Avs win Preisdents’ Trophy, NHL releases first-round playoff schedule

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 5-1 on Thursday, clinching the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record in the process.

Colorado, who carried a five-game winning streak at the end of the season to a 35-13-4 record overall, matched the Vegas Golden Knights’ 82 points in the standings but won the tiebreaker by having more regulation wins. This is the first time the Avs have won the Preisdents’ Trophy since 2000-01, which is also the last time they won the Stanley Cup.

With the West Division now decided, the playoff matchups are set. The NHL has finally released the schedule for all eight series in the first round.

East Division

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs No. 4 New York Islanders

• Sunday, May 16: Islanders @ Penguins
• Tuesday, May 18: Islanders @ Penguins
• Thursday, May 20: Penguins @ Islanders
• Saturday, May 22: Penguins @ Islanders
• Monday, May 24: Islanders @ Penguins (if necessary)
• Wednesday, May 26: Penguins @ Islanders (if necessary)
• Friday, May 28: Islanders @ Penguins (if necessary)

No. 2 Washington Capitals vs No. 3 Boston Bruins

• Saturday, May 15: Bruins @ Capitals
• Monday, May 17: Bruins @ Capitals
• Wednesday, May 19: Capitals @ Bruins
• Friday, May 21: Capitals @ Bruins
• Sunday, May 23: Bruins @ Capitals (if necessary)
• Tuesday, May 25: Capitals @ Bruins (if necessary)
• Thursday, May 27: Bruins @ Capitals (if necessary)

Central Division

No. 1 Capitals Hurricanes vs No. 4 Nashville Predators

• Monday, May 17: Predators @ Hurricanes
• Wednesday, May 19: Predators @ Hurricanes
• Friday, May 21: Hurricanes @ Predators
• Sunday, May 23: Hurricanes @ Predators
• Tuesday, May 25: Predators @ Hurricanes (if necessary)
• Thursday, May 27: Hurricanes @ Predators (if necessary)
• Saturday, May 29: Predators @ Hurricanes (if necessary)

No. 2 Florida Panthers vs No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

• Sunday, May 16: Lightning @ Panthers
• Tuesday, May 18: Lightning @ Panthers
• Thursday, May 20: Panthers @ Lightning
• Saturday, May 22: Panthers @ Lightning
• Monday, May 24: Lightning @ Panthers (if necessary)
• Wednesday, May 26: Panthers @ Lightning (if necessary)
• Friday, May 28: Lightning @ Panthers (if necessary)

West Division

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs No. 4 St. Louis Blues

• Monday, May 17: Blues @ Avalanche
• Wednesday, May 19: Blues @ Avalanche
• Friday, May 21: Avalanche @ Blues
• Sunday, May 23: Avalanche @ Blues
• Tuesday, May 25: Blues @ Avalanche (if necessary)
• Thursday, May 27: Avalanche @ Blues (if necessary)
• Saturday, May 29: Blues @ Avalanche (if necessary)

No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights vs No. 3 Minnesota Wild

• Monday, May 17: Wild @ Golden Knights
• Wednesday, May 19: Wild @ Golden Knights
• Friday, May 21: Golden Knights @ Wild
• Sunday, May 23: Golden Knights @ Wild
• Tuesday, May 25: Wild @ Golden Knights (if necessary)
• Thursday, May 27: Golden Knights @ Wild (if necessary)
• Saturday, May 29: Wild @ Golden Knights (if necessary)

North Division

No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs No. 4 Montreal Canadiens

• Thursday, May 20: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs
• Saturday, May 22: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs
• Monday, May 24: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens
• Tuesday, May 25: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens
• Thursday, May 27: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs (if necessary)
• Saturday, May 29: Maple Leafs @ Canadiens (if necessary)
• Monday, May 31: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs (if necessary)

No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs No. 3 Winnipeg Jets

• Wednesday, May 19: Jets @ Oilers
• Friday, May 21: Jets @ Oilers
• Sunday, May 23: Oilers @ Jets
• Monday, May 24: Oilers @ Jets
• Wednesday, May 26: Jets @ Oilers (if necessary)
• Friday, May 28: Oilers @ Jets (if necessary)
• Sunday, May 30: Jets @ Oilers (if necessary)

Canada will begin its playoffs later than the American teams as the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames still have three more games on their schedule left to play.