This Wednesday begins the long exciting journey to see who will be this year's Stanley Cup champions. If you're a hockey fan, this truly is the best time of the year! The defending Stanley Cup champion, Chicago Blackhawks will defend their title against the St. Louis Blues in the first round. The Blues and the Blackhawks are the 2 and 3 seeds in the tough Central division and considering they are also the 3rd and 5th top teams in the entire league, it's an injustice one of these teams will be eliminated in the first round. Both teams have to be considered a top contender for the cup, so this should be one of the most closely contested series in the first round. There is a bias on this page, so clearly the Hawks will move on, but this should be fun, scary fun!
There are many interesting match ups and considering how close some of these teams are point wise, with the exception of Washington, it will be very hard to predict winners in my playoff bracket. Make sure to choose your picks for the 2016 NHL Bracket Challenge as soon as possible because the deadline to enter expires a minute before the first playoff game drops the puck. I will give a more detailed look at who I think will be the winners and losers of this years playoffs in the days leading up to opening night. Stay tuned!
Here are the dates, starting times and national TV coverage for the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs first round. (note: all times are Central Time)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Florida Panthers (A1) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)
Thu 4/14, 7pm: NYI @ FLA | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA SportsFri 4/15, 6:30pm: NYI @ FLA | NHL Network, SN360, TVA Sports
Sun 4/17, 7pm: FLA @ NYI | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wed 4/20, 7pm: FLA @ NYI | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Fri 4/22, TBD: NYI @ FLA | TBD
*Sun 4/24, TBD: FLA @ NYI | TBD
*Tue 4/26, TBD: NYI @ FLA | TBD
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (A3)
Wed 4/13, 6pm: DET @ TBL | NBCSN, CBC, TVA SportsFri 4/15, 6pm:DET @ TBL | CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Sun 4/17, 6pm: TBL @ DET | CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Tue 4/19, 6pm: TBL @ DET | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Thu 4/21, TBD: DET @ TBL | TBD
*Sun 4/24, TBD: TBL @ DET | TBD
*Tue 4/26, TBD: DET @ TBL | TBD
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (WC2)
Thu 4/14, 6pm: PHI @ WSH | NBCSN, CBC, TVA SportsSat 4/16, 6pm: PHI @ WSH | CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Mon 4/18, 6pm: WSH @ PHI | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Wed 4/20, 6pm: WSH @ PHI | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Fri 4/22, TBD: PHI @ WSH | TBD
*Sun 4/24, TBD: WSH @ PHI | TBD
*Wed 4/27, TBD: PHI @ WSH | TBD
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. New York Rangers (M3)
Wed 4/13, 7pm: NYR @ PIT | USA, Sportsnet, TVA SportsSat 4/16, 2pm: NYR @ PIT | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
Tue 4/19, 6pm: PIT @ NYR | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Thu 4/21, TBD: PIT @ NYR | Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Sat 4/23, TBD: NYR @ PIT | TBD
*Mon 4/25, TBD: PIT @ NYR | TBD
*Wed 4/27, TBD: NYR @ PIT | TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC2)
Thu 4/14, 8:30pm: MIN @ DAL | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA SportsSat 4/16, 7pm: MIN @ DAL | NBCSN, Sporstnet, TVA Sports
Mon 4/18, 7:30pm: DAL @ MIN | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wed 4/20, 8:30pm: DAL @ MIN | NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports
*Fri 4/22, TBD: MIN @ DAL | TBD
*Sun 4/24, TBD: DAL @ MIN | TBD
*Tue 4/26, TBD: MIN @ DAL | TBD
St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (C3)
Wed 4/13, 8:30pm: CHI @ STL | NBCSN, SN360, TVA SportsFri 4/15, 7pm: CHI @ STL | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Sun 4/17, 2pm: STL @ CHI | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tue 4/19, 8:30pm: STL @ CHI | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Thu 4/21, TBD: CHI @ STL | TBD
*Sat 4/23, TBD: STL @ CHI | TBD
*Mon 4/25, TBD: CHI @ STL | TBD
Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
Fri 4/15, 9:30pm: NSH @ ANA | NBCSN, CBC, TVA SportsSun 4/17, 9:30pm: NSH @ ANA | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tue 4/19, 8:30pm: ANA @ NSH | USA, SN360, TVA Sports
Thu 4/21, 7pm: ANA @ NSH | CNBC, FX Canada, TVA Sports
*Sat 4/23, TBD: NSH @ ANA | TBD
*Mon 4/25, TBD: ANA @ NSH | TBD
*Wed 4/27, TBD: NSH @ ANA | TBD
Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)
Thu 4/14, 9:30pm: SJS @ LAK | CNBC, CBC, TVA SportsSat 4/16, 9:30pm: SJS @ LAK | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Mon 4/18, 9:30pm: LAK @ SJS | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Wed 4/20, 9:30pm: LAK @ SJS | USA, CBC, TVA Sports
*Fri 4/22, TBD: SJS @ LAK | TBD
*Sun 4/24, TBD: LAK @ SJS | TBD
*Tue 4/26, TBD: SJS @ LAK | TBD
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