2018 Stanley Cup playoffs#(A2) Boston Bruins vs. (A3) Toronto Maple Leafs

{{Further|Stanley Cup playoffs#Current format}}

This was the fifth year in which the top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference (for a total of eight playoff teams from each conference).

The following teams qualified for the playoffs:{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/standings/2017|title=2017–2018 Wild Card Standings|website=NHL.com|access-date=March 16, 2018}}

1. Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlantic Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions – 113 points
2. Boston Bruins – 112 points
3. Toronto Maple Leafs – 105 points

1. Washington Capitals, Metropolitan Division champions – 105 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 100 points
3. Philadelphia Flyers – 98 points

1. Columbus Blue Jackets – 97 points (39 {{abbr|ROWs|Regulation + Overtime Wins}}, 6 points head-to-head vs. New Jersey)
2. New Jersey Devils – 97 points (39 {{abbr|ROWs|Regulation + Overtime Wins}}, 2 points head-to-head vs. Columbus)

1. Nashville Predators, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 117 points
2. Winnipeg Jets – 114 points
3. Minnesota Wild – 101 points

1. Vegas Golden Knights, Pacific Division champions – 109 points
2. Anaheim Ducks – 101 points
3. San Jose Sharks – 100 points

1. Los Angeles Kings – 98 points
2. Colorado Avalanche – 95 points

In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team was at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference, for a total of eight teams from each conference.

In the first round, the lower seeded wild card in the conference played against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card played against the other division winner, and both wild cards were de facto #4 seeds. The other series matched the second and third place teams from the divisions. In the first two rounds, home ice advantage was awarded to the team with the better seed. Thereafter, it was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.

{{:2017–18 NHL season|transcludesection=Bracket}}

;Legend

• A1, A2, A3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Atlantic Division, respectively
• M1, M2, M3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Metropolitan Division, respectively
• C1, C2, C3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Central Division, respectively
• P1, P2, P3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Pacific Division, respectively
• WC – Wild Card teams

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished first in the Atlantic Division earning 113 points. New Jersey finished as the Eastern Conference's second wild card, earning 97 points. This was the third playoff meeting between these teams with New Jersey winning both previous series. They last met in the 2007 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which New Jersey won in six games. New Jersey won all three games in this year's regular season series.

The Lightning defeated the Devils in five games. Although Taylor Hall scored his first playoff goal in game one, the Devils were beaten 5–2 as Ondrej Palat recorded three points for Tampa Bay.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-tbl/2018/04/12/2017030111#game=2017030111,game_state=final,game_tab=wrap|title=Lightning handle Devils in Game 1 win|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.|date=April 12, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} In game two, a four-goal barrage by the Lightning during the second period forced Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid to be pulled. Tampa won the game 5–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-297992550|title=Lightning score five vs. Devils in Game 2, extend series lead|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 14, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} The Devils recovered in game three as Taylor Hall scored a goal and two assists in a 5–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-new-jersey-devils-game-3-recap/c-298046500|title=Schneider, Devils defeat Lightning in Game 3|last=Morreale|first=Mike G.|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 16, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} J. T. Miller and Nikita Kucherov both had three points in a 3–1 victory for the Lightning in game four.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-new-jersey-devils-game-recap/c-298107318|title=Lightning add to series lead with Game 4 win against Devils|last=Satriano|first=David|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 18, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 18, 2018}} In game five, Kucherov's goal was the series-winner as the Lightning held off a late attack by the Devils to win 3–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298177264|title=Lightning defeat Devils, advance to second round|last=Long|first=Corey|date=April 21, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=New Jersey Devils

|team2=Tampa Bay Lightning

|stadium2=Prudential Center

|stadium1=Amalie Arena

|date1 =April 12

|score1 =2–5

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-tampa-bay-lightning-game-1-recap/c-297941972

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =15:00 – Ondrej Palat (1)
19:31 – Tyler Johnson (1)

|1-2-1 =Taylor Hall (1) – 13:55

|1-2-2 =01:54 – pp – Yanni Gourde (1)

|1-3-1 =Travis Zajac (1) – pp – 09:35

|1-3-2 =12:14 – Alex Killorn (1)
18:48 – en – Nikita Kucherov (1)

|goalie1-1 =Keith Kinkaid 27 saves / 31 shots

|goalie1-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 29 saves / 31 shots

|date2 =April 14

|score2 =3–5

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-297992550

|2-1-1 =Nico Hischier (1) – 13:38

|2-1-2 =12:15 – Brayden Point (1)

|2-2-1 =Sami Vatanen (1) – 19:34

|2-2-2 =03:14 – pp – Alex Killorn (2)
04:36 – Tyler Johnson (2)
06:01 – Nikita Kucherov (2)
13:12 – pp – Alex Killorn (3)

|2-3-1 =Blake Coleman (1) – 11:57

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Keith Kinkaid 10 saves / 15 shots
Cory Schneider 10 saves / 10 shots

|goalie2-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 41 saves / 44 shots

|date3 =April 16

|score3 =2–5

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-new-jersey-devils-game-3-recap/c-298046500

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =12:24 – Taylor Hall (2)

|3-2-2 =Alex Killorn (4) – pp – 00:42

|3-3-1 =04:03 – pp – Will Butcher (1)
12:55 – Stefan Noesen (1)
19:02 – sh-en – Blake Coleman (2)
19:22 – en – Ben Lovejoy (1)

|3-3-2 =Steven Stamkos (1) – pp – 00:38

|goalie3-1 =Cory Schneider 34 saves / 36 shots

|goalie3-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 36 saves / 39 shots

|date4 =April 18

|score4 =3–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-new-jersey-devils-game-recap/c-298107318

|4-1-1 =08:23 – pp – Kyle Palmieri (1)

|4-1-2 =J. T. Miller (1) – 11:30
Nikita Kucherov (3) – 15:02

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Nikita Kucherov (4) – en – 18:52

|goalie4-1 =Cory Schneider 34 saves / 36 shots

|goalie4-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 27 saves / 28 shots

|date5 =April 21

|score5 =1–3

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298177264

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =08:07 – Mikhail Sergachev (1)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Patrick Maroon (1) – 17:00

|5-3-2 =12:27 – Nikita Kucherov (5)
19:58 – en – Ryan Callahan (1)

|goalie5-1 =Cory Schneider 35 saves / 37 shots

|goalie5-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 26 saves / 27 shots

|series = Tampa Bay won series 4–1

}}

The Boston Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division earning 112 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs earned 105 points to finish third in the Atlantic Division. This was the fifteenth playoff meeting between these two teams with Toronto winning eight of the fourteen previous series. They last met in the 2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which Boston won in seven games. Toronto won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs in seven games. Tuukka Rask made 26 saves for the Bruins in game one, winning the game 5–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-1-recap/c-297941620|title=Bruins score five in Game 1 win against Maple Leafs|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 12, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} During the game, Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was given a five-minute major for a charging penalty for his hit on Tommy Wingels; he would later be suspended for three games.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-nazem-kadri-suspended-3-games-hit-wingels/|title=Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri suspended 3 games for hit on Wingels|publisher=Rogers Media|date=April 13, 2018|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=April 14, 2018}} David Pastrnak had a hat trick and three assists in a 7–3 victory for the Bruins in game two, becoming the first player since Claude Giroux in 2012 to score a hat trick and three assists.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/23178287/david-pastrnak-boston-bruins-rare-6-point-postseason-game|title=David Pastrnak tallies 3 goals, 3 assists as Bruins crumple Leafs|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=April 14, 2018|website=ESPN.com|access-date=April 16, 2018}} In game three, Patrick Marleau scored twice for the Maple Leafs in a 4–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-3-recap/c-298042618|title=Marleau, Maple Leafs defeat Bruins in Game 3|last=McCarthy|first=Dave|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 16, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 20, 2018}} Pastrnak assisted twice on two goals in a 3–1 triumph for the Bruins, taking a 3–1 series lead in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-4-recap/c-298134850|title=Bruins push Maple Leafs to brink with Game 4 win|last=McCarthy|first=Dave|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 19, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 20, 2018}} In game five, Toronto prevented a come-back by Boston, fending off the Bruins 4–3 as Frederik Andersen made 42 saves for the Maple Leafs.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-5-recap/c-298184646|title=Maple Leafs extend series with Game 5 win against Bruins|last=Kalman|first=Matt|date=April 21, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2018}} Nikita Zaitsev assisted twice in a 3–1 Maple Leafs victory, forcing a seventh game in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-6-recap/c-298219828|title=Andersen makes 32 saves, Maple Leafs top Bruins in Game 6|last=McCarthy|first=Dave|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 23, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2018}} In game seven, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron scored a goal and recorded two assists in a 7–4 victory to advance his team to the second round.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-298256440|title=Bruins advance with Game 7 win against Maple Leafs|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 25, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 26, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Toronto Maple Leafs

|team2=Boston Bruins

|stadium2=Air Canada Centre

|stadium1=TD Garden

|date1 =April 12

|score1 =1–5

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-1-recap/c-297941620

|1-1-1 =Zach Hyman (1) – 16:52

|1-1-2 =05:28 – pp – Brad Marchand (1)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =15:43 – pp – David Backes (1)
19:22 – David Pastrnak (1)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =07:41 – Sean Kuraly (1)
11:29 – pp – David Krejci (1)

|goalie1-1 =Frederik Andersen 35 saves / 40 shots

|goalie1-2 =Tuukka Rask 26 saves / 27 shots

|date2 =April 14

|score2 =3–7

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-2-recap/c-297999382

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =05:26 – David Pastrnak (2)
09:46 – pp – Jake DeBrusk (1)
12:13 – Kevan Miller (1)
15:00 – pp – Rick Nash (1)

|2-2-1 =Mitch Marner (1) – 01:22
Tyler Bozak (1) – 09:02

|2-2-2 =03:46 – David Krejci (2)

|2-3-1 =James van Riemsdyk (1) – pp – 14:53

|2-3-2 =12:34 – David Pastrnak (3)
18:24 – David Pastrnak (4)

|goalie2-1 =Frederik Andersen 2 saves / 5 shots
Curtis McElhinney 19 saves / 23 shots

|goalie2-2 =Tuukka Rask 30 saves / 33 shots

|date3 =April 16

|score3 =2–4

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-3-recap/c-298042618

|3-1-1 =17:05 – pp – James van Riemsdyk (2)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =03:49 – Patrick Marleau (1)
14:47 – Auston Matthews (1)

|3-2-2 =Adam McQuaid (1) – 03:06
Zdeno Chara (1) – 06:19

|3-3-1 =16:25 – Patrick Marleau (2)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Frederik Andersen 40 saves / 42 shots

|goalie3-2 =Tuukka Rask 26 saves / 30 shots

|date4 =April 19

|score4 =3–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-4-recap/c-298134850

|4-1-1 =07:43 – Tomas Plekanec (1)

|4-1-2 =Torey Krug (1) – 00:28

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Brad Marchand (2) – 16:55

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Jake DeBrusk (2) – 04:17

|goalie4-1 =Frederik Andersen 18 saves / 21 shots

|goalie4-2 =Tuukka Rask 31 saves / 32 shots

|date5 =April 21

|score5 =4–3

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-5-recap/c-298184646

|5-1-1 =Connor Brown (1) – 06:36
Andreas Johnsson (1) – 10:12

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Tyler Bozak (2) – 10:36
James van Riemsdyk (3) – pp – 11:55

|5-2-2 =09:45 – pp – David Backes (2)
17:18 – Sean Kuraly (2)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =05:56 – Noel Acciari (1)

|goalie5-1 =Frederik Andersen 42 saves / 45 shots

|goalie5-2 =Tuukka Rask 9 saves / 13 shots
Anton Khudobin 8 saves / 8 shots

|date6 =April 23

|score6 =1–3

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-toronto-maple-leafs-game-6-recap/c-298219828

