Stanley Cup Playoffs 2015: Full Conference Final Schedule and Predictions

It would be accurate to say the conference finals in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs have gone off script, though teams holding series leads have not played out of character.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have used a potent offensive barrage to overwhelm the New York Rangers' usually stellar defense. The Anaheim Ducks are showing their youth isn't going to be a problem in a long series against the veteran- and talent-laden Chicago Blackhawks. 

Finding a comfort zone with the things that worked during the regular season is what's made all four teams successful this postseason, but the Rangers and Blackhawks will have to find a new way to manufacture wins soon or risk falling too far behind against two of the league's best teams. 

Eastern Conference Final (Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers)	Date, Start Time (ET)	Western Conference (Chicago Blackhawks vs. Anaheim Ducks)	Date, Start Time (ET)
Game 1: Rangers def. Lightning, 2-1 (NYR lead series 1-0)	Saturday, May 16	Game 1: Ducks def. Blackhawks, 4-1 (ANA leads series 1-0)	Sunday, May 17
Game 2: Lightning def. Rangers, 6-2 (Series tied 1-1)	Monday, May 18	Game 2: Blackhawks def. Ducks, 3-2 (3OT) (Series tied 1-1)	Tuesday, May 19
Game 3: Lightning def. Rangers, 6-5 (OT) (TB leads series 2-1)	Wednesday, May 20	Game 3: Ducks def. Blackhawks, 2-1 (Ducks lead series 2-1)	Thursday, May 21
Game 4: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning	Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m.	Game 4: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks	Saturday, May 23 at 8 p.m.
Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers	Sunday, May 24 at 8 p.m.	Game 5: Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks	Monday, May 25 at 9 p.m.
Game 6: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (If Necessary)	Tuesday, May 26 at 8 p.m.	Game 6: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (If Necessary)	Wednesday, May 27 at 8 p.m.
Game 7: Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers (If Necessary)	Friday, May 29 at 8 p.m.	Game 7: Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks (If Necessary)	Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m.

All games broadcast on NBC Sports Network, except Game 4 of Western Conference Final on NBC.

Eastern Conference Prediction

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

After Game 1, the Rangers appeared as though they were going to carry their magic over from the previous series against Washington. They won another game by one goal and were able to keep Tampa Bay's NHL-best offense to just one goal. 

In the two subsequent games, the Lightning's offense has shown why it led the league in goals during the regular season. They've put up 12 goals against Henrik Lundqvist, which is the same number he gave up in seven games against the Capitals. 

Making the Game 3 loss worse for the Rangers is they scored a playoff-high five goals. This isn't just an aberration for the Lightning. As ESPN Stats & Info noted after Game 2, they've given Lundqvist problems recently:

Being able to win games without playing your best is the hallmark of any great team. The Lightning have done that after a porous defensive effort in Game 3, something defenseman Anton Stralman told Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida the team is focusing on heading into Game 4:

"

We're happy with the amount of goals we scored in the game. But at the same time, we have to clean up our defense a little bit better, make sure that's our mentality first and foremost -- to not let goals in instead of trying to score as many as we can. We have to focus on the right zone and make sure we do our things there.

"

The Rangers' goal moving forward is simple, though the execution has proved to be difficult. Their success during this run of five consecutive playoff appearances has been defense and goaltending. 

New York head coach Alain Vigneault has been almost stubborn in his unwillingness to make changes in an effort to find a spark on offense. Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis have been invisible most of the postseason with just 13 total points in 15 games. 

The Rangers' offensive hero in Game 3 was rookie Jesper Fast, whose two goals matched the entire playoff output for Nash and St. Louis. This team has responded well to adversity in the past, as Washington can attest after blowing a 3-1 series lead. 

However, the Lightning are operating at another level, and the Rangers' best skill hasn't been present in the past two games. Tampa Bay could have folded after losing the first game on the road but instead responded in the best way possible. 

It's the Rangers' turn to answer the bell. They have enough fight to drag this series out, but the Lightning are more powerful overall. 

Lightning win series in six games

Western Conference Prediction

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

The Western Conference Final has had a much different vibe than its Eastern Conference counterpart. With the exception of Anaheim's four-goal outburst in Game 1, this has been low scoring and tense all the way through. 

Anaheim holds a 2-1 series lead thanks to an impressive defensive effort and timely scoring, notably by Simon Despres in the final minute of the second period of Game 3. The Ducks needed that kind of performance coming off a devastating triple-overtime loss in Game 2. 

Frederik Andersen has been fantastic for the Ducks thus far, limiting Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to two points in three games after the Blackhawks duo had 24 combined points in the first 10 playoff games. 

Per Katie Baker of Grantland, Andersen's save percentage has been better than any of the goalies left in the playoffs:

"

When the game ended, Andersen emerged with the best overall postseason save percentage of the remaining four goalies in the playoffs — a group that includes Henrik Lundqvist, Cup winner Crawford, and Vezina Trophy candidate Ben Bishop. Not bad for a guy who never had too firm a grip on the starting job in Anaheim this season.

"

If Andersen remains on the streak he's been riding, the Ducks are going to be playing for the Stanley Cup. It's no secret what the Blackhawks need to turn things around. 

Kane, Toews and Duncan Keith are as good as any scoring trio left in the playoffs. They make the Blackhawks go, and this series has shown the limitations this team has when those three aren't dominating games. 

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The Blackhawks were given opportunities in Game 3 they couldn't take advantage of. Anaheim went 5-of-5 killing penalties in the game. 

Chicago responded with a victory in Game 2 after losing the first game. It needs to come out with a greater sense of urgency in this game, because Andersen has been a brick wall in net for the Ducks. 

Going down 3-1 with the way Andersen has been playing and as opportunistic as Anaheim's offense has been would spell the end for Chicago. Don't expect another flat effort from the Blackhawks, who will take this series the distance. 

The difference is trust in goal. Andersen has earned enough clout this postseason to think he will step up in a Game 7. Corey Crawford has been erratic in the playoffs, allowing nine goals in three games against Nashville, seven in four games against Minnesota and seven in three games against Anaheim. 

In a must-win scenario, go with the goalie playing better. 

Ducks win series in seven games