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