2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals (First Round) Television Schedule and Announcers

Caption: The logo for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. | Photo credit: Tamir Moore (Canva).

- 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs first round begins a doubleheader on TBS and truTV on Saturday, April 20 -- Islanders vs. Hurricanes, Game 1 at 5:00 PM ET followed by Maple Leafs vs. Bruins, Game 1 at 8:00 PM ET.

- ESPN/ABC to present 14 first round matchups over four days, starting on Sunday, April 21 at 12:30 PM ET.

- ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TBS team up to broadcast first round action

With the NHL's 2023-24 regular season in the books, now is the time to look ahead to the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will kick off with a doubleheader of Game 1 action on TBS (and simulcasted on truTV) on Saturday, April 20. 

In the first game, the New York Islanders will visit the Carolina Hurricanes to open up the first round at 5:00 PM ET on TBS and truTV. Former Hurricanes commentator John Forslund will call the action with analysis provided by Jennifer Botterill and Darren Pang.

Then, in primetime on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs battle the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their series at 8:00 PM ET on TBS and truTV. TNT's lead commentary team of Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher will provide commentary.

The first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs then continues on Sunday, April 21 with four games on the ESPN family of networks.

Sunday's playoff action begins at 12:30 PM ET on ESPN with Game 1 of a first-round series between Tampa Bay Lightning and this year's Atlantic Division winner Florida Panthers. The Panthers' Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk look to match the offensive explosion of the Lightning and Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov. Bob Wischusen provides play-by-play commentary, with analyst Ryan Callahan and reporter Leah Hextall.

At 3:00 PM ET on Sunday afternoon on ESPN, the Washington Capitals and Alexander Ovechkin take on the team with the best record in the NHL this season - the President's Trophy winner New York Rangers for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between the teams at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers boast one of the best offenses in hockey this year - led by goals and assists leader Artemi Panarin. ESPN's lead commentary crew of Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro and Emily Kaplan will be on the call.

Sunday's postseason coverage then shifts to ESPN2 at 7:00 PM ET as the Colorado Avalanche and its points, goals, and assists leader Nathan MacKinnon hits the ice to play the Winnipeg Jets and their outstanding goalie Connor Hellebuyck - this season's William M. Jennings Trophy winner for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round. Play-by-play commentator John Buccigross & analyst Cassie Campbell-Pascall will describe the action from Winnipeg.

The final game of Sunday's quadrupleheader of postseason action goes back to the main ESPN channel at 10:00 PM ET (following the Rangers-Braves game on Sunday Night Baseball), the Nashville Predators and the Pacific Division champion Vancouver Canucks square off for Game 1 of the Western Conference opening round - after both teams missed the playoffs a season ago. The commentating duo of Mike Monaco & AJ Mleczko handle the broadcasting for this game.

The final two Game 1's of the opening round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs then will take place on Monday, April 22 (the other two Monday games are Game 2 of the Maple Leafs/Bruins series and Game 2 of the Islanders/Hurricanes series).

The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and reigning Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault invade Dallas to battle this year's best team in the West, the Dallas Stars, and its points and assists top dawg Jason Robertson in Game 1 of the best-of-seven First Round series at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan & Leah Hextall will provide commentary from Dallas.

In a rematch of last season's opening round series, the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid - who tied for a league-leading 100 assists this regular season - host Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings at 10:00 PM ET on ESPN2. Mike Monaco handles the play-by-play while analyst AJ Mleczko provides analysis of the action from her perspective.

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs first round will then continue with daily games through Monday, April 29. ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TBS will combine to air the first round games.

If necessary, information will be provided regarding any potential Game 5's, Game 6's or even a Game 7 or two.

Read on for a comprehensive breakdown of the opening round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the battle for the Stanley Cup begins in earnest this weekend.

• 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals (First Round) Series-by-Series Breakdown

|| Eastern Conference:

| (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A1) Florida Panthers - Florida wins series, 4-1 (Series begins on Sunday, April 21)

 vs

. Game 1 - Sunday, April 21 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN, 12:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 2 - Tuesday, April 23 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan

. Game 3 - Thursday, April 25 - Panthers at Lightning - TBS, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jody Shelley

. Game 4 - Saturday, April 27 - Panthers at Lightning - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre

. Game 5 - Monday, April 29 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Steve Levy, Kevin Weekes, Emily Kaplan

. Game 6 (if nec.) - Wednesday, May 1 - Panthers at Lightning - TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, May 4 - Lightning at Panthers - TBD

| (A3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A2) Boston Bruins - Series tied, 3-3 (Series begins on Saturday, April 20)

 vs

. Game 1 - Saturday, April 20 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