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =01:37 – William Nylander (1)
13:25 – Mitch Marner (2)

|6-2-2 =Jake DeBrusk (3) – 01:02

|6-3-1 =18:46 – en – Tomas Plekanec (2)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Frederik Andersen 32 saves / 33 shots

|goalie6-2 =Tuukka Rask 27 saves / 29 shots

|date7 =April 25

|score7 =4–7

|won7 =2

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-boston-bruins-game-7-recap/c-298256440

|7-1-1 =Patrick Marleau (3) – pp – 02:01
Patrick Marleau (4) – 06:12

|7-1-2 =04:47 – pp – Jake DeBrusk (4)
09:10 – Danton Heinen (1)
19:23 – Patrice Bergeron (1)

|7-2-1 =Travis Dermott (1) – 02:07
Kasperi Kapanen (1) – sh – 06:05

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =No scoring

|7-3-2 =01:10 – Torey Krug (2)
05:25 – Jake DeBrusk (5)
11:39 – David Pastrnak (5)
19:09 – en – Brad Marchand (3)

|goalie7-1 =Frederik Andersen 29 saves / 35 shots

|goalie7-2 =Tuukka Rask 20 saves / 24 shots

|series = Boston won series 4–3

}}

The Washington Capitals finished first in the Metropolitan Division earning 105 points. The Columbus Blue Jackets finished as the Eastern Conference's first wild card earning 97 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Washington won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Capitals came back from a 2–0 series deficit to defeat the Blue Jackets in six games. Columbus came back from a two-goal deficit in game one to force overtime, during which Artemi Panarin scored 6:02 into the extra session to give the Blue Jackets their first lead in a playoff series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-1-recap/c-297936680|title=Blue Jackets defeat Capitals in OT in Game 1|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|access-date=April 14, 2018}} The Blue Jackets overcame another two-goal deficit in game two, taking the game into overtime yet again. Matt Calvert scored the game-winning goal for Columbus as they took a 2–0 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-2-recap/c-298020922|title=Blue Jackets top Capitals in OT again, extend series lead|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 15, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 16, 2018}} The Capitals took game three 3–2 in double-overtime as Lars Eller scored the game winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-3-recap/c-298082634|title=Capitals get first win against Blue Jackets, take Game 3 in 2OT|last=Merz|first=Craig|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 17, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} The Capitals tied the series after game four as Washington's Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and an assist in a 4–1 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-4-recap/c-298132228|title=Capitals even series against Blue Jackets in Game 4|last=Merz|first=Craig|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 19, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 20, 2018}} Nicklas Backstrom's tip-in was the overtime-winner for the Capitals in game five as they prevented a two-goal comeback by the Blue Jackets.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-5-recap/c-298178818|title=Backstrom's OT goal helps Capitals top Blue Jackets in Game 5|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 21, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2018}} In game six, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin scored twice to seal the series for Washington, winning the affair 6–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-6-recap/c-298221336|title=Capitals advance with Game 6 win against Blue Jackets|last=Merz|first=Craig|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 23, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 29, 2018}} With playoff series victories by Winnipeg and Vegas this season, Columbus became the last active NHL franchise without a playoff series win until they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/2019-stanley-cup-playoffs-no-1-seed-lightning-swept-by-blue-jackets-in-historic-first-round-upset/|title=2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs: No. 1 seed Lightning swept by Blue Jackets in historic first-round upset|last=Blackburn|first=Pete|date=April 16, 2019|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc.|access-date=April 29, 2023}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Columbus Blue Jackets

|team2=Washington Capitals

|stadium2=Nationwide Arena

|stadium1=Capital One Arena

|date1 =April 12

|score1 =4–3

|ot1 =1

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-1-recap/c-297936680

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =17:52 – pp – Evgeny Kuznetsov (1)
18:21 – pp – Evgeny Kuznetsov (2)

|1-2-1 =Alexander Wennberg (1) – 04:48

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =Thomas Vanek (1) – pp – 01:31
Seth Jones (1) – pp – 15:34

|1-3-2 =05:12 – Devante Smith-Pelly (1)

|1-4-1 =Artemi Panarin (1) – 06:02

|1-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 27 saves / 30 shots

|goalie1-2 =Philipp Grubauer 23 saves / 27 shots

|date2 =April 15

|score2 =5–4

|ot2 =1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-2-recap/c-298020922

|2-1-1 =Cam Atkinson (1) – 18:25

|2-1-2 =02:12 – Jay Beagle (1)
13:26 – pp – Alexander Ovechkin (1)

|2-2-1 =Josh Anderson (1) – 08:49
Cam Atkinson (2) – pp – 11:13
Zach Werenski (1) – pp – 18:52

|2-2-2 =04:09 – pp – Alexander Ovechkin (2)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =16:25 – pp – T. J. Oshie (1)

|2-4-1 =Matt Calvert (1) – 12:22

|2-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 54 saves / 58 shots

|goalie2-2 =Philipp Grubauer 18 saves / 22 shots
Braden Holtby 7 saves / 8 shots

|date3 =April 17

|score3 =3–2

|ot3 =2

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-3-recap/c-298082634

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =11:18 – Pierre-Luc Dubois (1)

|3-2-2 =Tom Wilson (1) – 05:52
John Carlson (1) – pp – 14:43

|3-3-1 =04:12 – Artemi Panarin (2)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|3-4-1 =No scoring

|3-4-2 =Lars Eller (1) – 09:00

|goalie3-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 42 saves / 45 shots

|goalie3-2 =Braden Holtby 33 saves / 35 shots

|date4 =April 19

|score4 =4–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-4-recap/c-298132228

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Tom Wilson (2) – 06:16

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =T. J. Oshie (2) – pp – 09:19

|4-3-1 =06:22 – Boone Jenner (1)

|4-3-2 =Alexander Ovechkin (3) – 02:49
Evgeny Kuznetsov (3) – en – 17:41

|goalie4-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 29 saves / 32 shots

|goalie4-2 =Braden Holtby 23 saves / 24 shots

|date5 =April 21

|score5 =3–4

|ot5 =1

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-washington-capitals-game-5-recap/c-298178818

|5-1-1 =Matt Calvert (2) – sh – 10:08

|5-1-2 =13:22 – Nicklas Backstrom (1)

|5-2-1 =Matt Calvert (3) – 04:45

|5-2-2 =03:21 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (4)
16:42 – pp – T. J. Oshie (3)

|5-3-1 =Oliver Bjorkstrand (1) – 02:30

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|5-4-1 =No scoring

|5-4-2 =11:53 – Nicklas Backstrom (2)

|goalie5-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 25 saves / 29 shots

|goalie5-2 =Braden Holtby 39 saves / 42 shots

|date6 =April 23

|score6 =6–3

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-columbus-blue-jackets-game-6-recap/c-298221336

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Dmitry Orlov (1) – 12:12

|6-2-1 =08:40 – Nick Foligno (1)

|6-2-2 =Alexander Ovechkin (4) – 12:50
Alexander Ovechkin (5) – pp – 18:23

|6-3-1 =02:25 – Pierre-Luc Dubois (2)
08:22 – Nick Foligno (2)

|6-3-2 =Devante Smith-Pelly (2) – 03:56
Chandler Stephenson (1) – sh – 05:30
Lars Eller (2) – en – 19:46

|goalie6-1 =Sergei Bobrovsky 22 saves / 27 shots

|goalie6-2 =Braden Holtby 35 saves / 38 shots

|series = Washington won series 4–2

}}

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division earning 100 points. The Philadelphia Flyers earned 98 points to finish third in the Metropolitan. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two rivals with Philadelphia winning four of the six previous series. They last met in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which Philadelphia won in six games. Pittsburgh won all four games in this year's regular season series.

