NHL Playoffs 2015: Tuesday's Stanley Cup Schedule, Odds, Predictions and More

The feeling-out process is over, and the eight teams playing in Tuesday night's NHL playoff games have a good, solid hatred that has either started to bubble up or has already reached a full boil.

Three of the teams that play Tuesday night could find themselves in a 3-1 hole by the end of the night. That means they would just be one loss away from booking tee times and starting their summertime activities.

The Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks hope to avoid that kind of fate by winning the fourth games of their respective series. The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning have not progressed that far as they meet in Game 3 in Hockey Town with the series tied at one game apiece.

With that in mind, let's take a look into Tuesday's matchups and preview viewing information as well as odds.

NHL Playoff Schedule for Tuesday, April 21

Time (ET)	Matchups	TV
7 p.m.	Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings (Series tied 1-1)	NBCSN, FS-F. FS-D
7:30 p.m.	Washington Capitals at New York Islanders (NYI leads 2-1)	USA, CSN-DC, MSG+
9:30 p.m.	Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks (CHI leads 2-1)	NBCSN, FS-TN, CSN-CH
10 p.m.	Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames (CGY leads 2-1)	HNIC, USA, TVA

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Odds for Tuesday's Games

Matchup (Spread)	Over/Under	Moneyline
Tampa Bay (-1.5) at Detroit	5.5	TB -115; Det + 105
Washington at New York Islanders (-1.5)	5.5	Wash +125; NYI -115
Nashville at Chicago (-1.5)	5.5	Nash +153; Chi -163
Vancouver at Calgary (-1.5)	5	Van +106, Cgy -116

Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated April 20 at 10:30 p.m. ET

Tuesday's Game to Watch: Nashville vs. Chicago (Game 4)

The Nashville Predators responded well after losing the opener of the series on home ice in heart-wrenching fashion.

The question is whether they can do the same after absorbing a key defeat in Game 3 at the United Center.

Chicago earned a 2-1 series advantage with a 4-2 victory Sunday night as head coach Joel Quenneville started rookie goalie Scott Darling in place of struggling starter Corey Crawford.

That move spurred on the Blackhawks, as they skated with more speed and aggressiveness than they did in Game 2 in Nashville when they absorbed a 6-2 beating.

The Predators will need to get an improved defensive effort if they are going to limit the Blackhawks' offensive opportunities. That's a huge challenge considering the Preds will once again play without defenseman Shea Weber, who was injured in Game 2 of the series.

Chicago's quickness was noticeable in Game 3, according to Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette. The Predators played with the speed they wanted to show in Games 1 and 2 and will try to match that in Game 4 to keep the Blackhawks from getting a stranglehold on the series.

Darling earned his second straight start after making 35 saves in the Game 3 victory. That was Darling's second win of the series, since he made 42 saves in the Blackhawks' 4-3 double-overtime victory after coming on in relief of Crawford.

Darling appears to have gotten hot at the right time, and if he can continue to make big saves at key moments, the Blackhawks have a chance to be in an excellent position at the conclusion of Game 4.