. Game 2 - Monday, April 22 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 3 - Wednesday, April 24 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 4 - Saturday, April 27 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Jim Jackson, Jody Shelley, Jackie Redmond

. Game 5 - Tuesday, April 30 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 6 - Thursday, May 2 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - TBS, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond

. Game 7 - Saturday, May 4 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

| (WC2) Washington Capitals vs. (M1) New York Rangers - NY Rangers wins series, 4-0 (Series begins on Sunday, April 21)

 vs

. Game 1 - Sunday, April 21 - Capitals at Rangers - ESPN, 3:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 2 - Tuesday, April 23 - Capitals at Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 3 - Friday, April 26 - Rangers at Capitals - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jody Shelley

. Game 4 - Sunday, April 28 - Rangers at Capitals - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Jody Shelley, Tarik El-Bashir

. Game 5 (if nec.) - Wednesday, May 1 - Capitals at Rangers - TBD

. Game 6 (if nec.) - Friday, May 3 - Rangers at Capitals - TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, May 5 - Capitals at Rangers - TBD

| (M3) New York Islanders vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes - Carolina wins series, 4-1 (Series begins on Saturday, April 20)

 vs

. Game 1 - Saturday, April 20 - Islanders at Hurricanes - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Jennifer Botterill, Darren Pang

. Game 2 - Monday, April 22 - Islanders at Hurricanes - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - Roxy Bernstein, Kevin Weekes

. Game 3 - Thursday, April 25 - Hurricanes at Islanders - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes, Blake Bolden

. Game 4 - Saturday, April 27 - Hurricanes at Islanders - TBS/truTV, 2:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Bryce Salvador

. Game 5 - Tuesday, April 30 - Islanders at Hurricanes - TBS, 7:30 PM (ET) - Jim Jackson, Jody Shelley, Bryce Salvador

. Game 6 (if nec.) - Thursday, May 2 - Hurricanes at Islanders - TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, May 4 - Islanders at Hurricanes - TBD

|| Western Conference:

| (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (C1) Dallas Stars - Dallas leads series, 3-2 (Series begins on Monday, April 22)

 vs

. Game 1 - Monday, April 22 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 2 - Wednesday, April 24 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 3 - Saturday, April 27 - Stars at Golden Knights - TBS/truTV, 10:30 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Alyson Lozoff

. Game 4 - Monday, April 29 - Stars at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 5 - Wednesday, May 1 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Emily Kaplan

. Game 6 - Friday, May 3 - Stars at Golden Knights - TNT, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, May 5 - Golden Knights at Stars - TBD

| (C3) Colorado Avalanche vs. (C2) Winnipeg Jets - Colorado wins series, 4-1 (Series begins on Sunday, April 21)

 vs

. Game 1 - Sunday, April 21 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN2, 7:00 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, Cassie Campbell-Pascall

. Game 2 - Tuesday, April 23 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

. Game 3 - Friday, April 26 - Jets at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 10:00 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Shane Hnidy

. Game 4 - Sunday, April 28 - Jets at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 2:30 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Steve Mears

. Game 5 - Tuesday, April 30 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

. Game 6 (if nec.) - Thursday, May 2 - Jets at Avalanche - TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Saturday, May 4 - Avalanche at Jets - TBD

| (WC1) Nashville Predators vs. (P1) Vancouver Canucks - Vancouver leads series, 3-2 (Series begins on Sunday, April 21)

 vs

. Game 1 - Sunday, April 21 - Predators at Canucks - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko

. Game 2 - Tuesday, April 23 - Predators at Canucks - ESPN2, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, Cassie Campbell-Pascall

. Game 3 - Friday, April 26 - Canucks at Predators - TBS, 7:30 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, Darren Pang, Kathryn Tappen

. Game 4 - Sunday, April 28 - Canucks at Predators - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, Darren Pang, Kathryn Tappen

. Game 5 - Tuesday, April 30 - Predators at Canucks - TBS, 10:00 PM (ET) - Steve Mears, Colby Armstrong, Nabil Karim

. Game 6 - Friday, May 3 - Canucks at Predators - TNT, 7:00 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, others TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, May 5 - Predators at Canucks - TBD

| (P3) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P2) Edmonton Oilers - Edmonton wins series, 4-1 (Series begins on Monday, April 22)

 vs

. Game 1 - Monday, April 22 - Kings at Oilers - ESPN2, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko

. Game 2 - Wednesday, April 24 - Kings at Oilers - TBS, 10:00 PM (ET) - Steve Mears, Colby Armstrong, Meaghan Mikkelson

