The National Hockey League released part of its playoff schedule on Thursday, mapping out when each series would play Game 1.
The Ottawa Senators will kick off the Stanley Cup Playoff schedule with Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
The Montreal Canadiens will play Game 1 against the Atlantic Division-rival Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, April 19 with the time yet to be determined.
The date for the Edmonton Oilers first playof game is up in the air as they could either fall to the second wild-card spot and open their postseason on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche or clinch one of the remaining Pacific Division spots and kick off their playoffs on Monday, April 20.
The final seeding in the Western Conference will be decided Thursday night with the Oilers (91 points), Anaheim Ducks (90 points), and Los Angeles Kings (91 points) all in action.
The full first-round schedule will be announced following Thursday’s games.
Saturday, April 18Game 13 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PTOttawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PTMinnesota Wild at Dallas Stars 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PTPhiladelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday, April 19Game 1Time TBDWestern Conference Wild Card #2 at Colorado AvalancheTime TBDMontreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay LightningTime TBDBoston Bruins at Buffalo SabresTime TBDUtah Mammoth at Vegas Golden KnightsMonday, April 20Game 1Time TBDPacific Division #3 at Pacific Division #2
The playoffs will end before June 21, as a possible Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final is schedule to be held no later than that date.
