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2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Central: Schedule, scores, highlights, analysis

From the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs all the way through the Final, ESPN has you covered. Check out the full playoff picture, including previews, analysis, highlights, scores and more for each team and series.

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Stanley Cup Final

Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues

Game 1 (@BOS): Bruins 4, Blues 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@BOS): Blues 3, Bruins 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 3 (@STL): Bruins 7, Blues 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@STL): Blues 4, Bruins 2 | Recap
Game 5 (@BOS): Blues 2, Bruins 1 Recap
Game 6 (@STL): Bruins 5, Blues 1 | Recap
Game 7 (@BOS): Blues 4, Bruins 1 Recap

Conference Final Round


Boston Bruins (Atlantic No. 2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Wild card No. 1)

Will the magic run for the "Bunch of Jerks" continue, or will Boston get back to the Stanley Cup Final for one more shot with their veteran core group?

Game 1 (@ BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@ BOS): Bruins 6, Hurricanes 2 | Recap
Game 3 (@ CAR): Bruins 2, Hurricanes 1 | Recap
Game 4 (@ CAR): Bruins 4, Hurricanes 0 | Recap


San Jose Sharks (Pacific No. 2) vs. St. Louis Blues (Central No. 3)

The Sharks and Blues both won epic Game 7s to reach this point. Can the NHL's hottest second-half team continue its run, or will the power of the Joes (Thornton and Pavelski) carry San Jose back to the Stanley Cup Final?

Game 1 (@ SJ): Sharks 6, Blues 3 | Recap
Game 2 (@ SJ): Blues 4, Sharks 2 | Recap
Game 3 (@ STL): Sharks 5, Blues 4 (OT) | Recap
Game 4 (@ STL): Blues 2, Sharks 1 | Recap
Game 5 (@ SJ): Blues 5, Sharks 0 | Recap
Game 6 (@ STL): Blues 5, Sharks 1 | Recap

Second Round


Boston Bruins (Atlantic No. 2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (Wild card No. 2)

The Blue Jackets shocked the world with their first-round sweep of the Lightning, while the Bruins outlasted the Maple Leafs in a seven-game thriller... again.

Game 1 (@BOS): Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 2 (@BOS): Blue Jackets 3, Bruins 2 (2OT) | Recap
Game 3 (@CBJ): Blue Jackets 2, Bruins 1 | Recap
Game 4 (@CBJ): Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 1 | Recap
Game 5 (@BOS): Bruins 4, Blue Jackets 3 | Recap
Game 6 (@CBJ): Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 0 | Recap


New York Islanders (Metro No. 2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Wild card No. 1)

The Islanders swept Sidney Crosby out of the playoffs for the first time in his career, while the Hurricanes eliminated the defending Cup champion Capitals in seven.

Game 1 (@NYI): Hurricanes 1, Islanders 0 (OT) | Recap
Game 2 (@NYI): Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 | Recap
Game 3 (@CAR): Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@CAR): Hurricanes 5, Islanders 2 | Recap


St. Louis Blues (Central No. 3) vs. Dallas Stars (Wild card No. 1)

The Blues continued their hot run from the second half of the season in dispatching the Jets, while the Stars relied on fantastic goaltending from Ben Bishop in outlasting the Predators.

Game 1 (@STL): Blues 3, Stars 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@STL): Stars 4, Blues 2 | Recap
Game 3 (@DAL): Blues 4, Stars 3 | Recap
Game 4 (@DAL): Stars 4, Blues 2 | Recap
Game 5 (@STL): Stars 2, Blues 1 | Recap
Game 6 (@DAL): Blues 4, Stars 1 | Recap
Game 7 (@STL): Blues 2, Stars 1 (2OT) | Recap


San Jose Sharks (Pacific No. 2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (Wild card No. 2)

The Sharks survived a thrilling, seven-game series to overcome the Golden Knights, while the Avalanche outclassed the Flames in a five-game series victory.

Game 1 (@SJ): Sharks 5, Avalanche 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@SJ): Avalanche 4, Sharks 3 | Recap
Game 3 (@COL): Sharks 4, Avalanche 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@COL): Avalanche 3, Sharks 0 | Recap
Game 5 (@SJ): Sharks 2, Avalanche 1 | Recap
Game 6 (@COL): Avalanche 4, Sharks 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 7 (@SJ): Sharks 3, Avalanche 2 | Recap

First Round


Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic No. 1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (Wild card No. 2)

The unthinkable has happened: The Columbus Blue Jackets have swept the Tampa Bay Lightning out of the playoffs in the first round. Tampa tied the NHL record for regular season wins, and failed to win a single game in the postseason. The Jackets advance with a 7-3 Game 4 victory, their first playoff series win in franchise history.

