NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Dates, Times and TV Info for Stanley Cup Final

All the drama surrounding Game 7 of the Western Conference Final was gone by the end of the first period of play.

The Chicago Blackhawks waltzed into the Honda Center Saturday night to take on the Anaheim Ducks and jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the end of the opening period before extending their lead to 4-0 midway through the second.

Although the Ducks would fight back and cut into the lead, there wasn’t enough time for the home team to come all the way back. The Blackhawks earned a spot in the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won their way into the series by beating the New York Rangers 2-0 in Game 7 on Friday.

Game	Matchup	Date and Time (ET)	TV
1	Chicago at Tampa Bay	Wed., June 3 at 8 p.m.	NBC
2	Chicago at Tampa Bay	Sat., June 6 at 7:15 p.m.	NBC
3	Tampa Bay at Chicago	Mon., June 8 at 8 p.m.	NBCSN
4	Tampa Bay at Chicago	Wed., June 10 at 8 p.m.	NBCSN
5*	Chicago at Tampa Bay	Sat., June 13 at 8 p.m.	NBC
6*	Tampa Bay at Chicago	Mon., June 15 at 8 p.m.	NBC
7*	Chicago at Tampa Bay	Wed., June 17 at 8 p.m.	NBC

Players who will have the biggest impact on the Stanley Cup Final

Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

For the longest time in the NHL, the Eastern Conference has been defined by its top two players, Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.

But over the last few years, another player has found his way into the conversation: Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos:

The young center has taken the league by storm since the Lightning selected him in 2008, but he hasn’t had the most consistent Stanley Cup playoffs so far.

Although he has 17 points in the playoffs, Stamkos has failed to record a point in nine of 20 games this postseason. Were it not for the rise of young players like Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov when Stamkos has struggled, Tampa Bay likely wouldn’t have made it as far as it has.

Against a Blackhawks team that is allowing an average of 2.9 goals per game in the postseason, Stamkos has the tools to lead Tampa Bay to victory—as long as he can find his regular-season form again.

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

There is a reason the Blackhawks have had Jonathan Toews as their captain since 2008. The center puts on his best performance when he is needed the most.

In Game 5 against the Ducks, with the team trailing 4-2 with less than two minutes remaining, Toews scored twice to tie the game up and send the proceedings into overtime, where the Blackhawks would eventually lose 5-4:

Game 7 was no different, with Toews scoring the first two goals of the game to give Chicago a lead it would never relinquish on its way to winning a spot in the Stanley Cup Final:

With 18 points this postseason, Toews is second on the team behind Patrick Kane in points and goals, and he could be the key to leading Chicago to its third Stanley Cup in the last six seasons.

Corey Crawford, Chicago Blackhawks

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Corey Crawford’s Stanley Cup playoffs didn’t start off well. After allowing six goals in the first two games of the series against the Nashville Predators, he was given the axe and replaced by Scott Darling.

By the end of the first-round series, though, Crawford was back between the sticks and has been vital to the Blackhawks’ success this postseason. In the 12 games since retaking his job from Darling, Crawford is allowing an average of 2.7 goals per game and has seen his save percentage drop below .900 only twice.

He isn’t the strongest goaltender in the league, but he's played well enough this postseason to carry the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup Final and will play a huge part in whichever team comes out on top.

A single playoff series can change completely if a goaltender gets hot and steps up his game, and while Tampa Bay’s Ben Bishop has had slightly better numbers this postseason, Crawford has the experience that will give him the advantage.

Already a Stanley Cup winner in 2012-13, Crawford has found success at this level before and will know what it takes to do it again.