NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Dates, Matchups, Game Times and TV Coverage Info
The 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs are set to commence, and they promise to be as exciting as any postseason in recent memory since the field is so wide open.
While a few teams stand out as the primary contenders, it certainly isn't uncommon for teams that barely sneak into the field to go on deep runs. The randomness and the overall competition level of playoff hockey make it great. Add in the fact that there are so many intriguing, first-round matchups on paper, and it is tough to envision the 2015 postseason being anything short of spectacular.
Now that the opening series are officially set, here is a look at the schedule in both the Eastern and the Western Conferences, as well as further analysis regarding some of the likeliest Stanley Cup contenders.
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Eastern Conference Playoff Schedule
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | Ottawa at Montreal | CBC, TVA Sports, NHL Network |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | Ottawa at Montreal | CBC, TVA Sports, CNBC |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | Montreal at Ottawa | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | Montreal at Ottawa | CBC, TVA Sports, USA |
| 5* | *Friday, April 24 | TBD | Ottawa at Montreal | CBC |
| 6* | *Sunday, April 26 | TBD | Montreal at Ottawa | CBC |
| 7* | *Tuesday, April 28 | TBD | Ottawa at Montreal | CBC |
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh at NY Rangers | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 8 p.m. | Pittsburgh at NY Rangers | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 7 p.m. | NY Rangers at Pittsburgh | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | NY Rangers at Pittsburgh | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports |
| 5* | *Friday, April 24 | TBD | Pittsburgh at NY Rangers | TBD |
| 6* | *Sunday, April 26 | TBD | NY Rangers at Pittsburgh | TBD |
| 7* | *Tuesday, April 28 | TBD | Pittsburgh at NY Rangers | TBD |
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | NY Islanders at Washington | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | NY Islanders at Washington | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | Noon | Washington at NY Islanders | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Washington at NY Islanders | USA, SN 360, TVA Sports |
| 5* | *Thursday, April 23 | TBD | NY Islanders at Washington | TBD |
| 6* | *Saturday, April 25 | TBD | Washington at NY Islanders | TBD |
| 7* | *Monday, April 27 | TBD | NY Islanders at Washington | TBD |
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Detroit at Tampa Bay | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 3 p.m. | Detroit at Tampa Bay | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Tuesday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay at Detroit | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 4 | Thursday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay at Detroit | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports |
| 5* | *Saturday, April 25 | TBD | Detroit at Tampa Bay | TBD |
| 6* | *Monday, April 27 | TBD | Tampa Bay at Detroit | TBD |
| 7* | *Wednesday, April 29 | TBD | Detroit at Tampa Bay | TBD |
Western Conference Playoff Schedule
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 9:30 p.m. | Minnesota at St. Louis | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 3 p.m. | Minnesota at St. Louis | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 8 p.m. | St. Louis at Minnesota | CNBC, SN1, TVA Sports |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | St. Louis at Minnesota | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports |
| 5* | *Friday, April 24 | TBD | Minnesota at St. Louis | TBD |
| 6* | *Sunday, April 26 | TBD | St. Louis at Minnesota | TBD |
| 7* | *Wednesday, April 29 | TBD | Minnesota at St. Louis | TBD |
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 8:30 p.m. | Chicago at Nashville | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 9:30 p.m. | Chicago at Nashville | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 3 p.m. | Nashville at Chicago | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 9:30 p.m. | Nashville at Chicago | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 5* | *Thursday, April 23 | TBD | Chicago at Nashville | TBD |
| 6* | *Saturday, April 25 | TBD | Nashville at Chicago | TBD |
| 7* | *Monday, April 27 | TBD | Chicago at Nashville | TBD |
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 10:30 p.m. | Winnipeg at Anaheim | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 10:30 p.m. | Winnipeg at Anaheim | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 9 p.m. | Anaheim at Winnipeg | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBCSN |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | Anaheim at Winnipeg | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, USA |
| 5* | *Friday, April 24 | TBD | Winnipeg at Anaheim | Sportsnet |
| 6* | *Sunday, April 26 | TBD | Anaheim at Winnipeg | Sportsnet |
| 7* | *Tuesday, April 28 | TBD | Winnipeg at Anaheim | Sportsnet |
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 10 p.m. | Calgary at Vancouver | CBC, TVA Sports, USA |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 10 p.m. | Calgary at Vancouver | CBC, TVA Sports, CNBC |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 10 p.m. | Vancouver at Calgary | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 10 p.m. | Vancouver at Calgary | CBC, TVA Sports, USA |
| 5* | *Thursday, April 23 | TBD | Calgary at Vancouver | CBC |
| 6* | *Saturday, April 25 | TBD | Vancouver at Calgary | CBC |
| 7* | *Monday, April 27 | TBD | Calgary at Vancouver | CBC |
Top Contenders to Watch
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers fell just short of winning the Stanley Cup last year, as they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the final, but as the top team in the NHL during the regular season, the Blueshirts have a great opportunity to finish the job this time around.
