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

* Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs round hold an all-time series record of 507-235 (.683), including an 8-7 (.533) mark in 2022. Find more series scenarios in the first #NHLStats: Live Updates of the postseason.

* A range of documents from #NHLStats were made available on the League’s Media site in the weeks leading up to Monday, including a regular season recap, clinching and matchup notes for each team competing in the postseason as well as water cooler questions entering the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Information Guide is also available.

* Registration for the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge presented by GEICO will remain open until the brackets lock before puck drop for the first Game 2.

Source – NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – April 17, 2023