NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Stanley Cup Dates, TV Coverage Guide and More
Every game in a Stanley Cup playoff series counts the same, but Game 5 in a 2-2 battle feels a little different.
It represents a chance to put your opponent's back against the wall and bring yourself to within one game of advancement. That is the opportunity that sits in front of the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on Friday after the two teams split the first four games.
Elsewhere, the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins both face 3-1 deficits in their respective Stanley Cup playoff series and will be sent home if they lose. It is a testament to the importance of Game 5 in the matchup between the Blues and the Wild that the possibility of impending doom for the 2015 championship dreams of two franchises isn’t even the most enticing part of Friday’s schedule.
TOP NEWS
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
Who Will Panthers Take at No. 9 ? 🤔
.jpg?w=256 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
Could Isles Trade for Kucherov? 🤯
.png?w=256)
Draft Lottery Winners and Losers
With that in mind, here is a look at the postseason slate for Friday and beyond before digging into a preview for the St. Louis-Minnesota showdown.
| St. Louis vs. Minnesota | |||
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 9:30 p.m. | 4-2, MIN |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 3 p.m. | 4-2, STL |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 8 p.m. | 3-0, MIN |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | 6-1, STL |
| 5 | Friday, April 24 | 9:30 p.m. | NBCSN |
| 6 | Sunday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| 7* | Wednesday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| Nashville vs. Chicago | |||
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 8:30 p.m. | 4-3, CHI |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 9:30 p.m. | 6-2, NSH |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 3 p.m. | 4-2, CHI |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 9:30 p.m. | 3-2, CHI |
| 5 | Thursday, April 23 | 9:30 p.m. | 5-2, NSH |
| 6 | Saturday, April 25 | 8 p.m. | NBC |
| 7* | Monday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| Anaheim vs. Winnipeg | |||
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 10:30 p.m. | 4-2, ANA |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 10:30 p.m. | 2-1, ANA |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 9 p.m. | 5-4, ANA |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | 5-2, ANA |
| Vancouver vs. Calgary | |||
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 10 p.m. | 2-1, CGY |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 10 p.m. | 4-1, VAN |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 10 p.m. | 4-2, CGY |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 10 p.m. | 3-1, CGY |
| 5 | Thursday, April 23 | 10 p.m. | 2-1, VAN |
| 6 | Saturday, April 25 | 9 p.m. | NBCSN |
| 7* | Monday, April 27 | TBD | CBC |
| Montreal vs. Ottawa | |||
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | 4-3, MTL |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | 3-2, MTL |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | 2-1, MTL |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | 1-0, OTT |
| 5 | Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m. | CNBC |
| 6* | Sunday, April 26 | TBD | CBC |
| 7* | Tuesday, April 28 | TBD | CBC |
| Tampa Bay vs. Detroit | |||
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | 3-2, DET |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 3 p.m. | 5-1, TB |
| 3 | Tuesday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | 3-0, DET |
| 4 | Thursday, April 23 | 7p.m. | 3-2, TB |
| 5 | Saturday, April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Monday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| 7* | Wednesday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh | |||
| 1 | Thursday, April 16 | 7 p.m. | 2-1, NYR |
| 2 | Saturday, April 18 | 8 p.m. | 4-3, PIT |
| 3 | Monday, April 20 | 7 p.m. | 2-1, NYR |
| 4 | Wednesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | 2-1, NYR |
| 5 | Friday, April 24 | 7 p.m. | NBCSN |
| 6* | Sunday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| 7* | Tuesday, April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| Washington vs. New York Islanders | |||
| 1 | Wednesday, April 15 | 7 p.m. | 4-1, NYI |
| 2 | Friday, April 17 | 7 p.m. | 4-3, WAS |
| 3 | Sunday, April 19 | 12 p.m. | 2-1, NYI |
| 4 | Tuesday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | 2-1, WAS |
| 5 | Thursday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | 5-1, WAS |
| 6 | Saturday, April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| 7* | Monday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
Friday Matchup to Watch: Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues won the Central Division and were supposed to handle the Minnesota Wild in the first round to set up a potential second-round showdown with their rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Someone forgot to give the Wild the memo.
Minnesota went into St. Louis in Game 1 and immediately seized home-ice advantage with a 4-2 victory. From there, the Blues won Game 2 to even the series, but Minnesota took care of business in Game 3 in front of the home fans, setting the stage for an upset that would turn the Western Conference playoffs upside down if the Wild won at home in Game 4.
Alas, the Blues looked like the dominant force they were for much of the season and destroyed Minnesota 6-1 in Game 4.
It is impossible to ignore the most recent result moving ahead to Friday’s contest and beyond—and not just because of the five-goal difference. For one, the Blues ended a nine-game postseason losing streak on the road and should have more confidence heading back to Minnesota for a critical Game 6.
The most pressing concern for the Wild is goalie Devan Dubnyk, even though he has been excellent since Minnesota traded for him in January. Allowing six goals in a postseason game in approximately two periods and three goals in the final 10 minutes of the first period could have a lasting impact, especially since the Wild pulled Dubnyk before the end of the game.
Chris Peters of CBSSports.com suggested as much:
"Devan Dubnyk's performance did nothing good for his and the team's psyche heading into Game 5. That was Dubnyk's worst performance in a Wild uniform by a country mile. He hasn't been accustomed to that and the Wild haven't either. For this to happen in a crucial playoff game only raises further concern. The last time Dubnyk gave up a six spot was while he was with the Arizona Coyotes in December.
"
This is uncharted territory for the Wild with Dubnyk between the pipes, and they have to respond on the road in front of a hostile St. Louis crowd.
Another thing to watch in Game 5 and beyond is the performance of 23-year-old Vladimir Tarasenko, who is already cementing himself as a household name among even casual fans in these playoffs.
He scored two goals in Game 4, tallied a hat trick in Game 2 and carried the St. Louis offense in both of the Blues' victories. When he plays well in this series, the Blues play well, and he seems to have Dubnyk's number at this point.
Wild defenseman Jordan Leopold discussed Tarasenko, per Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: "He’s one of the elite players in the league. I don’t think it’s a secret anymore. Last couple years, he snuck up on people."
While Tarasenko was the star, six different St. Louis players tallied their first points of the series in Game 4. This offense was fifth in the league in goals per game in the regular season, and a balanced scoring attack would make the Blues considerable favorites for the rest of the series.
The Wild need to find a way to tap into the defense we saw in Game 3, when they blocked off the shooting lanes and generally kept traffic away from the front of the net. St. Louis had far too many open looks in the Minnesota zone in Game 4, which is a recipe for disaster from the Wild's perspective if it continues.
The dangerous St. Louis offense that can score points from a number of different sources hit its stride in Game 4. It will once again test a defense and a goalie who could be lacking for confidence after an uninspiring performance.
What’s more, the Blues are simply the better team and have home-ice advantage back after stealing one on the road. The Wild missed their golden opportunity to take control and eventually win this series with the Game 4 loss in Minnesota.
Prediction: Blues 4, Wild 1
Follow me on Twitter:
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.jpg?w=480 "Kucherov Landing Spots")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
