The NHL playoffs begin tomorrow with a good-sized group of games, but who’s playing, when, and where can you tune in for all the action?
Baseball season is just kicking off, but hockey season is skating (pun fully intended) to its close. Granted, the quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup probably won’t end until May or even June, because of all the hockey that needs to be played. Yet here we are, in the middle of April, and the playoffs begin tomorrow.
Here, you’ll find all of the matchups, some key statistics, and more. The channel data and dates come via NHL.com.
As per usual, each team will need to win four games in order to make it to the next round.
Let’s start with the Western Conference, shall we?
Western Conference
Although it’s certainly possible for the top seeds from each division to not play someone in their division, that’s how it’s fallen out for the Western Conference to start this year’s playoffs. Let’s start on the West Coast and work our way back.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames
Fans on the East Coast and in the Midwest might want to ready themselves to stay up late if they want to see these matches. None of the confirmed times are before 10 p.m. ET. But, like the other top-seed in the Blackhawks, the Ducks handled the Flames 4-1 over the regular season.
"Thursday, April 13, 10:30 p.m. ET: at Ducks, NBCSNSaturday, April 15, 10:30 p.m.: at Ducks, NBCSNMonday, April 17, 10 p.m.: at Flames, NBCSNWednesday, April 19, 10 p.m.: at Flames, USAFriday, April 21 (if needed): at DucksSunday, April 23 (if needed): at FlamesTuesday, April 25 (if needed): at Ducks"
Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks
The Oilers-Sharks series over the season is the most contested of the four Western Conference matches, with the Oilers going 3-1-1 over the Sharks. Similarly to the Ducks-Flames above, paying attention to this series will be an exercise in staying up late. Interestingly, neither has secured an NBC slot, either, but the following two series will be on NBC for at least one game apiece.
"Wednesday, April 12, 10 p.m. ET: at Oilers, USAFriday, April 14, 10:30 p.m. ET: at Oilers, NBCSNSunday, April 16, 10 p.m. ET: at Sharks, NBCSNTuesday, April 18, 10 p.m. ET: at Sharks, NBCSNThursday, April 20 (if needed): at OilersSaturday, April 22 (if needed): at SharksMonday, April 24 (if needed): at Oilers"
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators
The Blackhawks went 4-1 against the Predators during the regular season, taking wins both in Chicago and in Nashville, but the two haven’t met since early March. Even so, the Blackhawks took the top spot in the conference overall, and that’s hard to bet against … but not impossible.
"Thursday, April 13, 8 p.m. E.T.: at Blackhawks, NBCSNSaturday, April 15, 8 p.m. E.T. : at Blackhawks, NBCMonday, April 17, 9:30pm E.T.: at Predators, CNBCThursday, April 20, time not yet announced: at Predators, U.S. channel not yet announcedSaturday, April 22 (if needed): at BlackhawksMonday, April 24 (if needed): at PredatorsWednesday, April 26 (if needed): at Blackhawks"
Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues
Per ESPN, the Blues won things 3-2 during the season, but both teams are coming in on winning streaks according to the NHL’s official standings. Interestingly, though this isn’t the only series that has a game this Easter, it’s the only series that has an Easter game and an NBC slot.
"Wednesday, April 12, 9:30 p.m. ET: at Wild, NBCSNFriday, April 14, 8 p.m. ET: at Wild, NBCSNSunday, April 16, 3 p.m. ET: at Blues, NBCWednesday, April 19, 9:30 p.m. ET: at Blues, NBCSNSaturday, April 22 (if needed): at WildMonday, April 24 (if needed): at BluesWednesday, April 26 (if needed): at Wild"
Eastern Conference
Over in the Eastern Conference, the match-ups are a bit more mixed, with an Atlantic and Metropolitan team duking it out in each of the wild card series.
Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Even though we knew that the Washington Capitals would secure the Presidents’ Trophy for the most points in the NHL this season a week ago already, it doesn’t win them a free pass to the second round. Besides, they won it last year, too, and yet we’re not talking about their attempts to defend the Stanley Cup, are we? Anyway, the Capitals (perhaps unsurprisingly) beat the Leafs twice this past season, with the Leafs having a win of their own.
"Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m. ET: at Capitals, USA, CBC, TVA SportsSaturday, April 15, 7 p.m. ET: at Capitals, NBCSNMonday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET: at Maple Leafs, NBCSNWednesday, April 19, 7 p.m. ET: at Maple Leafs, NBCSNFriday, April 21 (if needed): at CapitalsSunday, April 23 (if needed): at Maple LeafsTuesday, April 25 (if needed): at Capitals"
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Instead, we’re talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins trying to repeat as the champions. Here’s where it gets interesting, though. The Blue Jackets and the Penguins are perhaps the most evenly matched based on the season series, with it going 2-1-1 both ways (that is, each team won two games, lost one, and lost another in overtime). Unfortunately, they didn’t win an NBC slot either, though they do have Friday on NHL Network.
"Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. ET: at Penguins, USAFriday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET: at Penguins, NHL NetworkSunday, April 16, 6 p.m. ET: at Blue Jackets, CNBCTuesday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.: at Blue Jackets, CNBCThursday, April 20 (if needed): at PenguinsSunday, April 23 (if needed) at Blue JacketsTuesday, April 25 (if needed): at Penguins"
Montréal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers
Oddly enough, the Canadiens and Rangers have the most regular start times in the first four games. They’re all at 7 p.m., and you’re likely to find them on NBCSN. However, in terms of the playoff match, the Habs went 3-0-0 against the Rangers this past season.
"Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET: at Canadiens, NBCSNFriday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET: at Canadiens, USASunday, April 16, 7 p.m. ET: at Rangers, NBCSNTuesday, April 18, 7 p.m. ET: at Rangers, NBCSNThursday, April 20 (if needed): at CanadiensSaturday, April 22 (if needed): at RangersMonday, April 24 (if needed): at Canadiens"
Ottawa Senators vs. Boston Bruins
As late as last week, Boston media had to spell out the Bruins’ playoff chances alongside teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning (who did miss out this year) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (who didn’t). Yet, here we are, talking about the Bruins again. As the Boston Globe reports, the Bruins didn’t beat the Senators at all (0-3-1, for those keeping score).
"Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET: at Senators, NHL NetworkSaturday, April 15, 3 p.m. ET: Senators, NBCMonday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET: at Bruins, CNBCWednesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. ET: at Bruins, USAFriday, April 21 (if needed): at SenatorsSunday, April 23 (if needed): at BruinsWednesday, April 26 if needed): at Senators"
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Let us know which teams you’ll be supporting in the playoffs in the comments below. And, of course, good luck to all the other teams (except the one yours is playing against, whichever that may be.