ESPN.com · May 29, 2021
2021 NHL playoff bracket preview: Second-round matchups, series picks
The first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was a wonderful appetizer to the remaining courses, the first of which begins on Saturday with the Boston Bruins hosting the New York Islanders at 8 p.m. ET.
As a reminder, this season's first and second rounds are intradivisional. Once the postseason division champs are crowned, the "final four" will be rebracketed based on their regular-season records, with No. 1 taking on No. 4 and No. 2 facing No. 3. The winners of those series will square off in the Stanley Cup Final.
How will the matchups play out? Let's take an in-depth look at each second-round matchup and make our picks for which teams will advance.