What we know about Round 2 of the NHL playoffs: Matchups, start date and schedule

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

The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is about to conclude, with just one of the eight series not yet decided. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets and wild-card will close out the first round in a .

The Metropolitan Division's were the first team to advance to the conference semifinals, taking down the Metro's in five games. scored a series-clinching goal in double-overtime of , booking the .

The second team to reach Round 2 also happens to be Carolina's next opponent: the East's No. 1-seeded . and the Caps since their 2018 Stanley Cup title run by eliminating the wild-card in five games.

The conference semis will also feature the defending champion . Florida, the Atlantic Division's No. 3 seed, bounced the , 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 . The Leafs won the Battle of Ontario over the wild-card in six games, moving them one step closer to snapping the franchise's record Stanley Cup drought. Florida when the two teams met in Round 2 of the 2023 postseason.

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

The Central Division's No. 2-seeded Dallas Stars outlasted the No. 3-seeded in what was arguably the most entertaining first-round series -- and it finished in dramatic fashion. The Stars overcame a 2-0 third-period deficit in Game 7 as 's hat trick against the team that traded him just months ago powered a 4-2 comeback win. It's the from the playoffs.

The Stars' next opponent will also be coming off a Game 7 triumph, as they'll face the winner of Blues-Jets. Dallas will have home-ice advantage only if its opponent is St. Louis.

So, when will the conference semis start? And what's the schedule? Here's what we know:

When does Round 2 of the NHL playoffs start?

The second round is slated to get underway Monday, May 5.

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?

Three of the four second-round matchups are set, with the Stars set to face either the Jets or Blues:

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. Dallas Stars (Central No. 2)
• Edmonton Oilers (Pacific No. 3) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific No. 1)

What's 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 -- Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Hurricanes at Capitals -- Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Capitals at Hurricanes -- Saturday, May 10, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Capitals at Hurricanes -- Monday, May 12, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Hurricanes at Capitals -- Thursday, May 15, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Capitals at Hurricanes -- Saturday, May 17, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Hurricanes at Capitals -- Monday, May 19, time TBD, TV channel TBD

Panthers vs. Maple Leafs

• Game 1: Panthers at Maple Leafs -- Monday, May 5, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Panthers at Maple Leafs -- Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Maple Leafs at Panthers -- Friday, May 9, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Maple Leafs at Panthers -- Sunday, May 11, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Panthers at Maple Leafs -- Wednesday, May 14, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Maple Leafs at Panthers -- Friday, May 16, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Panthers at Maple Leafs -- Sunday, May 18, time TBD, TV channel TBD

Western Conference

Oilers vs. Golden Knights

• Game 1: Oilers at Golden Knights -- Tuesday, May 6, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 2: Oilers at Golden Knights -- Thursday, May 8, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 3: Golden Knights at Oilers -- Saturday, May 10, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 4: Golden Knights at Oilers -- Monday, May 12, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 5*: Oilers at Golden Knights -- Wednesday, May 14, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 6*: Golden Knights at Oilers -- Friday, May 16, time TBD, TV channel TBD
• Game 7*: Oilers at Golden Knights -- Sunday, May 18, time TBD, TV channel TBD