Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015: Matchups Tree and Seedings for 1st-Round Bracket
The 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are about to commence, with four of the eight series starting Wednesday night, and a loaded playoff field suggests another whirlwind of a postseason.
It is hard to ignore the striking absences of the reigning-champion Los Angeles Kings or the playoff-regular Boston Bruins, but that's not to say there's a lack of firepower among the 16 teams.
Looking for favorites? The New York Rangers look poised to end a more than 20-year Cup drought, while the Anaheim Ducks may keep the ball rolling for the state of California. Are you more of an underdog type? As the Kings showed last season, don't count out those last few teams to sneak into the field.
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Time is running out before the action begins in earnest, so read on to ensure you're informed.
Eastern Conference Matchups
| 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 Matchups
| 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 |
Potential second-round matchups are as follows: St. Louis/Minnesota vs. Nashville/Chicago, Anaheim/Winnipeg vs. Vancouver/Calgary (West). Montreal/Ottawa vs. Tampa Bay/Detroit, Rangers/Pittsburgh vs. Washington/Islanders (East).
Key First-Round Series: Blackhawks vs. Predators
It's not exactly role reversal, but a first-round meeting between the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks has come about in an unconventional way.
One season after firing Barry Trotz, the only head coach in franchise history, the Predators retooled with Peter Laviolette and a new, dangerous offensive attack. An unthinkable turnaround put Nashville atop the race for the Presidents' Trophy for the better part of the season, before slipping behind the Blues at the last minute into the No. 2 spot.
That means the rival Blackhawks—winners of two of the last four Stanley Cups—await in the opening round. What once looked like a much simpler first-round appetizer now has the Preds' backs against the wall before play has even began.
If anything, Nashville hopes to use that to its advantage, as players told Mark Lazerus of Chicago Sun-Times:
Of course, much of the disbelief about the Predators can be attributed to their late-season slide. Not only has Nashville dropped six straight to end the season, but it is 6-13 overall since late February with star goaltender Pekka Rinne starting all but three of those games.
It's hard not to say that the Blackhawks are entering the postseason on the right foot, either, after losing their final four regular-season games. But they will receive a major boost with the return of star winger Patrick Kane, who hasn't played since a broken collarbone suffered Feb. 24.
To some, it may be perfect timing for Kane to come back, but there's the obvious worry that he may not be fully ready for the playoff rigors. One thing is certain—the Predators plan to check and make sure, as The Associated Press' Teresa Walker reported:
But when it comes to a prolific goal-scorer such as Kane, the most effective defense is the one between the pipes. And that's where Nashville could truly take over this series.
Rinne's insane play throughout the better part of the season had him not just on highlight reels on a weekly basis, but pushed him to the forefront of the Vezina Trophy conversation despite a long injury layoff. If that level of play is more indicative of what's to come than his allowing three or more goals in five straight starts, Kane and Co. are in trouble.
The Blackhawks are 3-1 on the season against the Predators, but the locally-dubbed "Smashville" is a tough place to win games when the fervor of playoff time comes. And Chicago will have to win at least one there while taking care of business at home to surface from this series.
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