There will soon be just eight NHL teams in contention for the Stanley Cup.

The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is nearing its conclusion, with all four Eastern Conference series and two Western Conference series wrapped up.

The Metropolitan Division’s No. 2-seeded Carolina Hurricanes were the first team to advance to the conference semifinals, taking down the Metro’s No. 3-seeded New Jersey Devils in five games. Sebastian Aho scored a series-clinching goal in double-overtime of Game 5, booking the franchise’s fifth consecutive conference semifinal appearance.

The second team to reach Round 2 also happens to be Carolina’s next opponent: the East’s No. 1-seeded Washington Capitals. Alex Ovechkin and the Caps made it out of the first round for the first time since their 2018 Stanley Cup title run by eliminating the wild-card Montreal Canadiens in five games.

The conference semis will also feature the defending champion Florida Panthers. Florida, the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, bounced the Tampa Bay Lighting, the Atlantic’s No. 2 seed, in five games in Round 1 for a second straight postseason. The Panthers, who last year won their first Stanley Cup title, are looking to join an exclusive group of repeat winners.

Florida will continue its title defense against the Atlantic’s No. 1-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs won the Battle of Ontario over the wild-card Ottawa Senators in six games, moving them one step closer to snapping the franchise’s record Stanley Cup drought. Florida beat Toronto in five games when the two teams met in Round 2 of the 2023 postseason.

The Pacific Division’s top-seeded Vegas Golden Knights were the first Western Conference team to advance after eliminating the wild-card Minnesota Wild in six games. Vegas will next meet last year’s Stanley Cup runners-up, the Pacific’s No. 3-seeded Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton overcame a 2-0 series deficit against the Pacific’s No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Kings, recording four straight comeback wins to bounce L.A. from Round 1 of the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

With two second-round berths still to be awarded, what could the other conference semifinal matchups look like? And when will the next round begin? Here’s what we know:

When does Round 2 of the NHL playoffs start?

The NHL hasn’t announced a start date for Round 2 yet. For what it’s worth, the last potential Game 7 of the first round is slated for Sunday, May 4.

Do the NHL playoffs reseed teams?

Just like the NBA playoffs, teams aren’t reseeded after the first round of the NHL postseason. The Stanley Cup Playoffs have a bracket format.

What are the matchups in Round 2 of the NHL playoffs?

Here’s an updated look at the Round 2 bracket possibilities:

Eastern Conference

• Florida Panthers (Atlantic No. 3) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic No. 1)
• Carolina Hurricanes (Metro No. 2) vs. Washington Capitals (Metro No. 1)

Western Conference

• Winner of Winnipeg Jets-St. Louis Blues vs. winner of Dallas Stars-Colorado Avalanche
• Edmonton Oilers (Pacific No. 3) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific No. 1)

What is the Round 2 schedule in the NHL playoffs?

This section will be updated as second-round schedule details are released (* = if necessary):

Eastern Conference

Hurricanes vs. Capitals

• Game 1: Hurricanes at Capitals — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 2: Hurricanes at Capitals — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 3: Capitals at Hurricanes — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Capitals at Hurricanes — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Hurricanes at Capitals — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Capitals at Hurricanes — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Hurricanes at Capitals — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs

• Game 1: Panthers at Maple Leafs — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 2: Panthers at Maple Leafs — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 3: Maple Leafs at Panthers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Maple Leafs at Panthers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Panthers at Maple Leafs — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Maple Leafs at Panthers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Panthers at Maple Leafs — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD

Western Conference

Oilers vs. Golden Knights

• Game 1: Oilers at Golden Knights — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 2: Oilers at Golden Knights — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 3: Golden Knights at Oilers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Golden Knights at Oilers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Oilers at Golden Knights — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Golden Knights at Oilers — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Oilers at Golden Knights — date TBD, time TBD, TV channel TBD