Following the end of the regular National Hockey League season, the top three teams from each of the four divisions competed to earn the Stanley Cup. 

Round one consisted of 16 teams. The Colorado Avalanche faced off against the Seattle Kraken, ending with a series final of 4-3 in favor of Seattle. The Dallas Stars played the Minnesota Wild, with Dallas winning the series 4-3. The Vegas Golden Knights won their series against the Winnipeg Jets 4-2. The Edmonton Oilers played the Los Angeles Kings and won 4-2. 

The biggest upset was the first overall team in the league who won the most games in a regular season in NHL history, the Boston Bruins lost to the 17 overall Florida Panthers 4-3. The Toronto Maple Leafs also made history by making it out of the first round for the first time in almost 20 years. They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2.

The Carolina Hurricanes played the New York Islanders and advanced to the second round 4-2. Finally to end the first round, the New Jersey Devils played the New York Rangers and the Devils won the series 4-3. 

In the second round, the Kraken lost to the Stars in a 4-3 series, which caused the Stars to move on the the semi-finals. The Golden Knights beat the Oilers 4-2 and the Panthers eliminated the Leafs 4-1. To end the second round, the Hurricanes beat the Devils in a 4-1.

For the third round, the Stars currently are leading the series 2-0 against the Golden Knights. The Panthers also led their series against the Hurricanes 2-0. 

On May. 18, both the Hurricanes and Panthers set out to advance to the final round and eliminate their opponent. The game looked to be in favor of the Panthers after two periods, but Carolina right-winger Stefan Noesen tied the game at the beginning of the third period. After one overtime period, the game was still tied. During a regular season game, the teams would proceed to a shootout after the first overtime, however during the playoffs the teams will continue to play 20 minute periods of overtime until one of the teams eventually scores. 

Finally, with only 12.7 seconds left in the fourth overtime, Panthers left-winger Matthew Tkachuk scored and immediately left the ice. Game one lasted 2 hours, 19 minutes and 47 seconds. It was the sixth-longest game in NHL history and replaced game four of the Capitals-Penguins series from 1996. 

The Panthers-Hurricanes game started Thursday night and ended at 1:54 am the following day. Some fans were even featured on camera asleep.

Dallas center, Roope Hintz leads in playoff points with 22 and Oilers center Leon Draisaitl leads in goals with 13.