Caption: The logo for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. | Photo credit: Tamir Moore (Canva).
- ESPN/ABC to exclusively televise the Eastern Conference Finals (Florida vs. NY Rangers) while TNT/truTV exclusively the Western Conference Finals (Edmonton vs. Dallas).
- Florida Panthers and New York Rangers to meet in the postseason for just the second time, and for the first time since 1997.
- Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars renew a familiar rivalry, as the teams meet in the playoffs for the ninth time ever, and for the first time in 21 years (2003).
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will continue this week with the start of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, May 22 (Panthers vs. Rangers) on ESPN and the Western Conference Finals on Thursday, May 23 (Oilers vs. Stars) on TNT & truTV. We are now halfway home in terms of the postseason action.
On Wednesday, May 22, the 2024 Presidents' Trophy winner, the New York Rangers, look to continue their historic playoff run as the team finds themselves in the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons. With home-ice advantage in this series, the Rangers and their playoff leading scorers Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kredier and Vincent Trocheck go up against Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Rinehart, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers, making their second straight Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
The Rangers look to make the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2014, and win a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1994. As for the Panthers, they swept the Hurricanes in last year's Eastern Conference Final, advancing to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights. Florida tries to earn redemption and atonement for the sour ending to last season. Furthermore, the Panthers are still trying to capture their first Stanley Cup in franchise history (the Panthers have been around since 1993).
The Rangers and Panthers are meeting in the playoffs for the first time since 1997, when the Rangers dispatched the Panthers in five games in the Conference Quarterfinals (first round).
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN. ESPN NHL lead play-by-play commentator Sean McDonough, analyst Ray Ferraro, and reporter Emily Kaplan will provide commentary for Game 1 and for the entire duration of the Panthers vs. Rangers series (McDonough missed Game 2 due to illness, so Bob Wischusen replaced him for that game).
ESPN's studio coverage for the Eastern Conference Final is led by host Steve Levy, joined by Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup winner Mark Messier and three-time All-Star P.K. Subban.
Then, the next night, Thursday, May 23, at 8:30 PM ET, on TNT and truTV, the Western Conference Finals will get underway from the American Airlines Center in Dallas where the Dallas Stars, led by Jason Robertson and others, host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of the best-of-seven Conference Final series. These teams are meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2003, when the Stars bested the Oilers in six games during the Conference Quarterfinals (first round).
Seeking the franchise's second Stanley Cup championship and first one since 1999, the Dallas Stars have been able to vanquish the last two Stanley Cup champions, the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in seven games and the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in six games - advancing to the team's Western Conference Final appearance in the last five seasons.
The Oilers are back in the Western Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons, seeking to hoist their sixth Stanley Cup ever and for the first time since 1990. Connor McDavid, who has earned the title of being one of the top hockey players in the sport, and his team took out the Los Angeles Kings in five games and the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.
Describing the action for the whole series is play-by-play commentator Kenny Albert, analysts Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher, and reporter Jackie Redmond.
Turner's studio for the Western Conference Final will feature host Liam McHugh, Hall of Fame goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, 10-year NHL veteran Anson Carter, Calder Cup champion Paul Bissonnette, and of course, the legend himself Wayne Gretzky.
The Conference Finals will then continue with games every single night through at least Wednesday, May 29, with additional games being played (if necessary) from Thursday, May 30 to Tuesday, June 4.
For more information about prior rounds of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, go check out these links at your earliest convenience -- Quarterfinals (first round), click here; Semifinals (second round), click here.
The comprehensive series breakdown, daily television schedule & announcing assignments for the 2024 Eastern and Western Conference Finals are attached 🖇 below:
- 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Finals Series-by-Series Breakdown
Eastern Conference:
| (A1) Florida Panthers vs. (M1) New York Rangers - Florida wins series, 4-2 (Series begins on Wednesday, May 22)
. Game 1 - Wednesday, May 22 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
. Game 2 - Friday, May 24 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
- Bob Wischusen replaces Sean McDonough (illness)
. Game 3 - Sunday, May 26 - Rangers at Panthers - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
. Game 4 - Tuesday, May 28 - Rangers at Panthers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
. Game 5 - Thursday, May 30 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
. Game 6 - Saturday, June 1 - Rangers at Panthers - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
. * Game 7 (if nec.) - Monday, June 3 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
Western Conference:
| (P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (C1) Dallas Stars - Edmonton wins series, 4-2 (Series begins on Thursday, May 23)
. Game 1 - Thursday, May 23 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. Game 2 - Saturday, May 25 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. Game 3 - Monday, May 27 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. Game 4 - Wednesday, May 29 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. Game 5 - Friday, May 31 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. Game 6 - Sunday, June 2 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
. * Game 7 (if nec.) - Tuesday, June 4 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
- 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Finals Daily Television Schedule
| Wednesday, May 22
. Game 1 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
| Thursday, May 23
. Game 1 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
| Friday, May 24
. Game 2 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Bob Wischusen, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
- Bob Wischusen replaces Sean McDonough (illness)
| Saturday, May 25
. Game 2 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
| Sunday, May 26
. Game 3 - Rangers at Panthers - ABC, 3:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
| Monday, May 27
. Game 3 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
| Tuesday, May 28
. Game 4 - Rangers at Panthers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
| Wednesday, May 29
. Game 4 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
| Thursday, May 30
. Game 5 - Panthers at Rangers - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
| Friday, May 31
. Game 5 - Oilers at Stars - TNT, 8:30 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
| Saturday, June 1
. Game 6 - Rangers at Panthers - ABC, 8:00 PM (ET) - Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan
| Sunday, June 2
. Game 6 - Stars at Oilers - TNT, 8:00 PM (ET) - Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Jackie Redmond
- Note: Mandatory credit to SportsLogos.Net for the NHL team logos (and other logos) used for this article.
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