NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: Flyers vs. Penguins and More Must-See Matchups

The most magical time of the year is upon us, with the Stanley Cup playoffs ready to roll starting Wednesday. Everyone is focused on the bigger picture—the best teams ready to capture the Cup—but now is the time to focus on singular matchups. 

With all eight first-round matchups locked, it would be foolish to think that some don't stand out above the rest. 

In fact, there are a number of marquee series that will be intense, fierce, bloody and long. Basically, everything we expect from the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Here are the best first-round series to watch when the battle for Lord Stanley's Cup begins. 

No. 4 Pittsburgh vs. No. 5 Philadelphia

Seeding in the Stanley Cup playoffs is highly overrated. The best example of this would be the matchup between the two Pennsylvania powerhouses. 

The Penguins finished the regular season with the second-most points (108) in the Eastern Conference, but just because they didn't win the division they get bumped all the way down to the No. 4 spot. 

Meanwhile, the Flyers were right on their heels with 103 points. 

These were the two highest scoring teams in the regular season. They are intense rivals who don't like each other, and have to win to get local bragging rights for the summer. 

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 7 Washington

There was a time where it looked like the Capitals were going to be sitting at home. But a strong finish to the season propelled them all the way to the No. 7 spot in the East. 

As a reward, they get to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins in the first round. Boston may not have finished the season as the best team, but its plus-67 goal differential was six better than anyone else. 

Alex Ovechkin has been a disappointment in the postseason, so this is a huge statement series for him. He is going to shoulder the load for the rest of the team, but it is going to be difficult for one player to beat a team as dynamic as the Bruins. 

No. 3 Phoenix vs. No. 6 Chicago

You would be hard-pressed to find a more inconsistent great team in the NHL this season than the Blackhawks. 

They started the year looking like one of the best teams, but offensive woes brought them back down to earth in the middle of the season.

A strong finish has optimism at its highest point, and the offense has really picked things up since the calendar flipped to March. 

The Coyotes are not a flashy team that is going to make you stand up and take notice. They don't score a lot of goals, but they have great goaltending with Mike Smith and the penalty-killing is as good as there is. 

Wednesday, April 11 Playoff Schedule

Game 1: Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

Game 1: Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ET on CNBC

Game 1: Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m. ET on NHL Network

Thursday, April 12 Playoff Schedule

Game 1: Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET on NHL Network

Game 1: Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

Game 1: San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m. ET on CNBC

Game 1: Chicago Blackhawks at Phoenix Coyotes, 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

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