NHL Playoff Schedule Released As Season Comes To A Close

The NHL playoff schedule has officially been released after the regular season came to a close Sunday night. The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins lead the field while the Minnesota Wild found a way to sneak in with the final spot in the West.

The lockout-shortened season made for quite the finish as multiple teams had a shot at the playoffs in the final month. The New York Rangers and New York Islanders made headlines in the Eastern Conference while the Wild and Detroit Red Wings held off the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final two spots in the West.

The Islanders lost their last three games of the season but managed to hold on to the final spot in the East. The Winnipeg Jets were in striking distance but lost their last two games to give the Islanders their first playoff berth since 2007.

The Rangers jumped the Ottawa Senators during the last week of play for the sixth seed, just one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for fifth. The Boston Bruins finished a point behind the Montreal Canadiens in the Northeast and hold the fourth seed.

The Canadiens grabbed the second spot behind the Penguins while the red-hot Washington Capitals won eight of their last 10 games to seal up the third seed. The Western Conference race was just as tight though the Blackhawks ran away with 77 points for the top spot.

The Blue Jackets won each of their last three games to draw even in points at 55 with the Wild. Minnesota was given the tie-breaker due to having more regulation and overtime wins.

The Detroit Red Wings clinched the seventh seed for their 22nd consecutive playoff appearance, more than any team of any professional sport. The Los Angeles Kings, defending Stanley Cup champions, finished two points ahead of the San Jose Sharks for fifth while the St. Louis Blues won their last three to finish fourth.

The Vancouver Canucks ended the season as the only team in the Northwest division with a positive goal difference at plus-six and clinched the third seed. The top two spots in the West have really never changed as the Anaheim Ducks locked up the second seed behind the story of the year in the Blackhawks.

Chicago started the season on a remarkable run by gaining at least one point in 24 straight games. The Blackhawks started 21-0-3 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 in regulation on March 8th.

It’s been a race to the finish ever since and the playoffs have finally arrived. Here is the complete NHL playoff schedule along with television spots as first round match-ups begin Tuesday:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 8 New York Islanders

Game 1: at Pittsburgh, May 1, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 2: at Pittsburgh, May 3, 7 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 3: at New York, May 5, 12 p.m., NBC, TSN
Game 4: at New York, May 7, 7 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 5: at Pittsburgh, May 9, 7 p.m., TBD
Game 6: at New York, May 11, TBD
Game 7:at Pitsburgh, May 12, TBD

No. 2 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 7 Ottawa Senators

Game 1: at Montreal, May 2, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2: at Montreal, May 3, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3: at Ottawa, May 5, 7 p.m., NBCSN, CBC, RDS
Game 4: at Ottawa, May 7, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, RDS
Game 5: at Montreal, May 9, 7 p.m., CBC
Game 6: at Ottawa, May 11, CBC
Game 7:at Montreal, May 12, CBC

No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 6 New York Rangers

Game 1: at Washington, May 2, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 2: at Washington, May 4, 12:30 p.m., NBC, TSN
Game 3: at New York, May 6, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 4: at New York, May 8, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 5: at Washington, May 10, 7:30 p.m., TBD
Game 6: at New York, May 12, TBD
Game 7:at Washington, May 13, TBD

No. 4 Boston Bruins vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs

Game 1: at Boston, May 1, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2: at Boston, May 4, 7 p.m., CNBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3: at Toronto, May 6, 7 p.m., NHLN, CBC, RDS
Game 4: at Toronto, May 8, 7 p.m., NHLN, CBC, RDS
Game 5: at Boston, May 10, 7 p.m., CBC
Game 6: at Toronto, May 12, TBD, CBC
Game 7:at Boston, May 13, TBD, CBC

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 8 Minnesota Wild

Game 1: at Chicago, April 30, 8 p.m., NBCSN, CBC
Game 2: at Chicago, May 3, 9:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC
Game 3: at Minnesota, May 5, 3 p.m., NBC, CBC
Game 4: at Minnesota, May 7, 9:30 p.m., NBCSN, CBC
Game 5: at Chicago, May 9, TBD
Game 6: at Minnesota, May 11, TBD
Game 7:at Chicago, May 12, TBD

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings

Game 1: at Anaheim, April 30, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 2: at Anaheim, May 2, 10 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 3: at Detroit, May 4, 7:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 4: at Detroit, May 6, 8 p.m., CNBC, TSN
Game 5: at Anaheim, May 8, 10 p.m., TBD
Game 6: at Detroit, May 10 TBD
Game 7:at Anaheim, May 12, TBD

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks

Game 1: at Vancouver, May 1, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 2: at Vancouver, May 3, 10 p.m., CNBC, TSN
Game 3: at San Jose, May 5, 10 p.m., NBCSN, TSN
Game 4: at San Jose, May 7, 10 p.m., CNBC, TSN
Game 5: at Vancouver, May 9, 10 p.m.
Game 6: at San Jose, May 11, TBD
Game 7:at Vancouver, May 13, TBD

No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings

Game 1: at St. Louis, April 30, 8 p.m., CNBC, CBC
Game 2: at St. Louis, May 2, 9:30 p.m., CNBC, CBC
Game 3: at Los Angeles, May 4, 10 p.m., NBCSN, CBC
Game 4: at Los Angeles, May 6, 10 p.m., NBCSN, CBC
Game 5: at St. Louis, May 8, TBD
Game 6: at Los Angeles, May 10, TBD
Game 7:at St. Louis, May 13, TBD