After 82 grueling NHL games, the stage is set for Season 2 as the puck drops on the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday.
All the matchups are set after Sunday's action as 16 teams vie for the greatest trophy in sports. It's a long-winding road to crown a Stanley Cup champion and every series is certain to be filled with drama.
In the Atlantic Division bracket, the top-seeded Panthers battle the Wild Card-winning Islanders, while the No. 2 Lightning play the No. 3 Red Wings. Over in the Metropolitan Division the top-seeded Capitals take on the Wild Card-winning Flyers as the No. 2 Penguins have home ice over the No. 3 Rangers.
The Central Division will send five teams to the postseason once again as the top-seeded Stars host the Wild Card-winning Wild and the No. 2 Blues hold home ice over the No. 3 Blackhawks. The Predators also made the postseason by way of the Wild Card, but will be playing in the Pacific Division bracket against the No. 1 Ducks. The No. 2 Kings hold home ice over the No. 3 Sharks.
Here is the complete schedule for the first-round action of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Note: * indicates if necessary).
Capitals vs. Flyers (season series 2-2)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Thurs. 4/174 |
7 p.m. |
Washington, D.C. |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA |
|
Sat. 4/16 |
7 p.m. |
Washington, D.C. |
CNBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Mon. 4/18 |
7 p.m. |
Philadelphia |
CNBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Wed. 4/20 |
7 p.m. |
Philadelphia |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA |
|
Fri. 4/22* |
TBD |
Washington |
TBD |
|
Sun. 4/24* |
TBD |
Philadelphia |
TBD |
|
Wed. 4/27* |
TBD |
Washington |
TBD |
Penguins vs. Rangers (season series 3-1 PIT)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
National Network |
|
Wed. 4/13 |
8 p.m. |
Pittsburgh |
USA/Sportsnet/TVA/MSG |
|
Sat. 4/16 |
3 p.m. |
Pittsburgh |
NBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Tue. 4/19 |
7 p.m. |
New York |
USA/Sportsnet/TVA/MSG |
|
Thurs. 4/21 |
TBD |
New York |
Sportsnet/TVA/MSG |
|
Sat. 4/23* |
TBD |
Pittsburgh |
TBD |
|
Mon. 4/25* |
TBD |
New York |
TBD |
|
Wed. 4/27 |
TBD |
Pittsburgh |
TBD |
Panthers vs. Islanders (season series 2-1 FLA)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Thurs. 4/14 |
8 p.m. |
Florida |
CBC/Sportsnet |
|
Fri. 4/15 |
7:30 p.m. |
Florida |
NHL Network/SN380/TVA |
|
Sun. 4/17 |
8 p.m. |
New York |
NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Wed. 4/20 |
8 p.m. |
New York |
USA/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Fri. 4/22* |
TBD |
Florida |
TBD |
|
Sun. 4/24* |
TBD |
New York |
TBD |
|
Tues. 4/26 |
TBD |
Florida |
TBD |
Lightning vs. Red Wings (season series 2-2)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Wed. 4/13 |
7 p.m. |
Tampa Bay |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA Sports |
|
Fri. 4/15 |
7 p.m. |
Tampa Bay |
CNBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Sun. 4/17 |
7 p.m. |
Detroit |
CNBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Tue. 4/19 |
7 p.m. |
Detroit |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA |
|
Thu. 4/27* |
TBD |
Tampa Bay |
TBD |
|
Sun. 4/24* |
TBD |
Detroit |
TBD |
|
Tue. 4/26* |
TBD |
Tampa Bay |
TBD |
Stars vs. Wild (season series 4-1 DAL)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Thurs. 4/14 |
8:30 p.m. |
Dallas |
NBCSN/SN360/TVA |
|
Sat. 4/16 |
8 p.m. |
Dallas |
NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Mon. 4/18 |
8:30 p.m. |
Minnesota |
CNBC/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Wed. 4/20 |
9:30 p.m. |
Minnesota |
NBCSN/SN360/TVA |
|
Fri. 4/22* |
TBD |
Dallas |
TBD |
|
Sun. 4/24* |
TBD |
Minnesota |
TBD |
|
Tue. 4/26* |
TBD |
Dallas |
TBD |
Blues vs. Blackhawks (season series 3-2 STL)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Wed. 4/13 |
9:30 p.m. |
St. Louis |
NBCSN/SN360/TVA |
|
Fri. 4/15 |
8 p.m. |
St. Louis |
NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Sun. 4/17 |
3 p.m. |
Chicago |
NBC/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Tue. 4/19 |
9:30 p.m. |
Chicago |
NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Thurs. 4/21* |
TBD |
St. Louis |
TBD |
|
Sat. 4/23* |
TBD |
Chicago |
TBD |
|
Mon. 4/25* |
TBD |
St. Louis |
TBD |
Ducks vs. Predators (season series 2-1 NSH)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Fri. 4/15 |
10:30 p.m. |
Anaheim |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA |
|
Sun. 4/17 |
10:30 p.m. |
Anaheim |
NBCSN/Sportsnet/TVA |
|
Tue. 4/19 |
9:30 p.m. |
Nashville |
USA/SN360/TVA |
|
Thurs. 4/21 |
8 p.m. |
Nashville |
CNBC/FX Canada/TVA |
|
Sat. 4/23* |
TBD |
Anaheim |
TBD |
|
Mon. 4/25* |
TBD |
Nashville |
TBD |
|
Wed. 4/27* |
TBD |
Anaheim |
TBD |
Kings vs. Sharks (season series 3-2 LAK)
|
Date |
Time (ET) |
Location |
Networks |
|
Thurs. 4/14 |
10:30 p.m. |
Los Angeles |
CNBC/CBC/TVA |
|
Sat. 4/16 |
10:30 p.m. |
Los Angeles |
NBCSN/CBC/TVA |
|
Mon. 4/18 |
10:30 p.m. |
San Jose |
USA/CBC/TVA |
|
Wed. 4/20 |
10:30 p.m. |
San Jose |
USA/CBC/TVA |
|
Fri. 4/22* |
TBD |
Los Angeles |
TBD |
|
Sun. 4/24* |
TBD |
San Jose |
TBD |
|
Tue. 4/26* |
TBD |
Los Angeles |
TBD |
Which division winner has the best chance of hoisting the Stanley Cup?