The Penguins defeated the Flyers in six games. In game one, Sidney Crosby capped off a hat trick to end a 7–0 rout over the Flyers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-1-recap/c-297904708|title=Crosby has hat trick for Penguins in Game 1 win against Flyers|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 11, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} The Flyers defeated the Penguins in game two, riding on Sean Couturier's goal and two assists in a 5–1 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-2-recap/c-297974294|title=Elliott, Flyers defeat Penguins in Game 2 to even series|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 13, 2018|website=NHl.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} Pittsburgh took game three 5–1 as Crosby recorded a goal and three assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-3-recap/c-298013648|title=Crosby, Penguins defeat Flyers in Game 3|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 15, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 16, 2018}} Matt Murray recorded his second shutout of the series in game four, stopping all 26 shots he faced in a 5–0 victory for Pittsburgh.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-4-recap/c-298106710|title=Murray, Penguins shut out Flyers in Game 4, one win from advancing|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 18, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 18, 2018}} Prior to game five, Flyers captain Claude Giroux guaranteed his team a victory.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/claude-giroux-says-flyers-will-be-back-for-game-6-20180419.html|title=Claude Giroux says Flyers will be back for Game 6|last=Carchidi|first=Sam|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network (Digital), LLC|date=April 19, 2018|website=Philly.com|access-date=April 21, 2018}} Giroux scored the first goal of the game, and Couturier scored game-winning goal with 1:15 left in regulation time to force a sixth game in a 4–2 victory for Philadelphia.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-5-recap/c-298159876|title=Flyers extend series with late Game 5 goal against Penguins|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 20, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2018}} In game six, Sean Couturier recorded a hat trick for the Flyers whilst on a torn MCL. However, Jake Guentzel's natural hat trick, with four goals in total, including two within ten seconds of each other, sealed the series for the Penguins in an 8–5 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-6-recap/c-298195432|title=Penguins eliminate Flyers in Game 6 behind four goals from Guentzel|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 22, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Philadelphia Flyers

|team2=Pittsburgh Penguins

|stadium2=Wells Fargo Center

|stadium1=PPG Paints Arena

|date1 =April 11

|score1 =0–7

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-1-recap/c-297904708

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =02:38 – Bryan Rust (1)
10:07 – Carl Hagelin (1)
14:09 – Evgeni Malkin (1)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =07:50 – pp – Jake Guentzel (1)
09:01 – Sidney Crosby (1)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =07:41 – Sidney Crosby (2)
10:42 – Sidney Crosby (3)

|goalie1-1 =Brian Elliott 14 saves / 19 shots
Petr Mrazek 12 saves / 14 shots

|goalie1-2 =Matt Murray 24 saves / 24 shots

|date2 =April 13

|score2 =5–1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-2-recap/c-297974294

|2-1-1 =Shayne Gostisbehere (1) – pp – 19:23

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Sean Couturier (1) – 00:47

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =Travis Konecny (1) – 01:29
Nolan Patrick (1) – pp – 05:10
Andrew MacDonald (1) – en – 19:44

|2-3-2 =05:27 – Patric Hornqvist (1)

|goalie2-1 =Brian Elliott 34 saves / 35 shots

|goalie2-2 =Matt Murray 15 saves / 19 shots

|date3 =April 15

|score3 =5–1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-3-recap/c-298013648

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Sidney Crosby (4) – 10:25

|3-2-1 =13:42 – Travis Sanheim (1)

|3-2-2 =Derick Brassard (1) – pp – 02:48
Evgeni Malkin (2) – pp – 06:48
Brian Dumoulin (1) – 06:53

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Justin Schultz (1) – pp – 07:08

|goalie3-1 =Brian Elliott 21 saves / 26 shots

|goalie3-2 =Matt Murray 26 saves / 27 shots

|date4 =April 18

|score4 =5–0

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-4-recap/c-298106710

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Evgeni Malkin (3) – pp – 04:33
Phil Kessel (1) – 14:37

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Kris Letang (1) – 08:04
Sidney Crosby (5) – 10:56

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Riley Sheahan (1) – 15:46

|goalie4-1 =Brian Elliott 14 saves / 17 shots
Michal Neuvirth 11 saves / 13 shots

|goalie4-2 =Matt Murray 26 saves / 26 shots

|date5 =April 20

|score5 =4–2

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/philadelphia-flyers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-5-recap/c-298159876

|5-1-1 =Claude Giroux (1) – 17:29

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Valtteri Filppula (1) – sh – 18:15

|5-2-2 =12:00 – Bryan Rust (2)
16:45 – Jake Guentzel (2)

|5-3-1 =Sean Couturier (2) – 18:45
Matt Read (1) – en – 19:42

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Michal Neuvirth 30 saves / 32 shots

|goalie5-2 =Matt Murray 21 saves / 24 shots

|date6 =April 22

|score6 =8–5

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-philadelphia-flyers-game-6-recap/c-298195432

|6-1-1 =02:15 – Sean Couturier (3)
15:48 – Andrew MacDonald (2)

|6-1-2 =Sidney Crosby (6) – 06:30
Carl Hagelin (2) – 07:17

|6-2-1 =00:40 – Sean Couturier (4)
12:14 – Scott Laughton (1)

|6-2-2 =Patric Hornqvist (2) – 13:35
Jake Guentzel (3) – 19:06

|6-3-1 =17:07 – Sean Couturier (5)

|6-3-2 =Jake Guentzel (4) – 00:30
Jake Guentzel (5) – 12:48
Jake Guentzel (6) – 12:58
Bryan Rust (3) – en – 19:29

|goalie6-1 =Michal Neuvirth 20 saves / 27 shots

|goalie6-2 =Matt Murray 21 saves / 26 shots

|series = Pittsburgh won series 4–2

}}

The Nashville Predators earned the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team with 117 points. The Colorado Avalanche finished as the Western Conference's second wild card earning 95 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Nashville won all four games in this year's regular season series.

The Predators defeated the Avalanche in six games. Filip Forsberg scored twice in Nashville's 5–2 game one victory, one of which was considered a highlight-reel goal.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-1-recap/c-297949268|title=Forsberg, Predators defeat Avalanche in Game 1|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 12, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2018/04/12/predatos-filip-forsberg-mad-skills-second-goal-against-avalanche/513636002/|title=Predators Filip Forsberg shows off mad skills on dagger goal against Avalanche|last=Organ|first=Mike|publisher=USA Today Network|date=April 13, 2018|website=Tennessean.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} Nashville had five different players score in their 5–4 victory over Colorado in game two to take a 2–0 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-2-recap/c-297993560|title=Predators hang on against Avalanche in Game 2, extend series lead|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 14, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and Gabriel Landeskog had a goal and two assists to take game three for the Avalanche 5–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-3-recap/c-298052854|title=MacKinnon's two goals help Avalanche top Predators in Game 3|last=Sadowski|first=Rick|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 17, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} In game four, Pekka Rinne made 31 saves for the Predators who took a 3–1 series lead with a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-4-recap/c-298113604|title=Predators hold on against Avalanche in Game 4|last=Sadowski|first=Rick|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 18, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 18, 2018}} Andrew Hammond made 44 saves and Sven Andrighetto scored with 1:28 left in the third period to force a sixth game for the Avalanche in a 2–1 triumph.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-5-recap/c-298164678|title=Avalanche top Predators in Game 5, extend Western series|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 20, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2018}} The Predators shut out the Avalanche in game six, with Rinne stopping all 22 shots he faced in a 5–0 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-6-recap/c-298200662|title=Predators shut out Avalanche in Game 6, advance to second round|last=Sadowski|first=Rick|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 22, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Colorado Avalanche

|team2=Nashville Predators

|stadium2=Pepsi Center

|stadium1=Bridgestone Arena

|date1 =April 12

|score1 =2–5

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-1-recap/c-297949268

|1-1-1 =Nikita Zadorov (1) – 06:36

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Blake Comeau (1) – 04:51

|1-2-2 =03:16 – Austin Watson (1)
08:50 – pp – Craig Smith (1)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =06:08 – Filip Forsberg (1)
12:10 – Filip Forsberg (2)
18:03 – en – Colton Sissons (1)

|goalie1-1 =Jonathan Bernier 26 saves / 30 shots

|goalie1-2 =Pekka Rinne 25 saves / 27 shots

|date2 =April 14

|score2 =4–5

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-2-recap/c-297993560

|2-1-1 =Gabriel Bourque (1) – 02:34

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Nathan MacKinnon (1) – 17:08

|2-2-2 =01:01 – pp – Kevin Fiala (1)
12:36 – Viktor Arvidsson (1)
16:32 – Ryan Johansen (1)

|2-3-1 =Gabriel Landeskog (1) – pp – 09:14
Alexander Kerfoot (1) – 19:24

|2-3-2 =07:16 – Austin Watson (2)
18:51 – en – Ryan Hartman (1)

|goalie2-1 =Jonathan Bernier 28 saves / 32 shots

|goalie2-2 =Pekka Rinne 26 saves / 30 shots

|date3 =April 16

|score3 =3–5

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-3-recap/c-298052854

|3-1-1 =01:50 – Blake Comeau (2)
13:24 – Gabriel Bourque (2)
18:07 – Nathan MacKinnon (2)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =04:25 – Nathan MacKinnon (3)

|3-2-2 =Ryan Johansen (2) – pp – 10:23

|3-3-1 =18:24 – en – Gabriel Landeskog (2)

|3-3-2 =Colton Sissons (2) – 07:12
Austin Watson (3) – 18:45

|goalie3-1 =Jonathan Bernier 29 saves / 32 shots

|goalie3-2 =Pekka Rinne 11 saves / 15 shots
Juuse Saros 18 saves / 18 shots

|date4 =April 18

|score4 =3–2

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-4-recap/c-298113604

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Filip Forsberg (3) – 15:33

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Colton Sissons (3) – 07:18
Craig Smith (2) – 11:49

|4-3-1 =05:20 – pp – Gabriel Landeskog (3)
11:01 – Alexander Kerfoot (2)

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Jonathan Bernier 23 saves / 26 shots
Andrew Hammond 8 saves / 8 shots

|goalie4-2 =Pekka Rinne 31 saves / 33 shots

|date5 =April 20

|score5 =2–1

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-nashville-predators-game-5-recap/c-298164678

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Gabriel Landeskog (4) – 15:49
Sven Andrighetto (1) – 18:32

|5-3-2 =10:18 – Nick Bonino (1)

|goalie5-1 =Andrew Hammond 44 saves / 45 shots

|goalie5-2 =Pekka Rinne 25 saves / 27 shots

|date6 =April 22

|score6 =5–0

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-colorado-avalanche-game-6-recap/c-298200662

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Mattias Ekholm (1) – 07:02
Austin Watson (4) – 10:19

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Filip Forsberg (4) – 00:38
Nick Bonino (2) – 08:26

