NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Matchups Guide, Game Times and Full Schedule
The 2015 NHL playoff field is set after Saturday's conclusion to the regular season, and the race for the Stanley Cup is rife with compelling storylines and captivating contenders.
On the strength of winning the Presidents' Trophy, the New York Rangers have to be considered the favorite. Another club from the Empire State, the New York Islanders, ought to loom large in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
The West's top seed is Anaheim, but St. Louis matched the Ducks with 109 points in the regular season, and there's plenty of depth from that postseason faction.
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That's just the beginning of some of the angles to dissect. Read on for a complete list of matchups and the full schedule as it stands, along with more playoff analysis.
Eastern Conference 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 | 7:30 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 |
| 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 |
Western Conference 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 |
2015 NHL Playoffs Analysis
Kings of New York
The fact that the Rangers were able to overcome a prolonged absence by star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during the season should scare all their impending opponents.
It's a testament to New York's defense that it was able to hold its own in that span. Phenomenal, collective two-way efforts and solid blue-line play certainly helped.
But when Lundqvist has suited up between the pipes, he's been exceptional as usual, per NHL.com's Pete Jensen:
With a career 2.24 GAA in the playoffs, Lundqvist has been clutch as can be during his dominant tenure in the Big Apple. He will be vital to the Blueshirts' attempt to return to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings last year in five games.
A high-octane offense led by stud center John Tavares has the Islanders dreaming of a deep run. The 24-year-old's work ethic was praised by coach Jack Capuano, per NHL.com's Brian Compton:
"[...] I think the way that he pays the price in the offseason...we know he's a skilled guy and he's an elite player, but you have to continue to work extremely hard to maintain that. To me, it starts on the ice and he leads on the ice. I've seen him grow. He was a real reserved guy when I first got here [in 2010]. Now, he's really come into his own as far as his personality goes and the way that he handles himself and his teammates.
"
How far Tavares and Co. can go will come down to defense and better special teams play. The Islanders ranked 16th in the NHL on the power play and 26th in penalty-killing.
But the two adversaries in the way of a semifinals battle between the two New York teams are the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin has never seen his side quite live up to the hype in the postseason. However, ESPN Stats & Info noted that Ovi's individual success during the regular season has been impressive:
Washington's league-best power play will give the Islanders a tough test.
As talented as the Penguins are with players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they barely squeaked into the picture at the last minute, yet they could use their momentum to upend the Rangers.
Lundqvist gives his New York team a huge edge in goal, but so does Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who's had a sensational 2014-15 campaign. This might be the year Price takes the proverbial next step and carries the Habs to the finals—dashing one of the New York team's dreams in the conference finals if Tampa Bay or Detroit can't do anything about it.
With leading scorer Max Pacioretty still a question mark with an upper-body injury for the postseason, Montreal has its work cut out to generate enough offense to complement Price well enough.
Best in the West?
Neither Anaheim nor St. Louis have the easiest of roads to the Cup against the likes of Winnipeg and Minnesota, respectively, in the opening round.
The Jets are a gritty team with depth and are experiencing their first postseason action since 1996. Their home games will be electric, so all the pressure is on the Ducks to hold their own on home ice. Otherwise, this could have the makings of an upset that would shake up the whole Western Conference playoff picture.
Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec has been on a tear as of late, too, per the NHL's official Twitter account:
St. Louis' sound all-around team is going to be a tough test for the Wild, because the Blues are fifth in goals scored, fourth in goals against, fourth on the power play and seventh on the penalty kill. There aren't many holes to poke with rankings like those in major categories.
The Blueshirts' form, sans Lundqvist, has been impressive, but it was quite a display from the Chicago Blackhawks to endure Patrick Kane's injury and still make the postseason. They have the defensive depth and goalie play to beat Nashville despite starting on the road.
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times analyzes the caution the Blackhawks must exercise in regard to inserting Kane back into the lineup after recovering from surgery on his clavicle:
Kane's presence is a huge X-factor in the West, because Chicago is a far more formidable Cup contender with him on the ice and healthy enough to play at a high level.
The experience of Kane winning multiple championships is invaluable. If St. Louis meets the Blackhawks in Round 2 and has to face a healthy Kane, there will be all kinds implications and definite upset potential.
Both Vancouver and Calgary have something to prove in the first round, so their series should be physical and filled with close contests. It's unlikely either club will proceed much further beyond the first round, though, because the top-tier talent in the West, plus Winnipeg, presents huge challenges for whoever advances.
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