. Game 3 - Friday, April 26 - Oilers at Kings - TBS, 10:30 PM (ET) - Randy Hahn, Bret Hedican, Alyson Lozoff

. Game 4 - Sunday, April 28 - Oilers at Kings - TBS/truTV, 10:30 PM (ET) - Randy Hahn, Bret Hedican, Alyson Lozoff

. Game 5 - Wednesday, May 1 - Kings at Oilers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

. Game 6 (if nec.) - Friday, May 3 - Oilers at Kings - TBD

. Game 7 (if nec.) - Sunday, May 5 -  Kings at Oilers - TBD

• 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Quarterfinals (First Round) Daily Television Schedule

| Saturday, April 20

. Game 1 - Islanders at Hurricanes - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Jennifer Botterill, Darren Pang

. Game 1 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher

| Sunday, April 21

. Game 1 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN, 12:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 1 - Capitals at Rangers - ESPN, 3:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 1 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN2, 7:00 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, Cassie Campbell-Pascall

. Game 1 - Predators at Canucks - ESPN2, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko

| Monday, April 22

. Game 2 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 2 - Islanders at Hurricanes - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - Roxy Bernstein, Kevin Weekes

. Game 1 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 1 - Kings at Oilers - ESPN2, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko

| Tuesday, April 23

. Game 2 - Capitals at Rangers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 2 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan

. Game 2 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

. Game 2 - Predators at Canucks - ESPN2, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, Cassie Campbell-Pascall

| Wednesday, April 24

. Game 3 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 2 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

. Game 2 - Kings at Oilers - TBS, 10:00 PM (ET) - Steve Mears, Colby Armstrong, Meaghan Mikkelson

| Thursday, April 25

. Game 3 - Panthers at Lightning - TBS, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jody Shelley

. Game 3 - Hurricanes at Islanders - ESPN2, 7:30 PM (ET) - John Buccigross, Kevin Weekes, Blake Bolden

| Friday, April 26

. Game 3 - Rangers at Capitals - TNT/truTV, 7:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jody Shelley

. Game 3 - Canucks at Predators - TBS, 7:30 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, Darren Pang, Kathryn Tappen

. Game 3 - Jets at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 10:00 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Shane Hnidy

. Game 3 - Oilers at Kings - TBS, 10:30 PM (ET) - Randy Hahn, Bret Hedican, Alyson Lozoff

| Saturday, April 27

. Game 4 - Hurricanes at Islanders - TBS/truTV, 2:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Bryce Salvador

. Game 4 - Panthers at Lightning - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill, Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre

. Game 4 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Jim Jackson, Jody Shelley, Jackie Redmond

. Game 3 - Stars at Golden Knights - TBS/truTV, 10:30 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Alyson Lozoff

| Sunday, April 28

. Game 4 - Jets at Avalanche - TNT/truTV, 2:30 PM (ET) - John Forslund, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Steve Mears

. Game 4 - Canucks at Predators - TBS/truTV, 5:00 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, Darren Pang, Kathryn Tappen

. Game 4 - Rangers at Capitals - TBS/truTV, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Jody Shelley, Tarik El-Bashir

. Game 4 - Oilers at Kings - TBS/truTV, 10:30 PM (ET) - Randy Hahn, Bret Hedican, Alyson Lozoff

| Monday, April 29

. Game 5 - Lightning at Panthers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Steve Levy, Kevin Weeks, Emily Kaplan

. Game 4 - Stars at Golden Knights - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Leah Hextall

| Tuesday, April 30

. Game 5 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

. Game 5 - Islanders at Hurricanes - TBS, 7:30 PM (ET) - Jim Jackson, Jody Shelley, Bryce Salvador

. Game 5 - Avalanche at Jets - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

. Game 5 - Predators at Canucks - TBS, 10:00 PM (ET) - Steve Mears, Colby Armstrong, Nabil Karim

| Wednesday, May 1

. Game 5 - Golden Knights at Stars - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ryan Callahan, Emily Kaplan

. Game 5 - Kings at Oilers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - Mike Monaco, AJ Mleczko, Leah Hextall

| Thursday, May 2

. Game 6 - Bruins at Maple Leafs - TBS, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond

| Friday, May 3

. Game 6 - Canucks at Predators - TNT, 7:00 PM (ET) - Brendan Burke, others TBD

. Game 6 - Stars at Golden Knights - TNT, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

| Saturday, May 4

. Game 7 - Maple Leafs at Bruins - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan

| Sunday, May 5

TBD

- Sources: SportsLogos.Net, Warner Bros. Discovery, ESPN Press Room

Credit to SportsLogos.Net for the NHL team logos and conference logos.

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