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =Viktor Arvidsson (2) – 02:36

|goalie6-1 =Andrew Hammond 32 saves / 37 shots

|goalie6-2 =Pekka Rinne 22 saves / 22 shots

|series = Nashville won series 4–2

}}

The Winnipeg Jets finished second in the Central Division earning 114 points. The Minnesota Wild earned 101 points to finish third in the Central. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Winnipeg won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Jets defeated the Wild in five games and earned their first playoff series victory in franchise history after entering the league in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers. The Jets also became the first Winnipeg-based NHL team to advance past the opening round of the playoffs since 1987. After firing 40 shots on Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk, the Jets won game one 3–2, winning their first playoff game in franchise history and the city's first playoff victory since 1996, after which the original Jets relocated to Phoenix.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-1-recap/c-297911234|title=Jets top Wild in Game 1 for first playoff win in franchise history|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 11, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} In game two, Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist to provide the Jets a 4–1 victory as well as a 2–0 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-2-recap/c-297975846|title=Jets top Wild, extend lead in Western Conference series|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 13, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} In game three, the Wild scored four goals to chase goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in the second period in a 6–2 affair.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-minnesota-wild-game-3-recap/c-298018046|title=Wild score six in Game 3 win against Jets|last=Pierce|first=Jessi|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 15, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} Hellebuyck came back in game four, stopping all 30 shots he faced in a 2–0 Jets victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-minnesota-wild-game-4-recap/c-298078358|title=Jets shut out Wild in Game 4, one win from advancing|last=Pierce|first=Jessi|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 17, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} Hellebuyck continued his shutout streak in game five, stopping another 30 shots after a first period blitz by the Jets to win the series-clinching game 5–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-5-recap/c-298160340|title=Jets shut out Wild in Game 5 for first series win|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 20, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Minnesota Wild

|team2=Winnipeg Jets

|stadium2=Xcel Energy Center

|stadium1=Bell MTS Place

|date1 =April 11

|score1 =2–3

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-1-recap/c-297911234

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =17:37 – pp – Mark Scheifele (1)

|1-3-1 =Matt Cullen (1) – 01:46
Zach Parise (1) – 03:58

|1-3-2 =04:51 – Patrik Laine (1)
12:47 – Joe Morrow (1)

|goalie1-1 =Devan Dubnyk 37 saves / 40 shots

|goalie1-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 18 saves / 20 shots

|date2 =April 13

|score2 =1–4

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-2-recap/c-297975846

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =08:41 – Tyler Myers (1)

|2-3-1 =Zach Parise (2) – pp – 19:15

|2-3-2 =07:42 – Paul Stastny (1)
09:24 – Andrew Copp (1)
17:58 – Patrik Laine (2)

|goalie2-1 =Devan Dubnyk 40 saves / 44 shots

|goalie2-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 16 saves / 17 shots

|date3 =April 15

|score3 =2–6

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-minnesota-wild-game-3-recap/c-298018046

|3-1-1 =09:47 – pp – Mikael Granlund (1)
17:50 – pp – Zach Parise (3)

|3-1-2 =Blake Wheeler (1) – pp – 04:50

|3-2-1 =03:32 – Matt Dumba (1)
14:40 – Eric Staal (1)
15:00 – Jordan Greenway (1)
18:23 – Marcus Foligno (1)

|3-2-2 =Tyler Myers (2) – 06:42

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Devan Dubnyk 29 saves / 31 shots

|goalie3-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 16 saves / 22 shots
Steve Mason 7 saves / 7 shots

|date4 =April 17

|score4 =2–0

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-minnesota-wild-game-4-recap/c-298078358

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Mark Scheifele (2) – 19:32

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Mark Scheifele (3) – en – 19:49

|goalie4-1 =Devan Dubnyk 26 saves / 27 shots

|goalie4-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 30 saves / 30 shots

|date5 =April 20

|score5 =0–5

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-winnipeg-jets-game-5-recap/c-298160340

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =00:31 – Jacob Trouba (1)
05:42 – Bryan Little (1)
11:10 – Brandon Tanev (1)
11:59 – Joel Armia (1)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =00:32 – pp – Mark Scheifele (4)

|goalie5-1 =Devan Dubnyk 6 saves / 10 shots
Alex Stalock 15 saves / 16 shots

|goalie5-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 30 saves / 30 shots

|series = Winnipeg won series 4–1

}}

The Vegas Golden Knights finished first in the Pacific Division earning 109 points. The Los Angeles Kings earned 98 points to finish as the Western Conference's first wild card. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams and the first playoff series for the Golden Knights. These teams split their four-game regular season series.

The Golden Knights defeated the Kings in a four-game sweep. In game one, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 30 shots to give the Golden Knights their first playoff victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-vegas-golden-knights-game-1-recap/c-297916602|title=Golden Knights shut out Kings in first playoff game|last=Webster|first=Danny|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 11, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} Even though Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick made 54 saves in game two, the Golden Knights topped Los Angeles in double overtime thanks to Erik Haula's goal at 15:23, taking a 2–0 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-vegas-golden-knights-game-2-recap/c-297979644|title=Golden Knights top Kings in second OT in Game 2|last=Webster|first=Danny|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 14, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} After the Golden Knights took the lead late in the third period of game three with two goals in 21 seconds Vegas pushed the Kings to the brink of elimination with a 3–2 win; Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 37 saves in the victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-3-recap/c-298022796|title=Golden Knights top Kings in Game 3, one win from advancing|last=Greenspan|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 16, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} In game four, former-King Brayden McNabb scored the only goal of the game for the Golden Knights as they swept Los Angeles for their first playoff series victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-4-recap/c-298086006|title=Golden Knights sweep Kings with Game 4 win|last=Greenspan|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 18, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 18, 2018}} This series tied the record for the fewest goals scored by both teams in a best-of-seven playoff series: the Golden Knights scored seven goals to the Kings' three goals for a total of ten goals, tying the record set in 2003. In addition, the 7 goals scored by Vegas is the lowest amount by a series-winning team in NHL history.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Los Angeles Kings

|team2=Vegas Golden Knights

|stadium2=Staples Center

|stadium1=T-Mobile Arena

|date1 =April 11

|score1 =0–1

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-vegas-golden-knights-game-1-recap/c-297916602

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =03:23 – Shea Theodore (1)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Jonathan Quick 27 saves / 28 shots

|goalie1-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 30 saves / 30 shots

|date2 =April 13

|score2 =1–2

|ot2 =2

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-vegas-golden-knights-game-2-recap/c-297979644

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =14:47 – pp – Alex Tuch (1)

|2-2-1 =Paul LaDue (1) – pp – 15:55

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|2-4-1 =No scoring

|2-4-2 =15:23 – Erik Haula (1)

|goalie2-1 =Jonathan Quick 54 saves / 56 shots

|goalie2-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 29 saves / 30 shots

|date3 =April 15

|score3 =3–2

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-3-recap/c-298022796

|3-1-1 =13:14 – Alex Iafallo (1)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =17:56 – Anze Kopitar (1)

|3-3-2 =Cody Eakin (1) – 06:10
James Neal (1) – 14:23
William Karlsson (1) – 14:44

|goalie3-1 =Jonathan Quick 23 saves / 26 shots

|goalie3-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 37 saves / 39 shots

|date4 =April 17

|score4 =1–0

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-los-angeles-kings-game-4-recap/c-298086006

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Brayden McNabb (1) – 04:04

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Jonathan Quick 20 saves / 21 shots

|goalie4-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 31 saves / 31 shots

|series = Vegas won series 4–0

}}

The Anaheim Ducks finished second in the Pacific Division earning 101 points. The San Jose Sharks earned 100 points to finish third in the Pacific Division. This was the second playoff meeting between these teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2009 Western Conference quarterfinals, which Anaheim won in six games. San Jose won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Sharks defeated the Ducks in a four-game sweep; the Sharks were the only team without home ice advantage in the first round to advance. Evander Kane scored twice in his first playoff game and Sharks goaltender Martin Jones posted a 25-save shutout blanking the Ducks 3–0 in game one.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-anaheim-ducks-game-1-recap/c-297951778|title=Kane scores twice, Sharks win Game 1 against Ducks|last=Arritt|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 13, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}} In game two, Logan Couture scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 3–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-anaheim-ducks-game-2-recap/c-298001584|title=Sharks hang on for Game 2 victory against Ducks|last=Arritt|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 14, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} Martin Jones made 45 saves as the Sharks routed the Ducks 8–1 in game three; eight different players scored for San Jose in the victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-298052732|title=Sharks score eight in Game 3, on verge of sweeping Ducks|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 17, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}} Tomas Hertl broke the tie for San Jose, scoring the series-clinching goal midway through the third period of game four as the Sharks defeated Anaheim 2–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-san-jose-sharks-game-4-recap/c-298114132|title=Sharks win Game 4, sweep Ducks in Western series|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 19, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=San Jose Sharks

|team2=Anaheim Ducks

|stadium2=SAP Center

|stadium1=Honda Center

|date1 =April 12

|score1 =3–0

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/sane-jose-sharks-anaheim-ducks-game-1-recap/c-297951778

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Evander Kane (1) – pp – 07:07
Evander Kane (2) – 13:51
Brent Burns (1) – 15:15

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Martin Jones 25 saves / 25 shots

|goalie1-2 =John Gibson 31 saves / 34 shots

|date2 =April 14

|score2 =3–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-anaheim-ducks-game-2-recap/c-298001584

|2-1-1 =Marcus Sorensen (1) – 09:41
Logan Couture (1) – pp – 14:41

|2-1-2 =00:40 – Jakob Silfverberg (1)

|2-2-1 =Tomas Hertl (1) – 01:11

|2-2-2 =07:51 – pp – Hampus Lindholm (1)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Martin Jones 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =John Gibson 32 saves / 35 shots

|date3 =April 16

|score3 =1–8

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-298052732

|3-1-1 =03:44 – Logan Couture (2)

|3-1-2 =Rickard Rakell (1) – pp – 13:40

|3-2-1 =01:15 – Joonas Donskoi (1)
03:41 – Marcus Sorensen (2)
13:43 – Eric Fehr (1)
16:49 – pp – Tomas Hertl (2)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =10:04 – pp – Joe Pavelski (1)
17:16 – pp – Evander Kane (3)
19:36 – pp – Timo Meier (1)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Martin Jones 45 saves / 46 shots

|goalie3-2 =John Gibson 19 saves / 24 shots
Ryan Miller 9 saves / 12 shots

|date4 =April 18

|score4 =1–2

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-san-jose-sharks-game-4-recap/c-298114132

|4-1-1 =05:43 – Marcus Sorensen (3)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =09:09 – Tomas Hertl (3)

