NHL first-round playoff schedule released; quest for Stanley Cup starts Saturday
The abbreviated 56-game NHL schedule is still going on, but the league announced dates (along with some times and television) for the best-of-seven postseason series.
The Stanley Cup playoffs will open Saturday with the Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals as the lone game. There will be three games Sunday, including the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Florida Panthers to begin defense of their 2020 championship.
Because North Division games will be played until May 19, those series won't start until the 19th and 20th.
Teams will play the first two rounds within their division, then the division winners will be seeded based on regular-season points for the semifinal. The winners will play for the Stanley Cup.
The schedule:
First round
All times p.m. ET. Best of seven. *-if necessary
EAST DIVISION
No 1. Pittsburgh vs. No. 4 NY Islanders
Sunday, May 16: NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, noon, NBC
Tuesday, May 18: NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, 7:30, NBCSN
Thursday, May 20: Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, 7, NBCSN
Saturday, May 22: Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, 3, NBC
*Monday, May 24, NY Islanders at Pittsburgh TBD
*Wednesday, May 26 Pittsburgh at NY Islanders TBD
*Friday, May 28 NY Islanders at Pittsburgh TBD
No. 1 Washington vs. No. 3 Boston
Saturday, May 15: Boston at Washington, 7:15, NBC
Monday, May 17: Boston at Washington, 7:30, NBCSN
Wednesday, May 19: Washington at Boston, 6:30, NBCSN
Friday, May 21: Washington at Boston, 6:30, NBCSN
*Sunday, May 23: Boston at Washington TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: Washington at Boston TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Boston at Washington, TBD
CENTRAL DIVISION
No. 1 Carolina vs. No. 4 Nashville
Monday, May 17: Nashville at Carolina, 8, CNBC
Wednesday, May 19: Nashville at Carolina, 8, CNBC
Friday, May 21: Carolina at Nashville, 7, USA
Sunday, May 23: Carolina at Nashville, TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: Nashville at Carolina, TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Carolina at Nashville, TBD
*Saturday, May 29: Nashville at Carolina TBD
No. 2 Florida vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay
Sunday, May 16: Tampa Bay at Florida, 7:30, NBCSN
Tuesday, May 18: Tampa Bay at Florida, 8 CNBC
Thursday, May 20: Florida at Tampa Bay, 6:30, USA
Saturday, May 22: Florida at Tampa Bay, 12:30, CNBC
*Monday, May 24: Tampa Bay at Florida, TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Florida at Tampa Bay, TBD
*Friday, May 28: Tampa Bay at Florida, TBD
WEST DIVISION
No. 1 Colorado/Vegas vs. No. 4 St. Louis
Monday, May 17: St. Louis at Colorado/Vegas, 10, NBCSN
Wednesday, May 19: St. Louis at Colorado/Vegas, 10:30, CNBC
Friday, May 21: Colorado/Vegas at St. Louis, 9:30, USA
Sunday, May 23: Colorado/Vegas at St. Louis, TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: St. Louis at Colorado/Vegas, TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Colorado/Vegas at St. Louis TBD
*Saturday, May 29: St. Louis at Colorado/Vegas, TBD
No. 2 Colorado/Vegas vs. No. 3 Minnesota
Sunday, May 16: Minnesota at Colorado/Vegas, 3, NBC
Tuesday, May 18: Minnesota at Colorado/Vegas, 10, NBCSN
Thursday, May 20: Colorado/Vegas at Minnesota, 9:30, NBCSN
Saturday, May 22: Colorado/Vegas at Minnesota, 8, NBC
*Monday, May 24: Minnesota at Colorado/Vegas, TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Colorado/Vegas at Minnesota, TBD
*Friday, May 28: Minnesota at Colorado/Vegas, TBD
NORTH DIVISION
No. 1 Toronto vs. No. 4 Montreal
Thursday, May 20: Montreal at Toronto, 7:30, NHL Network
Saturday, May 22: Montreal at Toronto, 7, CNBC
Monday, May 24: Toronto at Montreal, TBD
Tuesday, May 25: Toronto at Montreal, TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Montreal at Toronto, TBD
*Saturday, May 29: Toronto at Montreal, TBD
*Monday, May 31: Montreal at Toronto, TBD
No. 2 Edmonton vs. No. 3 Winnipeg
Wednesday, May 19: Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9, NBCSN
Friday, May 21: Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9, NBCSN
Sunday, May 23: Edmonton at Winnipeg TBD
Monday, May 24: Edmonton at Winnipeg TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Winnipeg at Edmonton TBD
*Friday, May 28: Edmonton at Winnipeg TBD
*Sunday, May 30: Winnipeg at Edmonton TBD
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