When do NHL Playoffs start?

For the first time since 2014 there will be no Washington Capitals hockey on the world’s stage in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But that doesn’t mean we won’t watch the NHL’s best this spring compete for the Cup. When does it start? It all begins tomorrow night after we had a two day break.

First up the New York Islanders take on the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. on ESPN 2. At 7:30 on ESPN the Florida Panthers take on the Boston Bruins. At 9:30 on ESPN 2 it’ll be the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. At 10 p.m. over on ESPN the Los Angels Kings take on the Edmonton Oilers.

As far as these matchups go the things I’m looking forward to watching tomorrow night is that Islanders vs. Hurricanes game. I was impressed with how the Hurricanes play but if there’s a pesky team that can give them a taste of what we went through in 2019, it’s the Isles.

I’m also excited to see former Capitals Dmitry Orlov and Garnet Hathaway lace up for the Bruins against the Panthers. They have only been on the Bruins for short time but it’s been a fun time for them so far as the Bruins set the NHL record for the most wins and points. Surely Hathaway would love to go off after he missed that empty net against the Panthers last spring.

Finally as far as late games go I’m excited to see what Connor McDavid can do after he had 64 goals in the regular season. That’s Alex Ovechkin 07-08 numbers there.

The rest of the Game 1s are on Tuesday night. I am very excited for the Battle of the Hudson River as the New York Rangers host the New Jersey Devils on TBS. That starts at 7. At 7:30 the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on ESPN.

The late games are the Winnipeg Jets and the Vegas Golden Knights at 9:30 on ESPN 2. Then the Seattle Kraken get their first taste of playoff hockey at 10 p.m. on ESPN against the Colorado Avalanche.