NHL Playoff Schedule 2015: Wednesday TV and Live Stream Guide

The 2015 NHL playoffs have dazzled with each bone-crunching hit and down-to-the-wire finish, but the action is just starting to materialize as Wednesday's games approach.

Slowly but surely, the Stanley Cup Final picture is coming into place with only two series remaining in either conference. The Chicago Blackhawks have already assumed a daunting 3-0 lead over the Minnesota Wild, while two other series are mired in a 2-1 score and the Tampa Bay Lightning take a surprise 2-0 lead over the Montreal Canadiens into Game 3.

Here's a look at the Wednesday NHL playoff schedule.

Wednesday, May 6 NHL Playoffs Schedule

Time (ET)	Game: Matchup	TV
7 p.m.	Game 3: Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning	USA
7:30 p.m.	Game 4: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals	NBCSN

Live Stream

NBC Sports Live Extra

Game to Watch

New York Rangers at Washington Capitals (Game 4)

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After a first-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins that was much tighter than the short five-game series would suggest, there expected to be a tougher road ahead for the New York Rangers in Round 2. But the Washington Capitals are proving to be much more than just a step up in the difficulty department.

The Caps set the tone by stealing Game 1 before New York got back level at home, but things have tilted in Washington's favor yet again. Goaltender Braden Holtby shut out the Rangers' attack in a 1-0 victory to give his squad a 2-1 advantage.

The Presidents' Trophy winners haven't seen any sort of ease in the postseason thus far, with every single one of their games—including the five against Pittsburgh—being decided by just one goal. ESPN's John Buccigross noted the trend, while adding a big advantage to the team that scores first in Round 2:

All of the games may have been decided by a close margin, but that does nothing to change where the Rangers stand entering this crucial Game 4.

Win, and New York will head back to Madison Square Garden riding high and even at two games apiece after retaking home-ice advantage. Lose, and the Rangers' backs are against the wall needing to rattle off three straight to avoid elimination.

Needless to say, the NHL's best team and Stanley Cup favorite didn't expect such adversity in the postseason. But here is Holtby, Alex Ovechkin and Co. stopping every shot and slipping just enough pucks past Henrik Lundqvist. 

If the Rangers are going to turn things around, it will have to come up front with an offense that has produced just one combined goal in New York's two series losses. The effort is there, but it doesn't show without results, as head coach Alain Vigneault told ESPN's Katie Strang:

The Capitals defense has turned a corner in 2014-15 around new head coach Barry Trotz, and the offensive presence of Ovechkin and his comrades has proven too much for New York to deal with. If the Rangers can't overcome that to muster up a winning performance in Washington, they will be put on the brink of elimination.

With potent weapons like Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Martin St. Louis and others still sniffing around the net, however, all it could take is one lucky bounce to get the Rangers' momentum back rolling.