|4-3-2 =Andrew Cogliano (1) – 07:53

|goalie4-1 =Martin Jones 30 saves / 31 shots

|goalie4-2 =John Gibson 22 saves / 24 shots

|series = San Jose won series 4–0

}}

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous series occurred in the 2011 Eastern Conference final, which Boston won in seven games. Boston won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Lightning defeated the Bruins in five games. In game one, the line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak combined for eleven points in a 6–2 triumph.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-1-recap/c-298316854|title=Bruins score six in Game 1 win against Lightning|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 28, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} Brayden Point scored a goal and recorded three assists in the Lightning's 4–2 victory in game two, evening the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-298359590|title=Point, Lightning top Bruins in Game 2|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 30, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} Ondrej Palat scored twice in the Lightning's 4–1 win in game three taking a 2–1 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-boston-bruins-game-3-recap/c-298413068|title=Lightning score early to win Game 3 against Bruins, take series lead|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 2, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}} Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos forced overtime on a controversial goal.{{cite web|last1=Gasper|first1=Chris|title=A Lot of things aren't going the Bruins way, and now they're on the brink|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/bruins/2018/05/05/gasper/qZBnE2RbIluZy3eZz39O2J/story.html|website=The Boston Globe|access-date=May 5, 2018}} While circling behind the net Bruin defender Charlie McAvoy was hauled down by Nikita Kucherov leading to a turnover deep in the Bruins defensive zone. Daniel Girardi scored the game-winning goal to give the Lightning a 4–3 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-boston-bruins-game-4-recap/c-298462536|title=Lightning win Game 4 against Bruins in OT, extend lead in series|last=Kalman|first=Matt|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 4, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 5, 2018}} During game four, Brad Marchand licked the face of Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan during a scrum. Marchand received no penalty or further punishment from the League.{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/pmn/sports-pmn/hockey-sports-pmn/bruins-forward-brad-marchand-warned-by-nhl-to-stop-licking-people/wcm/9df7899c-7436-47cb-9db2-4e52c711e793|title=Bruins forward Brad Marchand warned by NHL to stop licking people|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|agency=The Canadian Press|date=May 5, 2018|work=Vancouver Sun|access-date=May 5, 2018}} The Lightning scored twice in the second period of game five to take the lead and Anton Stralman scored an empty-net goal to give Tampa Bay a 3–1 victory and a 4–1 series win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298489848|title=Lightning defeat Bruins in Game 5, advance to Eastern final|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 6, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Boston Bruins

|team2=Tampa Bay Lightning

|stadium2=TD Garden

|stadium1=Amalie Arena

|date1 =April 28

|score1 =6–2

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-1-recap/c-298316854

|1-1-1 =Rick Nash (2) – pp – 17:11

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Patrice Bergeron (2) – 00:42
Rick Nash (3) – 12:33

|1-2-2 =02:31 – Daniel Girardi (1)
13:22 – pp – Mikhail Sergachev (2)

|1-3-1 =Brad Marchand (4) – 03:32
Patrice Bergeron (3) – 10:11
Jake DeBrusk (6) – en – 13:41

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Tuukka Rask 34 saves / 36 shots

|goalie1-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 18 saves / 23 shots

|date2 =April 30

|score2 =2–4

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-298359590

|2-1-1 =Charlie McAvoy (1) – 18:30

|2-1-2 =11:47 – pp – Yanni Gourde (2)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =10:14 – Tyler Johnson (3)

|2-3-1 =Torey Krug (3) – 15:58

|2-3-2 =14:08 – Ondrej Palat (2)
19:34 – en – Brayden Point (2)

|goalie2-1 =Tuukka Rask 27 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 18 saves / 20 shots

|date3 =May 2

|score3 =4–1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-boston-bruins-game-3-recap/c-298413068

|3-1-1 =14:12 – pp – Patrice Bergeron (4)

|3-1-2 =Ondrej Palat (3) – 01:47
Ondrej Palat (4) – 03:19
Anthony Cirelli (1) – 16:43

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Steven Stamkos (2) – en – 19:18

|goalie3-1 =Tuukka Rask 33 saves / 36 shots

|goalie3-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 28 saves / 29 shots

|date4 =May 4

|score4 =4–3

|ot4 =1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-boston-bruins-game-4-recap/c-298462536

|4-1-1 =15:28 – pp – David Pastrnak (6)

|4-1-2 =Brayden Point (3) – 04:36
Nikita Kucherov (6) – pp – 09:53

|4-2-1 =02:04 – pp – Patrice Bergeron (5)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =06:36 – sh – Patrice Bergeron (6)

|4-3-2 =Steven Stamkos (3) – 12:56

|4-4-1 =No scoring

|4-4-2 =Daniel Girardi (2) – 03:18

|goalie4-1 =Tuukka Rask 24 saves / 28 shots

|goalie4-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 29 saves / 32 shots

|date5 =May 6

|score5 =1–3

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298489848

|5-1-1 =David Krejci (3) – pp – 19:12

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =10:43 – Brayden Point (4)
14:00 – pp – J. T. Miller (2)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =18:31 – en – Anton Stralman (1)

|goalie5-1 =Tuukka Rask 19 saves / 21 shots

|goalie5-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 27 saves / 28 shots

|series = Tampa Bay won series 4–1

}}

This was the third consecutive year that these two rivals have met in the second round and was the eleventh overall playoff meeting with Pittsburgh winning nine of the ten previous series. They last met in the previous year's Eastern Conference second round which Pittsburgh won in seven games. These teams split their four-game regular season series.

The Capitals defeated the Penguins in six games, defeating Pittsburgh for the second time in franchise history and the first time since 1994. Pittsburgh rallied from a two-goal deficit to take game one 3–2 leading on Jake Guentzel's goal and two assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-1-recap/c-298280890|title=Guentzel, Penguins rally past Capitals in Game 1|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 26, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 26, 2018}} In game two, Braden Holtby made 32 saves for Washington, defeating the Penguins 4–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-2-recap/c-298332460|title=Holtby lifts Capitals past Penguins in Game 2|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 29, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 29, 2018}} Alexander Ovechkin scored with 1:07 left in the third period of game three to give the Capitals a 4–3 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-3-recap/c-298384940|title=Ovechkin's goal lifts Capitals to Game 3 win against Penguins|last=Crosby|first=Wes|date=May 1, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2018}} During the game, Tom Wilson made an illegal check to the head of rookie Zach Aston-Reese who suffered a broken jaw along with a concussion. Wilson was suspended three games for his action.{{cite web|url=http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/13606834-74/capitals-tom-wilson-suspended-3-games-for-hit-on-penguins-zach-aston-reese|title=Capitals' Tom Wilson suspended 3 games for hit on Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese|last=Adamski|first=Chris|publisher=Trib Total Media, LLC|date=May 2, 2018|website=triblive.com|access-date=May 7, 2018}} In game four, Guentzel scored twice for Pittsburgh in a 3–1 victory, evening the series 2–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-4-recap/c-298438498|title=Penguins top Capitals in Game 4, even Eastern series|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 3, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2018}} Both Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana had a goal and two assists for the Capitals in game five who took a 3–2 series lead after a 6–3 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-5-recap/c-298478544|title=Capitals rally past Penguins in Game 5, take lead in series|last=McNally|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 5, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2018}} In game six, the Capitals fired 30 shots and Evgeny Kuznetsov's goal in overtime ended the series in a 2–1 victory, moving Washington to the Conference finals for the first time since 1998.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-6-recap/c-298512468|title=Capitals defeat Penguins in Game 6, advance to Eastern Conference Final|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 7, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 7, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Pittsburgh Penguins

|team2=Washington Capitals

|stadium2=PPG Paints Arena

|stadium1=Capital One Arena

|date1 =April 26

|score1 =3–2

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-1-recap/c-298280890

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =00:17 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (5)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =Patric Hornqvist (3) – 02:59
Sidney Crosby (7) – 05:20
Jake Guentzel (7) – 07:48

|1-3-2 =00:28 – Alexander Ovechkin (6)

|goalie1-1 =Matt Murray 32 saves / 34 shots

|goalie1-2 =Braden Holtby 22 saves / 25 shots

|date2 =April 29

|score2 =1–4

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-2-recap/c-298332460

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =01:26 – Alexander Ovechkin (7)
14:54 – pp – Jakub Vrana (1)

|2-2-1 =Kris Letang (2) – 13:04

|2-2-2 =02:08 – Brett Connolly (1)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =19:53 – en – Nicklas Backstrom (3)

|goalie2-1 =Matt Murray 28 saves / 31 shots

|goalie2-2 =Braden Holtby 32 saves / 33 shots

|date3 =May 1

|score3 =4–3

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-3-recap/c-298384940

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =04:33 – Jake Guentzel (8)
06:49 – pp – Patric Hornqvist (4)
16:27 – Sidney Crosby (8)

|3-2-2 =John Carlson (2) – pp – 00:48
Chandler Stephenson (2) – 11:04

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Matt Niskanen (1) – 05:06
Alexander Ovechkin (8) – 18:53

|goalie3-1 =Matt Murray 18 saves / 22 shots

|goalie3-2 =Braden Holtby 19 saves / 22 shots

|date4 =May 3

|score4 =1–3

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-4-recap/c-298438498

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =09:21 – Jake Guentzel (9)
17:31 – pp – Evgeni Malkin (4)

|4-2-2 =T. J. Oshie (4) – pp – 12:55

|4-3-1 =19:02 – pp-en – Jake Guentzel (10)

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Matt Murray 20 saves / 21 shots

|goalie4-2 =Braden Holtby 21 saves / 23 shots

|date5 =May 5

|score5 =3–6

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-washington-capitals-game-5-recap/c-298478544

|5-1-1 =Jamie Oleksiak (1) – 02:21

|5-1-2 =18:22 – pp – John Carlson (3)
18:55 – Brett Connolly (2)

|5-2-1 =Sidney Crosby (9) – pp – 04:43
Patric Hornqvist (5) – pp – 07:45

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =00:52 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (6)
15:22 – Jakub Vrana (2)
18:29 – en – T. J. Oshie (5)
19:54 – en – Lars Eller (3)

|goalie5-1 =Matt Murray 26 saves / 30 shots

|goalie5-2 =Braden Holtby 36 saves / 39 shots

|date6 =May 7

|score6 =2–1

|ot6 =1

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-pittsburgh-penguins-game-6-recap/c-298512468

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =11:52 – Kris Letang (3)

|6-2-2 =Alex Chiasson (1) – 02:13

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|6-4-1 =No scoring

|6-4-2 =Evgeny Kuznetsov (7) – 05:27

|goalie6-1 =Matt Murray 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie6-2 =Braden Holtby 21 saves / 22 shots

|series = Washington won series 4–2

}}

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Nashville won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.

