The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs features 16 teams in eight best-of-7 series, which start Saturday. Today, NHL.com previews the Eastern Conference First Round between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens.

Here's a look at the NHL playoffs bracket and TV information before the first round of the 2025 NHL postseason.

The brackets are set and the 2025 NHL playoffs are here, with 16 teams still in contention to hoist the Stanley Cup. Key first-round matchups include Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals facing off against the Montreal Canadiens.

Washington's Alex Ovechkin scored his 897th NHL goal, but the visiting Capitals dropped their season finale 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

Alex Ovechkin said he plans to return at least one more season after setting the all-time NHL goalscoring record during his 20th campaign with the Washington Capitals. When asked if it was important to match up with Sidney Crosby one more time during Thursday night's regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins,

Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have played nearly 100 NHL games against one another. That prompted the question for the Capitals star as to whether Thursday night was his final matchup with the Penguins captain.