NHL Playoffs 2015: TV Schedule, Live Stream Coverage for Thursday

Although some series are beginning to wrap up as the 2015 NHL playoffs move forward to Thursday, the first round as a whole is far from clear.

Lopsided matchups have been hard to come by during these Stanley Cup playoffs thus far, as a vast majority of the eight battles look like they could go the full seven games. With that said, two of the most evenly matched series—Chicago against Nashville and Vancouver versus Calgary—have the chance to end in Game 5 Thursday night.

It's first-round series like these that make the Stanley Cup the toughest trophy to win in American sport, and that gives massive implications to nights like Thursday—when possible Cup finalists can be eliminated or begin to surge back into the series in dramatic fashion. Let's take a look at Thursday.

Thursday, April 23, NHL Playoff Schedule

Time (ET)	Matchup	TV	Series Score
7 p.m.	Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings (Game 4)	NBCSN, CBC	DET leads 2-1
7 p.m.	New York Islanders at Washington Capitals (Game 5)	CNBC, SN	Tied 2-2
9:30 p.m.	Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators (Game 5)	NBCSN, SN360	CHI leads 3-1
10 p.m.	Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks (Game 5)	CNBC, CBC	CGY leads 3-1

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Game to Watch: Lightning at Red Wings (Game 4)

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

On a night featuring two series that could end along with a pivotal Game 5, perhaps the best action will be in a series that is still very much up for grabs.

Despite being the only series that's yet to reach a Game 4, the Detroit Red Wings and the Tampa Bay Lightning have embarked on a memorable opening three games to set the tone for a long series. But all of it has led to this Game 4 in Detroit, which could sway the series in one direction or another.

The Red Wings lead 2-1 in the series thanks to a surprise Game 1 win in which they scored on three of their 14 shots while emerging goaltender Petr Mrazek stopped 44 of 46 Lightning attempts on goal. Tampa Bay evened it up with a 5-1 win in Game 2 before the Red Wings returned home for Game 3 and posted the second shutout of the entire postseason in a 3-0 win.

There was no doubt entering this series that the Lightning boasted the advantage in scoring, but that's not exactly how it's shaken out. Even though Detroit is being hesitant to rack up shots on goal, they're going in at a high rate, as Bill Roose of NHL.com explained:

While the Red Wings have averaged fewer than 20 shots per game so far to the Lightning's 30-plus, not many of the Tampa Bay opportunities have been good ones. Detroit has executed a picture-perfect plan to force the Lightning's talented forwards to the outside before collapsing aggressively, and it's completely disrupting one of the NHL's most prolific offenses.

It's not surprising to hear that captain Steven Stamkos laid it out for his teammates as they enter a Game 4 that could spell doom for their season, as the team's Twitter noted:

Of course, their season won't end in earnest Thursday no matter what. But in cold reality, coming from 3-1 down to pull out three games against a championship-laden squad such as Detroit is not a likely scenario for Tampa Bay.

The Lightning put themselves in position to have to get one back in Detroit when they dropped Game 1 at home, and Game 4 will be their last chance to do so without their backs firmly pressed against the wall. Don't expect anything other than a furious start from Tampa Bay as it looks to push the tempo and get the Red Wings on their heels.

As the five-goal outburst of Game 2 showed, the Lightning can get to Mrazek and around the Red Wings' stiff defense. They've also shown that it's easier said than done. If they want to return to Tampa Bay with some momentum, the Lightning will put their money where their mouths are and reclaim home-ice advantage.