June 14 , 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) holds the Stanley Cup during the Stanley Cup victory parade and celebration. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Here at Blackout Dallas, we’re mourning yet another year of watching playoffs without our Dallas Stars in the running, but we’re thankful to have playoff hockey at all this year! So, in celebrating with the teams that made the top eight in both conferences, we’re going to keep you updated with what’s happening with all 16 teams in the running for the Cup. Once a week we’ll update who’s playing who, who’s winning and who’s headed for the off-season.
Western Conference (All times EST)
Series A
#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #8 Minnesota Wild
Game 1: Wild at Blackhawks – Tuesday April 30, 8:oo p.m. – NBC Sports Network, FSN, CSN
Game 2: Wild at Blackhawks – Friday May 3, 9:30 p.m. – NBCSN, FSN, CSN
Game 3: Blackhawks at Wild – Sunday May 5, 3:00 p.m. – NBC
Game 4: Blackhawks at Wild – Tuesday May 7, 9:30 p.m. – NBCSN FSN, CSN
*Game 5: Wild at Blackhawks – Thursday May 9 TBD – FSN, CSN
*Game 6: Blackhawks at Wild – Saturday May 11 TBD – FSN, CSN
*Game 7: Wild at Blackhawks – Sunday May 12 TBD – FSN, CSN
Series B
#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #7 Detroit Red Wings
Game 1: Red Wings at Ducks – Tuesday April 30, 10:30 p.m. – NBCSN, FSD, FSD+, FSW
Game 2: Red Wings at Ducks – Thursday May 2, 10:00 p.m. -NBCSN, FSD
Game 3: Ducks at Red Wings – Saturday May 4, 7:30 p.m. – NBCSN, FSD
Game 4: Ducks at Red Wings – Monday May 6, 8:00 p.m. – CNBC, FSD
*Game 5: Red Wings at Anaheim – Wednesday May 8, 10:00 p.m. – FSD, FSD+
*Game 6: Ducks at Red Wings – Friday May 10, TBD – FSD
*Game 7: Red Wings at Ducks – Sunday May 12, TBD – FSD
Series C
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 San Jose Sharks
Game 1: Sharks at Canucks – Wednesday May 1, 10:30 p.m – NBCSN, CSNCA
Game 2: Sharks at Canucks – Friday May 3, 10:00 p.m. – NBCSN, CSNCA
Game 3: Canucks at Sharks – Sunday May 5, 10:00 p.m. – NBCSN, CSNCA
Game 4: Canucks at Sharks – Tuesday May 7, 10:00 p.m. – NBCSN, CSNCA
*Game 5: Sharks at Canucks – Thursday May 9, 10:00 p.m. – CSNCA
*Game 6: Canucks at San Jose – Saturday May 11, TBD – CSNCA
*Game 7: Sharks at Canucks – Monday May 13, TBD – CSNCA
Series D
#4 St. Louis Blues vs. #5 Los Angeles Kings
Game 1: Kings at Blues – Tuesday April 30, 8:00 p.m. – CNBC, PRIME, FSMW
Game 2: Kings at Blues – Thursday May 2, 9:30 p.m. – CNBC, FSMW
Game 3: Blues at Kings – Saturday May 4, 10:00 p.m. – NBCSN, FSMW, FSW
Game 4: Blues at Kings – Monday May 6, 10:00 p.m. – NBCSN, FSMW, FSW
*Game 5: Kings at Blues – Wednesday May 8, TBD – TBD
*Game 6: Blues at Kings – Friday May 10, TBD – TBD
*Game 7: Kings at Blues – Monday May 13, TBD – TBD
Eastern Conference (All times EST)
Series E
#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #8 New York Islanders
Game 1: Islanders at Penguins – Wednesday May 1, 7:30 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG+, ROOT
Game 2: Islanders at Penguins – Friday May 3, 7:00 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG+, ROOT
Game 3: Penguins at Islanders – Sunday May 5, 12:00 p.m. – NBC
Game 4: Penguins at Islanders – Tuesday May 7, 7:00 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG+, ROOT
*Game 5: Islanders at Penguins – Thursday May 9, 7:00 p.m. – MSG+, ROOT
*Game 6: Penguins at Islanders – Saturday May 11, TBD – MSG+, ROOT
*Game 7: Islanders at Penguins – Sunday May 12, TBD – MSG+, ROOT
Series F
#2 Montreal Canadiens vs. #7 Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Senators at Canadiens – Thursday May 2, 7:00 p.m. – CNBC
Game 2: Senators at Canadiens – Friday May 3, 7:00 p.m. – CNBC
Game 3: Canadiens at Senators – Sunday May 5, 7:00 p.m. – NBCSN
Game 4: Canadiens at Senators – Tuesday May 7, 7:00 p.m. – CNBC
*Game 5: Senators at Canadiens – Thursday May 9, 7:00 p.m. – TBD
*Game 6: Canadiens at Senators – Saturday May 11, TBD – TBD
*Game 7: Senators at Canadiens – Sunday May 12, TBD – TBD
Series G
#3 Washington Capitals vs. #6 New York Rangers
Game 1: Rangers at Capitals – Thursday May 2, 7:30 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG, CSNDC
Game 2: Rangers at Capitals – Saturday May 4, 12:30 p.m. – NBC
Game 3: Capitals at Rangers – Monday May 6, 7:30 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG, CSNDC
Game 4: Capitals at Rangers – Wednesday May 8, 7:30 p.m. – NBCSN, MSG, CSNDC
*Game 5: Rangers at Capitals – Friday May 10, 7:30 p.m. – MSG, CSNDC
*Game 6: Capitals at Rangers – Sunday May 12, TBD – MSG, CSNDC
*Game 7: Rangers at Capitals – Monday May 13, TBD – MSG, CSNDC
Series H
#4 Boston Bruins vs. #5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1: Leafs at Bruins – Wednesday May 1, 7:00 p.m. – CNBC, NESN
Game 2: Leafs at Bruins – Saturday May 4, 7:00 p.m. – CNBC, NESN
Game 3: Bruins at Leafs – Monday May 6, 7:00 p.m. – NHLN-US, NESN
Game 4: Bruins at Leafs – Wednesday May 8, 7:00 p.m. – NHLN-US, NESN
*Game 5: Leafs at Bruins – Friday May 10, 7:00 p.m. – NESN
*Game 6: Bruins at Leafs – Sunday May 12, TBD – NESN
*Game 7: Leafs at Bruins – Monday May 13, TBD – NESN
* Indicate games to be played if needed.
Many of us thought we wouldn’t get to see playoff hockey for another year, but here it is, ready to impress and entertain all over again.
So who’s going to bring an upset and who’s going to shock the world with a horrible playoff showing? Will the Kings be the team to beat yet again or will the Blackhawks’ domination overflow from the regular season? Can the Penguins and former captain Brenden Morrow keep pushing for the cup or will the Canadiens and former Star Michael Ryder push for the cup for the 25th time?
It’s NHL playoff time, and it won’t disappoint.