The Jets eliminated the Predators in seven games. Mark Scheifele scored twice and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 47 saves in game one to defeat the Predators 4–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-1-recap/c-298305498|title=Hellebuyck makes 47 saves, Jets top Predators in Game 1|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 27, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} In game two, Kevin Fiala scored 5:37 into overtime to give the Predators a 5–4 victory to even the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-2-recap/c-298337664|title=Predators win Game 2 against Jets in 2OT|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 29, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} The Jets overcame a three-goal deficit in game three with both Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien scoring twice in a 7–4 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-3-recap/c-298385186|title=Jets rally past Predators in Game 3, take series lead|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 1, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} Pekka Rinne made 32 saves for the Predators in game four, allowing his team to win 2–1 and even the series 2–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-4-recap/c-298442920|title=Predators defeat Jets in Game 4 to tie Western series|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 3, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2018}} In game five, Kyle Connor scored twice and captain Blake Wheeler provided three assists in the Jets' 6–2 victory. {{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-5-recap/c-298481400|title=Jets cruise to Game 5 win against Predators, take series lead|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 5, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2018}} The Predators forced a seventh game following game six in which both Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg scored twice and recorded an assist along with Pekka Rinne stopping all 34 shots in a 4–0 shutout.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-6-recap/c-298511680|title=Rinne, Predators stay alive with shutout win against Jets in Game 6|last=Billeck|first=Scott|date=May 7, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 10, 2018}} After recording a shutout the game prior, Pekka Rinne got pulled for the third time in the series after letting in the first two goals of game seven. His counterpart, Connor Hellebuyck, made 36 saves in the victory as the Jets won the game 5–1, advancing Winnipeg to the Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-7-recap/c-298560320|title=Jets defeat Predators in Game 7, advance to Western Final|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 10, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 10, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Winnipeg Jets

|team2=Nashville Predators

|stadium2=Bell MTS Place

|stadium1=Bridgestone Arena

|date1 =April 27

|score1 =4–1

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-1-recap/c-298305498

|1-1-1 =Brandon Tanev (2) – 14:51

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Paul Stastny (2) – 09:01
Mark Scheifele (5) – 17:51

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =Mark Scheifele (6) – en – 19:24

|1-3-2 =01:23 – Kevin Fiala (2)

|goalie1-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 47 saves / 48 shots

|goalie1-2 =Pekka Rinne 13 saves / 16 shots
Juuse Saros 2 saves / 2 shots

|date2 =April 29

|score2 =4–5

|ot2 =2

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-2-recap/c-298337664

|2-1-1 =Dustin Byfuglien (1) – 12:47
Mark Scheifele (7) – pp – 13:16

|2-1-2 =00:27 – Ryan Johansen (3)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =05:04 – pp – P. K. Subban (1)
18:41 – Viktor Arvidsson (3)

|2-3-1 =Brandon Tanev (3) – 05:11
Mark Scheifele (8) – 18:55

|2-3-2 =05:45 – Ryan Johansen (4)

|2-4-1 =No scoring

|2-4-2 =05:37 – Kevin Fiala (3)

|goalie2-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 36 saves / 41 shots

|goalie2-2 =Pekka Rinne 46 saves / 50 shots

|date3 =May 1

|score3 =4–7

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-3-recap/c-298385186

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Mike Fisher (1) – 04:53
P. K. Subban (2) – pp – 10:06
Austin Watson (5) – 17:35

|3-2-1 =02:38 – Paul Stastny (3)
05:11 – Dustin Byfuglien (2)
05:29 – Jacob Trouba (2)
19:15 – Dustin Byfuglien (3)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =15:01 – pp – Blake Wheeler (2)
19:09 – en – Blake Wheeler (3)
19:29 – en – Brandon Tanev (4)

|3-3-2 =Filip Forsberg (5) – pp – 07:40

|goalie3-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 26 saves / 30 shots

|goalie3-2 =Pekka Rinne 38 saves / 43 shots

|date4 =May 3

|score4 =2–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-4-recap/c-298442920

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Ryan Hartman (2) – 17:20

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =P. K. Subban (3) – pp – 14:36

|4-3-1 =19:09 – pp – Patrik Laine (3)

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 27 saves / 29 shots

|goalie4-2 =Pekka Rinne 32 saves / 33 shots

|date5 =May 5

|score5 =6–2

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-5-recap/c-298481400

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Paul Stastny (4) – 07:44
Kyle Connor (1) – 12:30
Dustin Byfuglien (4) – 14:35
Kyle Connor (2) – 17:01

|5-2-2 =11:08 – Yannick Weber (1)
17:59 – sh – Ryan Johansen (5)

|5-3-1 =Mark Scheifele (9) – 00:28
Mathieu Perreault (1) – pp – 06:23

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 38 saves / 40 shots

|goalie5-2 =Pekka Rinne 20 saves / 26 shots
Juuse Saros 6 saves / 6 shots

|date6 =May 7

|score6 =4–0

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/nashville-predators-winnipeg-jets-game-6-recap/c-298511680

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Viktor Arvidsson (4) – 01:02

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Filip Forsberg (6) – 08:16

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =Filip Forsberg (7) – 05:55
Viktor Arvidsson (5) – en – 15:58

|goalie6-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 25 saves / 28 shots

|goalie6-2 =Pekka Rinne 34 saves / 34 shots

|date7 =May 10

|score7 =5–1

|won7 =1

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-nashville-predators-game-7-recap/c-298560320

|7-1-1 =Tyler Myers (3) – 08:41
Paul Stastny (5) – 10:47

|7-1-2 =15:54 – pp – P. K. Subban (4)

|7-2-1 =Mark Scheifele (10) – 17:50

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =Paul Stastny (6) – pp – 11:59
Mark Scheifele (11) – en – 17:27

|7-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie7-1 =Connor Hellebuyck 36 saves / 37 shots

|goalie7-2 =Pekka Rinne 5 saves / 7 shots
Juuse Saros 14 saves / 16 shots

|series = Winnipeg won series 4–3

}}

This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Vegas won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.

The Golden Knights defeated the Sharks in six games. In game one, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 33 shots he faced and Vegas scored with seven different players to defeat San Jose 7–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-1-recap/c-298285206|title=Golden Knights score 7, shut out Sharks in Game 1|last=Webster|first=Danny|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 26, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} The Sharks used double-overtime to take game two 4–3 as Logan Couture's second goal of the game ended the Golden Knights' playoff winning streak. {{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-2-recap/c-298322230|title=Sharks win Game 2 against Golden Knights in 2OT|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 28, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} Game three also went into overtime; however, this time the Golden Knights' William Karlsson got the best of the Sharks, scoring the overtime-winner in a 4–3 victory for Vegas{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-298364270|title=Karlsson, Golden Knights defeat Sharks in OT in Game 3|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 1, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 2, 2018}} Martin Jones shut out the Golden Knights in game four, stopping all 34 shots he faced, giving the Sharks a 4–0 victory to even the series 2–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-san-jose-sharks-game-4-recap/c-298412272|title=Sharks shut out Golden Knights in Game 4, even Western series|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 2, 2018|website=NHl.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}} After the Golden Knights put up a 4–0 lead in game five, including two goals from rookie Alex Tuch, the Sharks scored three goals to come within one goal. However, Vegas halted the comeback when Jonathan Marchessault scored an empty-net goal to secure a 5–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-5-recap/c-298462254|title=Golden Knights hold off Sharks in Game 5, take lead in series|last=Webster|first=Danny|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 4, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 5, 2018}} In game six, Fleury recorded a 28-save shut out in a 3–0 victory to send the Golden Knights to their first Conference finals.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=San Jose Sharks

|team2=Vegas Golden Knights

|stadium2=SAP Center

|stadium1=T-Mobile Arena

|date1 =April 26

|score1 =0–7

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-1-recap/c-298285206

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =04:31 – Cody Eakin (2)
04:57 – Erik Haula (2)
06:02 – Jonathan Marchessault (1)
11:43 – pp – Alex Tuch (2)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =03:28 – Shea Theodore (2)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =04:32 – pp – Colin Miller (1)
08:09 – pp – James Neal (2)

|goalie1-1 =Martin Jones 8 saves / 13 shots
Aaron Dell 19 saves / 21 shots

|goalie1-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 33 saves / 33 shots

|date2 =April 28

|score2 =4–3

|ot2 =2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-2-recap/c-298322230

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =17:59 – William Karlsson (2)

|2-2-1 =Brent Burns (2) – pp – 02:00
Logan Couture (3) – 11:08
Brent Burns (3) – 14:07

|2-2-2 =00:26 – William Karlsson (3)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =13:28 – Nate Schmidt (1)

|2-4-1 =Logan Couture (4) – pp – 05:13

|2-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Martin Jones 26 saves / 29 shots

|goalie2-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 43 saves / 47 shots

|date3 =April 30

|score3 =4–3

|ot3 =1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-298364270

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =06:59 – pp – Timo Meier (2)

|3-2-2 =Colin Miller (2) – pp – 09:40
Jonathan Marchessault (2) – pp – 13:09
Reilly Smith (1) – 14:26

|3-3-1 =07:49 – Evander Kane (4)
18:03 – Tomas Hertl (4)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|3-4-1 =No scoring

|3-4-2 =William Karlsson (4) – 08:17

|goalie3-1 =Martin Jones 29 saves / 33 shots

|goalie3-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 39 saves / 42 shots

|date4 =May 2

|score4 =0–4

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-san-jose-sharks-game-4-recap/c-298412272

|4-1-1 =15:37 – Marcus Sorensen (4)
19:54 – Joonas Donskoi (2)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =05:35 – Tomas Hertl (5)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =11:43 – pp – Joe Pavelski (2)

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Martin Jones 34 saves / 34 shots

|goalie4-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 30 saves / 34 shots

|date5 =May 4

|score5 =3–5

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/san-jose-sharks-vegas-golden-knights-game-5-recap/c-298462254

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =19:57 – James Neal (3)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =04:52 – pp – Alex Tuch (3)
08:59 – Erik Haula (3)

|5-3-1 =Kevin Labanc (1) – pp – 09:35
Tomas Hertl (6) – 11:44
Mikkel Boedker (1) – 15:44

|5-3-2 =08:36 – Alex Tuch (4)
18:39 – en – Jonathan Marchessault (3)

|goalie5-1 =Martin Jones 27 saves / 31 shots
Aaron Dell 7 saves / 7 shots

|goalie5-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 27 saves / 30 shots

|date6 =May 6

|score6 =3–0

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-san-jose-sharks-game-6-recap/c-298495258

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Jonathan Marchessault (4) – 06:33
Nate Schmidt (2) – 15:38

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =Cody Eakin (3) – en – 18:09

|goalie6-1 =Martin Jones 30 saves / 32 shots

|goalie6-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 28 saves / 28 shots

|series = Vegas won series 4–2

}}

{{Main|NHL conference finals}}

This was the third playoff meeting between these teams with Tampa Bay winning both previous series. They last met in the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals, which Tampa Bay won in a four-game sweep. Also since 2011, this was the first conference final between two division champions. This was the Lightning's fifth appearance in the conference finals, and their third in the last four seasons.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/lightning-golden-knights-win-conference-finals-54964130|title=Lightning, Golden Knights 1 win from conference finals|first=Fred|last=Goodall|publisher=ABC News Internet Ventures|date=May 5, 2018|website=ABCNews.com|access-date=May 10, 2018}} Tampa Bay last went to the Conference finals in 2016; they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games. This was Washington's third conference finals appearance. They last made the conference finals in 1998; they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games. Tampa Bay won two of the three games in this year's regular season series.

