NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Game Times, TV Coverage and Live Stream for Monday

Not every 2015 NHL playoff series is made equal, but each series set to resume Monday has the feel of one that could go the distance.

Of the trio of games for Monday's slate, only one involves a team that won both of its home contests. That would be the Anaheim Ducks, who despite a 2-0 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets have had their hands more than full, as the Jets return home full of confidence.

With two more first-placed teams that already gave up their home-ice advantage aiming to right the ship, Monday's slate should not disappoint. Here's a glance at all of the essential information.

Monday, April 20: NHL Playoff Schedule

Time (ET)	Matchup	Watch	Series Score
7 p.m. ET	New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins (Game 3)	NBCSN, CBC	1-1
8 p.m. ET	St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild (Game 3)	CNBC, SN 360	1-1
9 p.m. ET	Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets (Game 3)	NBCSN, Sportsnet	2-0 Ducks

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Game to Watch: St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild (Game 3)

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The St. Louis Blues entered the postseason hoping to avoid a third straight loss in the opening round and make their first conference final appearance since 2001. But so far in their playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, it's been a tale of two games.

In Game 1, the Blues looked far from ready to make a long postseason run. The Wild set the tone with a goal in the game's early moments, leading for virtually the entire contest before cashing in on their road successes again by taking the opening game 4-2.

Needless to say, that woke St. Louis up. It had no such ill effects from the loss in a Saturday matinee game, as the Blues jumped in front with two first-period goals and trounced Minnesota 4-1 to even the series.

At the least, it's set up for a memorable finish to a series that has only just begun as it heads to Minnesota, as ESPN Twin Cities' Judd Zulgad noted:

Losing its home-ice advantage may not be the way St. Louis hoped to start the playoffs. But to be honest, the Blues might be somewhat relieved. In their last two playoff series losses, the Blues won both opening games before going on to lose four straight.

Those shortcomings have played a part in St. Louis' ghastly road playoff record in recent history, which doesn't bode well against red-hot Minnesota, per ESPN's John Buccigross:

If the Blues are going to bring those struggles to an end Monday, it's likely that winger Vladimir Tarasenko will have to lead the charge. With his hat trick in Game 2, he has four goals and two assists in his last three games, all of which came against the Wild.

Tarasenko's production, however, is mostly a byproduct of the Blues' system and their physical forechecking style that tends to put the puck on the stick of their playmakers in favorable spots. That's exactly what the Blues were forced out of doing in Game 1, and that's exactly what they returned to in order to win Game 2.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

With Wild top defenseman Ryan Suter logging a minus-one rating in a two-goal Game 1 win and a minus-two in Game 2, it's becoming fair to question whether Minnesota's top line can remain effective on defense with the Blues' aggressiveness compromising its offensive impact.

Minnesota goaltender Devan Dubnyk was less than average in Game 2, but he can still resurface the level of play that had him among the league's hottest goalies entering the postseason. The Wild's attacking players have shown an ability to light up the Blues net at times in this series.

But without consistency from the blue line against these ultra-physical and talented Blues forwards, the Wild might be out of luck.