Will the Pittsburgh Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions? Will the Blackhawks win their 4th cup in the 2010's? Will the President's Trophy winner overcome the jinx of finishing first in the regular season? Who will this year's Matt Murray?
The long road to the Stanley Cup begins this Wednesday with 5 Canadian teams actually participating in this year's playoffs. Cue up the Q, ice the brews and dust off the large flat screen TV for NHL playoff hockey! There are some really good match ups in the first round, so sit back and enjoy!!.
Here is the complete first-round schedule (All times ET, subject to change):
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Montreal Canadiens (A1) vs. New York Rangers (WC1)
Wednesday, April 12, 7pm: Rangers @ Canadiens | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSNFriday, April 14, 7pm: Rangers @ Canadiens | CBC, TVA Sports, USA
Sunday, April 16, 7pm: Canadiens @ Rangers | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 7pm: Canadiens @ Rangers | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Rangers @ Canadiens | TBD
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Canadiens @ Rangers | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Rangers @ Canadiens | TBD
Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. Boston Bruins (A3)
Wednesday, April 12, 7pm: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NHL NetworkSaturday, April 15, 3pm: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBC
Monday, April 17, 7pm: Senators @ Bruins | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30pm: Senators @ Bruins | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Senators @ Bruins | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC2)
Thursday, April 13, 7pm: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | USA, CBC, TVA SportsSaturday, April 15, 7pm: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 7pm: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Wednesday, April 19, 7pm: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3)
Wednesday, April 12, 7:30pm: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | USA, SN 360, TVA SportsFriday, April 14, 7pm: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | NHL Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Sunday, April 16, 6pm: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | CNBC, SN 360, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 7:30pm: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | CNBC, SN 360, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Chicago Blackhawks (C1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC2)
Thursday, April 13, 8pm: Predators @ Blackhawks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA SportsSaturday, April 15, 8pm: Predators @ Blackhawks | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 9:30pm: Blackhawks @ Predators | CNBC, SN ONE, TVA Sports
Thursday, April 20, TBD: Blackhawks @ Predators | SN 360, TVA Sports
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Predators @ Blackhawks | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Blackhawks @ Predators | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Predators @ Blackhawks | TBD
Minnesota Wild (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
Wednesday, April 12, 9:30pm: Blues @ Wild | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA SportsFriday, April 14, 8pm: Blues @ Wild | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports
Sunday, April 16, 3pm: Wild @ Blues | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wednesday, April 19, 9:30pm: Wild @ Blues | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Blues @ Wild | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Wild @ Blues | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Blues @ Wild | TBD
Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Calgary Flames (WC1)
Thursday, April 13, 10:30pm: Flames @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA SportsSaturday, April 15, 10:30pm: Flames @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 10pm: Ducks @ Flames | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Wednesday, April 19, 10pm: Ducks @ Flames | CBC, TVA Sports, USA
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Flames @ Ducks | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Ducks @ Flames | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Flames @ Ducks | TBD
Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)
Wednesday, April 12, 10pm: Sharks @ Oilers | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, USAFriday, April 14, 10:30pm: Sharks @ Oilers | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Sunday, April 16, 10pm: Oilers @ Sharks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 10pm: Oilers @ Sharks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Sharks @ Oilers | TBD
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Oilers @ Sharks | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Sharks @ Oilers | TBD
* if necessary
TBD - To Be Determined