NHL Playoff Schedule 2013: Dates, Game Times and Full Coverage Info

When it comes to the question of which team will hoist the Stanley Cup this June, the conversation centers around the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and then everyone else. 

At a staggering 36-7-5, the Blackhawks enter the postseason as the West's No. 1 seed with 77 points. They're playing at a pace that would have netted them 131 points in a full season—just one shy of the Montreal Canadiens' 1976-77 record mark.

Their campaign has been defined by their mind-boggling 24 games without a regulation loss to start the season, but in reality, head coach Joel Quenneville's squad has played at a staggeringly elite level all year. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins, who have weathered an untimely injury to superstar Sidney Crosby en route to a 36-12-0 record and 72 points, figure to come out of the East.

The dynamic, young center is close to returning, however, and if the Pens return to the form they took last time he was in the lineup, they are a stone-cold lock to make the Stanley Cup Final.

They played 15 games in March and won every single one.

Nevertheless, while the Blackhawks and Penguins are the popular favorites to battle it out for Lord Stanley's Cup, the Los Angeles Kings taught us last year—with a dominant run to the Cup as the West's No. 8 seed—that nothing is a certainty in the postseason. 

The NHL playoffs always serve as one of the most enthralling events in the sports world, and after a shortened season, this year projects to be no different.

Let's take a look at when you can find all the first-round action.

Western Conference

All times are ET

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks (36-7-5) vs. No. Minnesota Wild (26-19-3)

Tuesday, April 30, 8 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago, NBC Sports Network, CBC

Friday, May 3, 9:30 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago, NBC Sports Network, CBC

Sunday, May 5, 3 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, NBC, CBC

Tuesday, May 7, 9:30 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota, NBC Sports Network, CBC

*Thursday, May 9, TBD Minnesota at Chicago, CBC

*Saturday, May 11, TBD Chicago at Minnesota, CBC

*Sunday, May 12, TBD Minnesota at Chicago, CBC

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks (30-12-6) vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings (24-16-8)

Tuesday, April 30, 10:30 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Thursday, May 2, 10 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Saturday, May 4, 7:30 p.m. Anaheim at Detroit, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Monday, May 6, 8 p.m. Anaheim at Detroit, CNBC, TSN

*Wednesday, May 8, 10 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim, TSN

*Friday, May 10, TBD Anaheim at Detroit, TSN

*Sunday, May 12, TBD Detroit at Anaheim, TSN

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks (26-15-7) vs. No. 6 San Jose Sharks (25-16-7)

Wednesday, May 1, 10:30 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, TSN, NBC Sports Network

Friday, May 3, 10 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, TSN, CNBC

Sunday, May 5, 10 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Tuesday, May 7, 10 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose, CNBC, TSN

*Thursday, May 9, 10 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, TSN

*Saturday, May 11, TBD Vancouver at San Jose, TSN

*Monday, May 13, TBD San Jose at Vancouver, TSN

No. 4 St. Louis Blues (29-17-2) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings (27-16-5)

Tuesday, April 30, 8 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis, CNBC, CBC

Thursday, May 2, 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis, CNBC, CBC

Saturday, May 4, 10 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles, NBC Sports Network, CBC

Monday, May 6, 10 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles, NBC Sports Network, CBC

*Wednesday, May 8, TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis, CBC

*Friday, May 10, TBD St. Louis at Los Angeles, CBC

*Monday, May 13, TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis, CBC

Eastern Conference

All times are ET

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins (36-12-0) vs. No. 8 New York Islanders (24-17-7)

Wednesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Friday, May 3, 7 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Sunday, May 5, Noon Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, NBC, TSN

Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, NBC Sports Network, TSN

*Thursday, May 9, 7 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, TSN

*Saturday, May 11, TBD Pittsburgh at NY Islanders, TSN

*Sunday, May 12, TBD NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, TSN

 

No. 2 Montreal Canadiens (29-14-5) vs. No. 7 Ottawa Senators (25-17-6)

Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Montreal, CBC, RDS, CNBC

Friday, May 3, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Montreal, CBC, RDS, CNBC

Sunday, May 5, 7 p.m. Montreal at Ottawa, CBC, RDS, NBC Sports Network

Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m. Montreal at Ottawa, CBC, RDS, CNBC

*Thursday, May 9, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Montreal, CBC, RDS

*Saturday, May 11, TBD Montreal at Ottawa, CBC, RDS

*Sunday, May 12, TBD Ottawa at Montreal, CBC, RDS

 

No. 3 Washington Capitals (27-18-3) vs. No. 6 New York Rangers (26-18-4)

Thursday, May 2, 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Saturday, May 4, 12:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington, NBC, TSN

Monday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers, NBC Sports Network, TSN

Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers, NBC Sports Network, TSN

*Friday, May 10, 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington, TSN

*Sunday, May 12, TBD Washington at NY Rangers, TSN

*Monday, May 13, TBD NY Rangers at Washington, TSN

No. 4 Boston Bruins (28-14-6) vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs (26-17-5)

Wednesday, May 1, 7 p.m. Toronto at Boston, CNBC, CBC, RDS

Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m. Toronto at Boston, CNBC, CBC, RDS

Monday, May 6, 7 p.m. Boston at Toronto, CBC, RDS, NHL Network U.S.

Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m. Boston at Toronto, CBC, RDS, NHL Network U.S.

*Friday, May 10, 7 p.m. Toronto at Boston, CBC, RDS

*Sunday, May 12, TBD Boston at Toronto, CBC, RDS

*Monday, May 13, TBD Toronto at Boston, CBC, RDS

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