The Capitals defeated the Lightning in seven games. In game one, Washington scored four consecutive goals across the first two periods forcing Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper to pull goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy; the Capitals won 4–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-1-recap/c-298576948|title=Ovechkin, Capitals top Lightning in Game 1|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 11, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 13, 2018}} Lars Eller and Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and two assists in Washington's 6–2 triumph in game two.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-298602122|title=Capitals score six in win against Lightning in Game 2|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 13, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 16, 2018}} The Lightning struck back in game three as Victor Hedman potted a goal and two assists in Tampa's 4–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-3-recap/c-298635768|title=Lightning power past Capitals in Game 3 for first win of Eastern Final|last=Rosen|first=Dan|date=May 16, 2018|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 16, 2018}} Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves in game four as the Lightning won the game 4–2 and thus tied the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-4-recap/c-298667954|title=Lightning win Game 4 against Capitals, even Eastern Final|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 17, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2018}} In game five, Ryan Callahan had a goal and an assist for the Lightning as they hung on for 3–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298699756|title=Lightning defeat Capitals in Game 5, take lead in series|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 19, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2018}} In game six, Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 24 saves in a 3–0 shutout victory to force a seventh game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-6-recap/c-298727506|title=Capitals stay alive with Game 6 win against Lightning|last=Rosen|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 21, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 23, 2018}} Braden Holtby stopped all 29 shots and Andre Burakovsky scored twice in game seven for Washington, advancing the Capitals to the Finals for the first time since 1998 in a 4–0 victory.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Washington Capitals

|team2=Tampa Bay Lightning

|stadium2=Capital One Arena

|stadium1=Amalie Arena

|date1 =May 11

|score1 =4–2

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-1-recap/c-298576948

|1-1-1 =Michal Kempny (1) – 07:28
Alexander Ovechkin (9) – pp – 19:54

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Jay Beagle (2) – 02:40
Lars Eller (4) – pp – 06:42

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =03:45 – pp – Steven Stamkos (4)
13:03 – Ondrej Palat (5)

|goalie1-1 =Braden Holtby 19 saves / 21 shots

|goalie1-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 21 saves / 25 shots
Louis Domingue 7 saves / 7 shots

|date2 =May 13

|score2 =6–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-2-recap/c-298602122

|2-1-1 =Tom Wilson (3) – 00:28

|2-1-2 =07:08 – pp – Brayden Point (5)
10:22 – pp – Steven Stamkos (5)

|2-2-1 =Devante Smith-Pelly (3) – 02:50
Lars Eller (5) – 18:58
Evgeny Kuznetsov (8) – pp – 19:57

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =Alexander Ovechkin (10) – 03:34
Brett Connolly (3) – 12:57

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Braden Holtby 33 saves / 35 shots

|goalie2-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 31 saves / 37 shots

|date3 =May 15

|score3 =4–2

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-3-recap/c-298635768

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Steven Stamkos (6) – pp – 13:53

|3-2-1 =10:31 – Brett Connolly (4)

|3-2-2 =Nikita Kucherov (7) – pp – 01:50
Victor Hedman (1) – 03:37
Brayden Point (6) – 16:03

|3-3-1 =16:58 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (9)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Braden Holtby 19 saves / 23 shots

|goalie3-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 36 saves / 38 shots

|date4 =May 17

|score4 =4–2

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-4-recap/c-298667954

|4-1-1 =04:28 – Dmitry Orlov (2)

|4-1-2 =Brayden Point (7) – 05:38
Steven Stamkos (7) – pp – 08:32

|4-2-1 =05:18 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (10)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Alex Killorn (5) – 11:57
Anthony Cirelli (2) – en – 19:58

|goalie4-1 =Braden Holtby 16 saves / 19 shots

|goalie4-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 36 saves / 38 shots

|date5 =May 19

|score5 =2–3

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-5-recap/c-298699756

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =00:19 – Cedric Paquette (1)
09:04 – Ondrej Palat (6)

|5-2-1 =Evgeny Kuznetsov (11) – 04:21

|5-2-2 =00:33 – Ryan Callahan (2)

|5-3-1 =Alexander Ovechkin (11) – 18:24

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Braden Holtby 19 saves / 22 shots

|goalie5-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 28 saves / 30 shots

|date6 =May 21

|score6 =0–3

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/tampa-bay-lightning-washington-capitals-game-6-recap/c-298727506

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =15:12 – pp – T. J. Oshie (6)

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =10:02 – Devante Smith-Pelly (4)
19:10 – en – T. J. Oshie (7)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Braden Holtby 24 saves / 24 shots

|goalie6-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 31 saves / 33 shots

|date7 =May 23

|score7 =4–0

|won7 =1

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-tampa-bay-lightning-game-7-recap/c-298766662

|7-1-1 =Alexander Ovechkin (12) – 01:02

|7-1-2 =No scoring

|7-2-1 =Andre Burakovsky (1) – 08:59
Andre Burakovsky (2) – 16:31

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =Nicklas Backstrom (4) – en – 16:17

|7-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie7-1 =Braden Holtby 29 saves / 29 shots

|goalie7-2 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 19 saves / 22 shots

|series = Washington won series 4–3

}}

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. This was the first time since 2003 where two teams were making their conference finals debut. The Jets advanced to the conference finals for the first time in their 19th year (seventh in Winnipeg) after entering the league in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers; they also became the first Winnipeg-based team in league history to make it past the second round. Vegas made the conference finals in their inaugural season becoming the first expansion team since the St. Louis Blues in 1968 to advance past the second round of the playoffs. Vegas won two of the three games in this year's regular season series.

The Golden Knights defeated the Jets in five games. In game one, Mark Scheifele scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 4–2 triumph over the Golden Knights.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-1-recap/c-298590412|title=Jets start fast, defeat Golden Knights in Game 1|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 12, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 13, 2018}} Jonathan Marchessault scored twice in Vegas' bounce-back win in game two, evening the series after a 3–1 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-2-recap/c-298620696|title=Golden Knights bounce back, defeat Jets in Game 2|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 14, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 16, 2018}} Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves for Vegas, including 15 in the third period of game three, to take a 4–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-vegas-golden-knights-game-3-recap/c-298653824|title=Marchessault helps Golden Knights top Jets in Game 3|last=Roarke|first=Shawne P.|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 16, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 16, 2018}} Fleury made an additional 35 saves in game four with Vegas forward Reilly Smith scoring the game-winning goal 13:02 into the third period.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-vegas-golden-knights-game-4-recap/c-298690184|title=Golden Knights on verge of Cup Final after Game 4 win against Jets|last=Roarke|first=Shawn P.|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 18, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2018}} In game five, the Golden Knights held onto a 2–1 lead, after Ryan Reaves scored in the second period to break the tie, to win the game and became the first expansion team to move onto the Stanley Cup Finals since the St. Louis Blues in 1968.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-5-recap/c-298712068|title=Golden Knights advance to Stanley Cup Final, eliminate Jets in Game 5|last=Billeck|first=Scott|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=May 20, 2018|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2018}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Vegas Golden Knights

|team2=Winnipeg Jets

|stadium2=T-Mobile Arena

|stadium1=Bell MTS Place

|date1 =May 12

|score1 =2–4

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-1-recap/c-298590412

|1-1-1 =Brayden McNabb (2) – 08:10

|1-1-2 =01:05 – Dustin Byfuglien (5)
06:49 – pp – Patrik Laine (4)
07:35 – Joel Armia (2)

|1-2-1 =William Karlsson (5) – pp – 15:55

|1-2-2 =09:54 – pp – Mark Scheifele (12)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Marc-Andre Fleury 22 saves / 26 shots

|goalie1-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 19 saves / 21 shots

|date2 =May 14

|score2 =3–1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-2-recap/c-298620696

|2-1-1 =Tomas Tatar (1) – 13:23
Jonathan Marchessault (5) – 17:22

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =Jonathan Marchessault (6) – 08:45

|2-3-2 =07:17 – pp – Kyle Connor (3)

|goalie2-1 =Marc-Andre Fleury 30 saves / 31 shots

|goalie2-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 25 saves / 28 shots

|date3 =May 16

|score3 =2–4

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-vegas-golden-knights-game-3-recap/c-298653824

|3-1-1 =00:35 – Jonathan Marchessault (7)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =05:40 – James Neal (4)
08:13 – Alex Tuch (5)

|3-2-2 =Mark Scheifele (13) – 05:28

|3-3-1 =19:57 – en – Jonathan Marchessault (8)

|3-3-2 =Mark Scheifele (14) – 00:18

|goalie3-1 =Marc-Andre Fleury 33 saves / 35 shots

|goalie3-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 26 saves / 29 shots

|date4 =May 18

|score4 =2–3

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-vegas-golden-knights-game-4-recap/c-298690184

|4-1-1 =02:25 – pp – William Karlsson (6)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =10:12 – Tomas Nosek (1)

|4-2-2 =Patrik Laine (5) – pp – 09:29

|4-3-1 =13:02 – Reilly Smith (2)

