NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Stanley Cup Guide, Postseason Tree and Standings

The second round of the 2015 NHL playoffs is quickly coming into focus after two more teams advanced to the conference semifinals on Saturday. The Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames both booked their place into the next stage with victories.

As a result, half of the eight-team field for the second round is now set. The Flames will meet the Anaheim Ducks, which is the only series locked in so far. You can view the current bracket on NHL.com.

By next Wednesday at the latest, the first round will have wrapped up. Here's a look at the full schedule for the remaining games:

Time (ET)	Matchup	TV Info
Sun., April 26
3 p.m.	St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild	NBC
6 p.m.	Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators	NBCSN
Mon., April 27
7 p.m.	Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings	CNBC
7:30 p.m.	New York Islanders at Washington Capitals	NBCSN
Tues., April 28
TBD	Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens *(if necessary)	TBD
Wed., April 29
TBD	Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning *(if necessary)	TBD
TBD	Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues *(if necessary)	TBD

So far, there haven't been too many surprises.

The New York Rangers made quick work of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Some might have expected the Penguins to put up more of a fight, but the Rangers were the best team in the league during the regular season. New York looks every bit like a Stanley Cup contender.

The same could be said of the Blackhawks, who knocked the Nashville Predators out in six games.

Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star commented that Chicago isn't a perfect team but is one of the most battle-tested postseason groups in the league:

ESPN Stats & Info also made note of the Blackhawks' great playoff record of late:

Whatever doubts hovered around star winger Patrick Kane (recovering from fractured clavicle) entering the first round were put to bed after he scored in Game 2. He found the net for Chicago's third goal in Game 6 and also recorded five assists over the course of the series.

Teammate Marian Hossa praised Kane after Saturday's game, per Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Blackhawks defense wasn't really in doubt after Chicago finished second in goals allowed per game (2.27) during the regular season. And if Kane, sniper Patrick Sharp and two-way stalwart Jonathan Toews continue to deliver timely goals, it's hard to envision anybody else making it out of the Western Conference.

One team that could be standing in Chicago's way come the conference finals is the Flames. Calgary overturned a 3-0 deficit on Saturday to beat the Vancouver Canucks 7-4 and eliminate its Pacific Division rival.

Entering the playoffs, the Flames weren't really considered a serious postseason threat.

Their 97 points were the fewest among the 16 playoff teams, and their analytics weren't exactly favorable, either. Calgary finished 28th in shot attempts and unblocked shot attempts, per NHL.com.

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun doesn't question the value of advanced statistics in hockey but argues that they aren't the only indicator of a team's overall strength:

The Flames certainly have a big test ahead in the form of the Anaheim Ducks. The Western Conference champions scored 16 goals over four games in their first-round series win over the Winnipeg Jets, who only gave up 2.49 goals a game during the regular season.

Generally, the NHL produces the most competitive postseason in sports. That's firmly evident this year, with all but two of the eight first-round series going to at least six games.

It wouldn't take much for the Blackhawks to swap places with the Flames and go from the hunter to the hunted.

NHL playoff games are available to stream live on NBC Sports Live Extra.