NHL Playoff TV Schedule 2015: Remaining Conference Finals Outlook and More

Things are getting nervy in the 2015 NHL playoffs with teams on the cusp of reaching the Stanley Cup Final, but first, business needs to be taken care of in the coming days.

One Game 5 is in the books after the Tampa Bay Lightning dispatched the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden to take a 3-2 series lead. But the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks will have a chance to join them in that regard, facing off in Game 5 in Anaheim Monday night.

At this point in the postseason, every single play could have dire implications on who ends up lifting the Stanley Cup. Let's take a look at all of the remaining conference final games to make sure you don't miss out.

2015 NHL Playoffs Conference Finals Schedule

Game	Date	Matchup (TBL leads 3-2)	Time (ET)	TV
Game	Date	Matchup (Series Tied 2-2)	Time (ET)	TV
6	Tues., May 26	N.Y. Rangers at Tampa Bay	8 p.m.	NBCSN
7*	Fri., May 29	Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers	8 p.m.	NBCSN
5	Mon., May 25	Chicago at Anaheim	9 p.m.	NBCSN
6	Wed., May 27	Anaheim at Chicago	8 p.m.	NBCSN
7*	Sat., May 30	Chicago at Anaheim	8 p.m.	NBCSN

Game to Watch

Game 5: Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

When the Ducks aspired to take their top seed out West and turn it into the franchise's second Stanley Cup, they knew it would likely mean overcoming the best test from the Chicago Blackhawks. After all, Chicago has made it this far in five of the last seven seasons, winning the Cup in two of them.

Through four games, that could not be more apparent. But to say Anaheim is backing down from the challenge would be a laughable conclusion to draw with things all square entering a pivotal Game 5 in the Honda Center of Anaheim.

The Ducks have been able to establish their physical presence and get going offensively, taking Games 1 and 3 while averaging a healthy three goals per game in the series. But the extra periods in Games 2 and 4 have doomed Anaheim, as the Ducks dropped both overtime games.

With that in mind, the Ducks have no issue pressing the reset button and recalibrating for Game 5 at home, per the team's Twitter:

No matter which way you slice the on-ice occurrences this series, it's hard to say the Ducks are at any sort of disadvantage. They have outscored Chicago 12-10 in the series, have kept Corey Crawford uneasy in front of net and have virtually dominated the overtime periods that they ended up losing.

The Blackhawks have veteran leadership and experience from being in these positions before, but they've rarely had to go up against a more physical team at this stage in the playoffs. Anaheim's big-bodied forwards figured to give Chicago a run for its money, and that's exactly what the Ducks are doing by bodying the Blackhawks' blueliners, as told by ESPN Chicago:

"

The Blackhawks' top-4 defensemen (Hjalmarsson, Oduya, Seabrook, Keith) have absorbed 45 percent of the Ducks' 220 hits in the series.

— ESPN Chicago (@ESPNChiHawks) May 25, 2015"

Most any team would be considerably worn down after four games against Anaheim playing at this level. After all, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets combined for only one win in their respective series. 

That should be even more apparent in this series by this point, considering the multi-overtime contests have produced a total of 17 periods—enough for nearly six games. 

The Blackhawks have shown strong will and heart by being able to not only stay with the Ducks, but take advantage of their opportunities and get back into the series. But there are small signs, like in Game 4, when Anaheim scored three goals in 37 seconds, that indicate Chicago's defense may be getting too tired to play at its best.

It would be foolish to assume a proven squad like the Blackhawks is going to fall victim to fatigue, but it's also getting harder and harder to make a case as to how Chicago is going to continue overcoming the constant barrage from the West's top seed.