|4-3-2 =Tyler Myers (4) – 05:34

|goalie4-1 =Marc-Andre Fleury 35 saves / 37 shots

|goalie4-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 26 saves / 29 shots

|date5 =May 20

|score5 =2–1

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-winnipeg-jets-game-5-recap/c-298712068

|5-1-1 =Alex Tuch (6) – 05:11

|5-1-2 =17:14 – Josh Morrissey (1)

|5-2-1 =Ryan Reaves (1) – 13:21

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Marc-Andre Fleury 31 saves / 32 shots

|goalie5-2 =Connor Hellebuyck 30 saves / 32 shots

|series = Vegas won series 4–1

}}

{{Main|2018 Stanley Cup Finals}}

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Vegas made their Finals debut in their inaugural season, becoming the first team since the aforementioned St. Louis Blues to make the Finals in their first season. Washington made their second Finals appearance. Their only previous appearance in the Finals ended in a four-game sweep by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. This was the first Finals since 2007 to feature two teams that had not previously won a Stanley Cup. Vegas won both games in this year's regular season series.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Washington Capitals

|team2=Vegas Golden Knights

|stadium2=Capital One Arena

|stadium1=T-Mobile Arena

|date1 =May 28

|score1 =4–6

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-vegas-golden-knights-game-1-recap/c-298818918

|1-1-1 =Brett Connolly (5) – 14:41
Nicklas Backstrom (5) – 15:23

|1-1-2 =07:15 – pp – Colin Miller (3)
18:19 – William Karlsson (7)

|1-2-1 =John Carlson (4) – 08:29

|1-2-2 =03:21 – Reilly Smith (3)

|1-3-1 =Tom Wilson (4) – 01:10

|1-3-2 =02:41 – Ryan Reaves (2)
09:44 – Tomas Nosek (2)
19:57 – en – Tomas Nosek (3)

|goalie1-1 =Braden Holtby 28 saves / 33 shots

|goalie1-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 24 saves / 28 shots

|date2 =May 30

|score2 =3–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-vegas-golden-knights-game-2-recap/c-298850984

|2-1-1 =Lars Eller (6) – 17:27

|2-1-2 =07:58 – James Neal (5)

|2-2-1 =Alexander Ovechkin (13) – pp – 05:38
Brooks Orpik (1) – 09:41

|2-2-2 =17:47 – pp – Shea Theodore (3)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Braden Holtby 37 saves / 39 shots

|goalie2-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 23 saves / 26 shots

|date3 =June 2

|score3 =1–3

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-washington-capitals-game-3-recap/c-298904488

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =01:10 – Alexander Ovechkin (14)
12:50 – Evgeny Kuznetsov (12)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =13:53 – Devante Smith-Pelly (5)

|3-3-2 =Tomas Nosek (4) – 03:29

|goalie3-1 =Braden Holtby 21 saves / 22 shots

|goalie3-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 23 saves / 26 shots

|date4 =June 4

|score4 =2–6

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-washington-capitals-game-4-recap/c-298927150

|4-1-1 =09:54 – pp – T. J. Oshie (8)
16:26 – Tom Wilson (5)
19:39 – Devante Smith-Pelly (6)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =15:23 – pp – John Carlson (5)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =13:39 – Michal Kempny (2)
18:51 – pp – Brett Connolly (6)

|4-3-2 =James Neal (6) – 05:43
Reilly Smith (4) – 12:26

|goalie4-1 =Braden Holtby 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie4-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 17 saves / 23 shots

|date5 =June 7

|score5 =4–3

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-vegas-golden-knights-game-5-recap/c-298984386

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Jakub Vrana (3) – 06:24
Alexander Ovechkin (15) – pp – 10:14

|5-2-2 =09:40 – Nate Schmidt (3)
12:56 – David Perron (1)
19:31 – pp – Reilly Smith (5)

|5-3-1 =Devante Smith-Pelly (7) – 09:52
Lars Eller (7) – 12:23

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Braden Holtby 28 saves / 31 shots

|goalie5-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 29 saves / 33 shots

|series = Washington won series 4–1

}}

These are the top ten skaters based on points.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20172018&seasonTo=20172018&gameType=3&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists|title=NHL.com - Stats|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com}}

This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 420 minutes. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?report=goaliesummary&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20172018&seasonTo=20172018&gameType=3&filter=timeOnIce,gte,420&sort=goalsAgainstAverage|title=NHL.com - Stats|website=www.nhl.com}}

This was the seventh postseason under NBC Sports' current 10-year contract for American television rights to the NHL. All national coverage of games was aired on either NBCSN, the NBC broadcast network, NHL Network, USA Network, or CNBC. Due to original programming commitments involving CNBC and USA Network, two first round games on April 18 were aired by Golf Channel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2018/04/09/playoffs-golf-channel-devils-lightning-sharks-ducks|title=Golf Channel will air NHL playoff games|work=SI.com|access-date=April 11, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/the-devils-lightning-nhl-playoffs-series-will-air-on-golf-channel.html|title=Multiple NHL playoff games will air on Golf Channel, for some reason|date=April 9, 2018|work=Awful Announcing|access-date=April 11, 2018|language=en-US}}{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2018/04/09/nbc-sports-groups-coverage-of-2018-stanley-cup-playoffs-begins-wednesday-night-with-three-games/|title=NBC Sports Group's Coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Begins Wednesday Night With Three Games|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 9, 2018}} During the first round, excluding games exclusively broadcast on NBC, the regional rights holders of each participating U.S. team produced local telecasts of their respective games. For the second year, the first round national broadcasts were not blacked out on television in the markets of participating teams, and could co-exist with the local broadcasts (however, NBC-provided coverage was restricted in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, where AT&T SportsNet holds the regional rights to the Penguins and the Golden Knights respectively).{{cite press release | url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2018/04/04/theres-nothing-like-playoff-hockey-nbc-sports-group-to-present-every-stanley-cup-playoff-game-for-seventh-consecutive-season/ | title=NBC Sports Group to Present Every Stanley Cup Playoff Game For Seventh Consecutive Season | publisher=NBC Sports | date=April 4, 2018 | access-date=April 9, 2018}}

In Canada, for the fourth postseason under Rogers Media's current 12-year contract, coverage was broadcast by Sportsnet and CBC under the Hockey Night in Canada brand, and streamed on Sportsnet Now, CBCSports.ca (for games televised by CBC), or the subscription service Rogers NHL Live.{{cite press release|url=http://media.sportsnet.ca/2018/04/sportsnet-announces-2018-stanley-cup-playoffs-first-round-broadcast-schedule/|title=Sportsnet Announces 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Broadcast Schedule|publisher=Sportsnet|date=April 9, 2018|access-date=April 9, 2018}} The Winnipeg Jets' first round series against the Minnesota Wild was assigned to Sportsnet, due to the Maple Leafs' series being prioritized to CBC, and to encourage subscription to the network since it is not carried on basic cable in Winnipeg.{{Cite news|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/playoff-hockey-means-youve-gotta-pay-the-price-to-watch-the-jets-that-is-479308773.html|title=Playoff hockey means you've gotta pay the price... to watch the Jets, that is|last=Wiecek|first=Paul|date=April 10, 2018|work=Winnipeg Free Press|access-date=May 27, 2018}}{{cite news|title=CBC shut out: Jets games only available on Sportsnet|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/what-gives-cbc-jets-are-only-on-subscription-sportsnet-479216083.html|first=Dylan|last=Robertson|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=April 9, 2018}}

In a surprise move, Sportsnet did not give any on-air assignments to Bob Cole during the playoffs—an exclusion that caught the veteran commentator off-guard. Instead, Sportsnet replaced Cole with Calgary Flames announcer Rick Ball, joining Jim Hughson, Paul Romanuk and Dave Randorf on play-by-play during the first two rounds of the playoffs.{{Cite news|url=http://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/legendary-bob-cole-baffled-at-decision-to-sideline-him-for-playoffs|title='I will miss it': Bob Cole dismayed over decision to sideline him for playoffs|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=June 6, 2018|language=en-US}} It was subsequently announced that Cole would retire from broadcasting the following season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-after-almost-50-years-on-the-air-hockey-night-in-canada-godfather-bob/|title=After almost 50 years on the air, Hockey Night in Canada godfather Bob Cole hangs up his headset|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=April 11, 2019}}

Fuelled by viewer interest in the Golden Knights' inaugural season and playoff run, and in Canada, the deep playoff run of the Winnipeg Jets, viewership of these playoffs saw noticeable increases. NBC reported that viewership of the conference finals collectively saw a 15% increase over 2017, with an average cross-platform viewership{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/sports/olympics/olympics-nbc-viewers-digital.html|title=How Many People Are Watching the Olympics? NBC Uses a Tricky Head Count|date=February 13, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 27, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} of 1.841 million (23% increase year-over-year) for the Western Conference finals featuring the Golden Knights, game one of said series (televised on NBC) seen by 2.374 viewers total, and game seven of the Lightning/Capitals Eastern Conference final pulling a 2.14 overnight rating—the highest viewership for a non-overtime game seven since 2015, and the highest cable viewership of the 2018 playoffs to-date.{{Cite news|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/nhl/nhl-playoff-ratings-strong-heading-into-fascinating-stanley-cup-final-matchup.html|title=NHL playoff ratings strong heading into fascinating Stanley Cup Final matchup|date=May 24, 2018|work=Awful Announcing|access-date=May 27, 2018|language=en-US}} The Jets also contributed to strong viewership numbers in Canada, with Sportsnet reporting an average of 2.2 million across their second-round series.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/average-audience-2-2-million-watched-jets-beat-preds-7-games/|title=Average audience of 2.2 million watched Jets beat Preds in 7 games|agency=Canadian Press|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=May 27, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-jets-and-golden-knights-drawing-the-best-playoff-tv-ratings-in-canada/|title=Jets and Golden Knights drawing the best playoff TV ratings in Canada|work=The Globe and Mail|agency=Canadian Press|access-date=May 27, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/jets-playoff-economic-dividends-international-exposure-1.4667738|title=Jets' global exposure creates golden opportunity for tourism, economic development|work=CBC News|access-date=May 27, 2018|language=en-US}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.nhl.com/stanley-cup-playoffs/2018 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs]

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|title=Stanley Cup playoffs|years=2018|before=2017 Stanley Cup playoffs|after=2019 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{S-end}}

{{2017–18 NHL season by team}}

{{Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs}}

Category:Stanley Cup playoffs

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