NHL Playoffs 2015: Schedule, Stanley Cup Bracket Format and Predictions
The puck is nearly set to drop on another grueling postseason in the NHL. Just 16 teams remain with a shot at hoisting the Stanley Cup, and nearly every series is as unpredictable as possible.
Out West, the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks hope to continue strong seasons to this point. Both No. 1 seeds have aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup in May. For the Blues, it would be the first since joining the league in 1967.
On the East Coast, several lower seeds are looking to pull off upsets. Teams like the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders are playing great hockey but will have to get past the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals to advance.
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Leading up to the action, here's a look at the full schedule, format and Stanley Cup Final predictions.
| Eastern | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| 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 |
Format Breakdown
There are still 16 teams in the NHL playoffs, but how they are seeded has been completely different over the last two years. Realignment in the league left two divisions in the East and West, with the top three teams from each making the postseason.
The No. 4 seeds are wild-card spots for teams from either of the two divisions on each side. For example, five franchises clinched berths out of the Central Division out West, with the Winnipeg Jets securing the last spot over the defending champion Los Angeles Kings.
Nearly every other part of the format is similar after the first round, but that one change is enough to rile up a few fans. Still, the NHL weeds out some of the best teams to play for Lord Stanley's Cup, including a Senators team that narrowly made it in thanks to an amazing finish.
Championship Predictions: Rangers vs. Ducks
Sure, going with two No. 1 seeds is not in the least bit interesting, but these franchises have proved themselves all season.
The New York Rangers enter the playoffs as the President's Trophy winners with 113 points. Even with the loss of Henrik Lundqvist for a long stretch, the Rangers still thrived. Easily the best all-around team in the NHL, New York ranks third in goals scored and allowed this season.
Linda Cohn of ESPN, an unabashed New York fan, offered her take on the Rangers this season:
It's no longer just the Lundqvist show, and the Rangers proved that in his absence. Now at full strength, New York will make it to the Stanley Cup Final to meet up with Anaheim.
The Ducks don't have the well-rounded lineup that New York does, but they have a full repertoire of scoring threats. Ryan Getzlaf has 70 total points, while Corey Perry has been the beneficiary on his line with 33 goals.
Along with those two, first-year Ducks center Ryan Kesler is also ready to shine on the playoff stage. The second-line center spoke about how prepared he is to make a run with Anaheim, via Eric Stephens of The Orange County Register:
"I feel good. Obviously I play a little less here than I did in Van. I think that helps. One or two less minutes a night adds up over 82 games, right? I feel ready. I’m excited.
It’s why we play hockey, right? It’s why we play this game, this time of year. To miss last year and to be able to be back, it’s exciting.
"
When the two teams do eventually meet up, the Rangers' firepower will be too much for the Ducks to handle.
Having the most complete roster in the playoffs, taking down the Rangers will be an arduous task for any team. A year removed from dealing with the disappointment of losing in the Final, the Rangers will finally bring home their first Stanley Cup in 21 years.
Stanley Cup Champions: Rangers
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