2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bracket, first-round schedule, and TV info

After all of the madness inside the NHL’s bubble in Canada in 2020, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are back to normal in 2021. Well, kind of.

The playoff field became set a few days before the postseason’s May 15 start date, with four teams from each of the NHL’s four new divisions for the 2020-2021 season advancing into one of the most unique brackets in hockey’s history.

>>RELATED: New year, new divisions, new rules: How the NHL is adapting to COVID-19

Some teams that generally find themselves in the Eastern Conference will find themselves preparing for what would usually be a Western Conference opponent in the second round, and there’s the potential for a Stanley Cup Final rematch in the semifinals of the bracket.

While the format may be different from years past, the amount of chaos that comes with the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will stay the same.

To get you prepared for some of the most exciting months of the sports calendar, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Bracket:

The bracket is set for the 2021 #StanleyCup Playoffs. #NHLStats

Make your predictions at https://t.co/SkSNLqqhAm before the action gets underway on Saturday. #NHLBracket pic.twitter.com/IcsB8xojE7

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 14, 2021

Schedule:

MassMutual East Division:

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders

• Game 1: Sunday, May 16 at 12 p.m. ET on NBC and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 3: Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 4: Saturday, May 22 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Sportsnet
• Game 5: Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet One
• Game 6: Wednesday, May 26, at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins

• Game 1: Saturday, May 15 at 7:15 p.m. ET on NBC and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Monday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 3: Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 4: Friday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet East
• Game 5: Sunday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network and Sportsnet One

Discover Central Division:

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators

• Game 1: Monday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet East
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and FX Canada
• Game 3: Friday, May 21 at 7 p.m. ET on USA and FXX Canada
• Game 4: Sunday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet 360
• Game 6: Thursday, May 27, 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet 360

No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

• Game 1: Sunday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Tuesday, May 18 at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet East
• Game 3: Thursday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. ET on USA and FX Canada
• Game 4: Saturday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet
• Game 5: Monday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and FX Canada
• Game 6: Wednesday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet 360

Honda West Division:

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues

• Game 1: Monday, May 17 at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet One
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet 360
• Game 3: Friday, May 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET on USA and Sportsnet 360
• Game 4: Sunday, May 23 at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet 360

No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild

• Game 1: Sunday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Tuesday, May 18 at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet 360
• Game 3: Thursday, May 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet 360
• Game 4: Saturday, May 22 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Sportsnet 360
• Game 5: Monday, May 24 at 10:30 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet One
• Game 6: Wednesday, May 26 at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 7: Friday, May 28 at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet

Scotia North Division:

No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens

• Game 1: Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET on the NHL Network and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC and Sportsnet
• Game 3: Monday, May 24 at 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network and Sportsnet
• Game 4: Tuesday, May 25, time TBD
• Game 5: Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 6: Saturday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 7 (if needed): Monday, May 31, time TBD

No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets

• Game 1: Wednesday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 2: Friday, May 21 at 9 p.m. on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 3: Sunday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet
• Game 4: Monday, May 24 at 9:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Sportsnet

Who’s your pick to win the Stanley Cup in 2021? Let us know by following @SOTSports on Twitter or by liking our Facebook page!