2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Game 1: New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes
How to watch
Start time: 5:00 PM EDT / 2:00 PM PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet (English) TVA Sports (French)
In the U.S.: TBS
Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
Things got off to a slow start when Patrick Roy took over the New York Islanders, but the coach moulded the defence to his liking, and that helped the Islanders stabilize things enough to not only make the playoffs, but do so as a seeded team to avoid the best clubs in the conference. They’ll start off versus a Carolina Hurricanes team that is trying to end a long cycle of being a great regular-season team but stumbling when the playoffs come around.
Game 1: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Boston Bruins
How to watch
Start time: 8:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM PDT
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English) TVA Sports (French)
In the U.S.: TBS
Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+, Sportsnet+
Speaking of regular-season teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up in the third spot in the Atlantic Division after some very impressive campaigns from the likes of Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Toronto finally brought a long streak of losing in the first round to close last year by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning, then won just one game in the second round versus the Florida Panthers. First up this season they have to play a Boston Bruins team that finished the year with 109 points, but will be playing their first post-season without Patrice Bergeron since 2008.