Greg Wyshynski, ESPN6y ago

Game 1 (@TB): Blue Jackets 4, Lightning 3 | Recap
Game 2 (@TB): Blue Jackets 5, Lightning 1 | Recap
Game 3 (@CBJ): Blue Jackets 3, Lightning 1 | Recap
Game 4 (@CBJ): Blue Jackets 7, Lightning 3 | Recap


Boston Bruins (Atlantic No. 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic No. 3)

The Bruins-Maple Leafs matchup seemed preordained for months. Can the addition of John Tavares carry the rest of the Leafs to finally slay their demons?

Game 1 (@BOS): Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 1 | Recap
Game 2 (@BOS): Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 1 | Recap
Game 3 (@TOR): Maple Leafs 3, Bruins 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@TOR): Bruins 6, Maple Leafs 4 | Recap
Game 5 (@BOS): Maple Leafs 2, Bruins 1 | Recap
Game 6 (@TOR): Bruins 4, Maple Leafs 2 | Recap
Game 7 (@BOS): Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 1 | Recap


Washington Capitals (Metro No. 1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Wild card No. 1)

The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals look as strong as ever heading into the playoffs. But the Hurricanes have been proving doubters wrong all season -- and having lots of fun while at it.

Game 1 (@WSH): Capitals 4, Hurricanes 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@WSH): Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 3 (@CAR): Hurricanes 5, Capitals 0 | Recap
Game 4 (@CAR): Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 | Recap
Game 5 (@WSH): Capitals 6, Hurricanes 0 | Recap
Game 6 (@CAR): Hurricanes 5, Capitals 2 | Recap
Game 7 (@WSH): Hurricanes 4, Capitals 3 (2OT) | Recap


New York Islanders (Metro No. 2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Metro No. 3)

The Islanders were one of the NHL's best stories this season, while the Penguins still feature a one-two punch of all-time legends in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Game 1 (@NYI): Islanders 4, Penguins 3 (OT) | Recap
Game 2 (@NYI): Islanders 3, Penguins 1 | Recap
Game 3 (@PIT): Islanders 4, Penguins 1 | Recap
Game 4 (@PIT): Islanders 3, Penguins 1 | Recap


Western Conference

Nashville Predators (Central No. 1) vs. Dallas Stars (Wild card No. 1)

The Predators look poised for another deep run in the playoffs. But Tyler Seguin and the Stars are standing in their way in the first round.

Game 1 (@NSH): Stars 3, Predators 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@NSH): Predators 2, Stars 1 (OT) | Recap
Game 3 (@DAL): Predators 3, Stars 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@DAL): Stars 5, Predators 1 | Recap
Game 5 (@NSH): Stars 5, Predators 3 | Recap
Game 6 (@DAL): Stars 2, Predators 1 (OT) | Recap


Winnipeg Jets (Central No. 2) vs. St. Louis Blues (Central No. 3)

The Jets entered the season among the top Stanley Cup favorites, but they faltered a bit due to injuries. Meanwhile, the Blues came back from the depths of the Western Conference basement, and they were one of the hottest teams in the second half of the season.

Game 1 (@WPG): Blues 2, Jets 1 | Recap
Game 2 (@WPG): Blues 4, Jets 3 | Recap
Game 3 (@STL): Jets 6, Blues 3 | Recap
Game 4 (@STL): Jets 2, Blues 1 (OT) | Recap
Game 5 (@WPG): Blues 3, Jets 2 | Recap
Game 6 (@STL): Blues 3, Jets 2 | Recap


Calgary Flames (Pacific No. 1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (Wild card No. 2)

The Flames roared to the top of the Western Conference this season on the strength of a Hart Trophy-caliber campaign from Johnny Gaudreau, while the Avalanche narrowly qualified for the playoffs.

Game 1 (@CGY): Flames 4, Avalanche 0 | Recap
Game 2 (@CGY): Avalanche 3, Flames 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 3 (@COL): Avalanche 6, Flames 2 | Recap
Game 4 (@COL): Avalanche 3, Flames 2 (OT) | Recap
Game 5 (@CGY): Avalanche 5, Flames 1 | Recap


San Jose Sharks (Pacific No. 2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific No. 3)

The evenly matched Sharks and Golden Knights will square off in a matchup that may well go down as the best of the entire playoffs.

Game 1 (@SJ): Sharks 5, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 2 (@SJ): Golden Knights 5, Sharks 3 | Recap
Game 3 (@VGS): Golden Knights 6, Sharks 3 | Recap
Game 4 (@VGS): Golden Knights 5, Sharks 0 | Recap
Game 5 (@SJ): Sharks 5, Golden Knights 2 | Recap
Game 6 (@VGS): Sharks 2, Golden Knights 1 (2OT) | Recap
Game 7 (@SJ): Sharks 5, Golden Knights 4 (OT) | Recap