Winning the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the most points doesn't guarantee anything, but the Rangers have a history of success when taking that honor, according to SportsCenter:
Even more importantly, though, New York has the pieces necessary to go all the way. It possesses a deep crop of forwards, including Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Derek Stepan, Martin St. Louis, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider and a host of others.
It also has a strong defense corps and one of the NHL's best goalies in Henrik Lundqvist. Because of their overall depth, the Rangers are the favorites to win it all, but head coach Alain Vigneault isn't concerning himself with those expectations, per Steve Zipay of Newsday:
It can be argued that there is added pressure on the Rangers to perform because of how far they went last year and how well they have built off that, but they have the right mix of talent and experience to deal with it.
Although it has been over two decades since the Rangers last hoisted the Stanley Cup, that drought could very well come to an end in 2015.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are seemingly always in the mix when it comes to contending for the Stanley Cup as evidenced by the fact that they have won it twice in the past five seasons. They fell just short of reaching the Stanley Cup Final once again last year, but they have a great chance to do it this time around.
In terms of pure talent, the Blackhawks may be the best team in the league. That isn't always apparent, since they are prone to lapses in play, but Chicago is a team that can play with anyone when it is on top of its game.
Consistency has certainly been an issue, though, which is why Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times has found it difficult to get a true handle on the Blackhawks' Cup chances:
The biggest X-factor in that regard is the health of forward Patrick Kane. The American-born star was in line to win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer and perhaps the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP before going down with a broken collarbone in February.
He has been out of action since then, but head coach Joel Quenneville believes he is making great progress, according to ESPN.com's Scott Powers: "He's progressing real well. Every day he seems like he's getting a little stronger, and his skating has always been fine, handling the puck extremely well. It's good signs every day, seeing the progress."
He may not be back for the first round, but if the Blackhawks are able to advance, they could get a major boost when Kane returns to the lineup.
Chicago is a much different and better team when Kane is on the ice, and his status may determine the Blackhawks' postseason fate.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens' 24 Stanley Cups are more than any other team in NHL history, but their fans haven't gotten to celebrate a championship since 1993. Based on a few important factors, that could finally change this year.
Montreal has been among the best teams in the Eastern Conference and the NHL as a whole all season. It can be argued that the Canadiens lack star power up front, but the likes of Max Pacioretty, Tomas Plekanec, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Galchenyuk and others share the offensive burden quite well.
The Habs forwards are also helped by P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov contributing from the back end, which makes them even more dangerous.
When push comes to shove, though, goaltending is what puts the Canadiens over the top. Carey Price is the obvious front-runner for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's most outstanding netminder, and that may not be the only hardware he receives.
According to Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star, Price was chosen as the unanimous league MVP in an anonymous coaches poll conducted by TSN's Bob McKenzie:
Price is one of a handful of goalies in the NHL who can steal a game at any time, and that is hugely important come playoff time.
The Habs have won plenty of games despite getting outplayed because of Price's presence. If they can continue to do that in the postseason, then they will be a definite threat to win the Stanley Cup.
A Stanley Cup Final appearance has eluded Montreal in recent years even though it has come close, but this may be the year for Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge.
Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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