NHL Playoff TV Schedule 2012: Start Times and Dates for Every Game

After a long and grueling 82-game season, the NHL playoffs are finally set to take place. There were certainly plenty of surprises in terms of seemingly good teams missing the postseason and unheralded teams garnering top seeds, so this season's playoffs should be quite unpredictable.

The favorites include the usual suspects like the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins, but there is most definitely the potential for a dark horse to emerge as a contender. Anything can happen this time of year, and that will be put to the test in the coming weeks.

The first round will consist of eight intriguing series, and since every hockey fan surely wants to know when and where to catch every game, below is the television listing for your convenience.

Playoff Schedule (TV and Times)

Eastern Conference

1. New York Rangers (109 Pts) vs. 8. Ottawa Senators (92 Pts)

Thursday, April 12, 2012	7 p.m.	Ottawa at NY Rangers	NHL Network, CBC
Saturday, April 14, 2012	7 p.m.	Ottawa at NY Rangers	NBC Sports Network, CBC
Monday, April 16, 2012	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Ottawa	CBC, CNBC
Wednesday, April 18, 2012	7:30 p.m.	NY Rangers at Ottawa	CBC, CNBC
*Saturday, April 21, 2012	7 p.m.	Ottawa at NY Rangers	NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Monday, April 23, 2012	TBD	NY Rangers at Ottawa	TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012	TBD	Ottawa at NY Rangers	TBD

2. Boston Bruins (102 Pts) vs. 7. Washington Capitals (92 Pts)

Thursday, April 12, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Washington at Boston	NBC Sports Network, CBC
Saturday, April 14, 2012	3 p.m.	Washington at Boston	NBC, CBC
Monday, April 16, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Boston at Washington	NBC Sports Network, CBC
Thursday, April 19, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Boston at Washington	NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Saturday, April 21, 2012	3 p.m.	Washington at Boston	NBC, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012	TBD	Boston at Washington	TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012	TBD	Washington at Boston	TBD

3. Florida Panthers (94 Pts) vs. 6. New Jersey Devils (102 Pts)

Friday, April 13, 2012	7 p.m.	New Jersey at Florida	NHL Network, TSN
Sunday, April 15, 2012	7:30 p.m.	New Jersey at Florida	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Tuesday, April 17, 2012	7 p.m.	Florida at New Jersey	NHL Network, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012	7 p.m.	Florida at New Jersey	NHL Network, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012	6:30 p.m.	New Jersey at Florida	NHL Network, TSN
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012	TBD	Florida at New Jersey	TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012	TBD	New Jersey at Florida	TBD

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (108 Pts) vs. 5. Philadelphia Flyers (103 Pts)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Friday, April 13, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Sunday, April 15, 2012	3 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	NBC, TSN
Wednesday, April 18, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Friday, April 20, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Sunday, April 22, 2012	TBD	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia	TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012	TBD	Philadelphia at Pittsburgh	TBD

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks (111 Pts) vs. 8. Los Angeles Kings (95 Pts)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012	10:30 p.m.	Los Angeles at Vancouver	CBC, NBC Sports Network
Friday, April 13, 2012	10 p.m.	Los Angeles at Vancouver	CBC, NBC Sports Network
Sunday, April 15, 2012	10:30 p.m.	Vancouver at Los Angeles	NBC Sports Network, CBC
Wednesday, April 18, 2012	10 p.m.	Vancouver at Los Angeles	NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at Vancouver	TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012	TBD	Vancouver at Los Angeles	TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012	TBD	Los Angeles at Vancouver	TBD

2. St. Louis Blues (109 Pts) vs. 7. San Jose Sharks (96 Pts)

Thursday, April 12, 2012	7:30 p.m.	San Jose at St. Louis	CNBC, TSN
Saturday, April 14, 2012	7:30 p.m.	San Jose at St. Louis	CNBC, TSN
Monday, April 16, 2012	10 p.m.	St. Louis at San Jose	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012	10:30 p.m.	St. Louis at San Jose	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012	7:30 p.m.	San Jose at St. Louis	CNBC, TSN
*Monday, April 23, 2012	TBD	St. Louis at San Jose	TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012	TBD	San Jose at St. Louis	TBD

3. Phoenix Coyotes (97 Pts) vs. 6. Chicago Blackhawks (101 Pts)

Thursday, April 12, 2012	10 p.m.	Chicago at Phoenix	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Saturday, April 14, 2012	10 p.m.	Chicago at Phoenix	NBC Sports Network, TSN
Tuesday, April 17, 2012	9 p.m.	Phoenix at Chicago	CNBC, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012	8 p.m.	Phoenix at Chicago	CNBC, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012	10 p.m.	Chicago at Phoenix	NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Monday, April 23, 2012	TBD	Phoenix at Chicago	TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012	TBD	Chicago at Phoenix	TBD

4. Nashville Predators (104 Pts) vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings (102 Pts)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012	8 p.m.	Detroit at Nashville	CNBC, CBC
Friday, April 13, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Detroit at Nashville	CNBC, CBC
Sunday, April 15, 2012	Noon	Nashville at Detroit	NBC, CBC
Tuesday, April 17, 2012	7:30 p.m.	Nashville at Detroit	NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Friday, April 20, 2012	8 p.m.	Detroit at Nashville	CNBC, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012	TBD	Nashville at Detroit	TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012	TBD	Detroit at Nashville	TBD

Most Intriguing Matchup: Penguins vs. Flyers

Whenever divisional and in-state rivals like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers meet up, it is sure to be a firecracker of a game. When you make it a seven-game series, however, things get even better. Just a week ago, the Penguins and Flyers got involved in a major brawl after some extracurricular activity between Sidney Crosby and Brayden Schenn. There is no question that the bad blood will carry over into the playoffs.

These teams were duking it out all season long in the standings, so it's only fitting that they ended up as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. This matchup is about as even as they get in the playoffs, as each team has plenty of scoring, plays with physicality and has a goaltender capable of stealing a series. If this series goes the distance, then Game 7 should be the most intense game of the year.

Player to Watch: Sidney Crosby, F, PIT

Whether he's playing or not, all eyes are always on Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. The former Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup winner played in just 22 games this season, but he registered over 1.5 points per game when he did play, so it's safe to say that he is the most dangerous player in the league. Crosby appears to be over his concussion symptoms, but he hasn't played in a playoff game in two years.

Everything is always taken up a few octaves come playoff time, so Crosby will have to have his head on a swivel. The Flyers won't be shy about putting a body on him and knocking him around, so Crosby will need to play a very smart game. Because of Crosby the Penguins may be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, but fans will be watching his durability just as closely as they'll be watching his supreme skill.