NHL Playoffs Schedule 2015: Updated Conference Finals Bracket and Predictions

Well that didn’t go exactly as the Tampa Bay Lightning had envisioned.

After seemingly taking control of the series with a win in Game 5, Tuesday night’s Game 6 was supposed to be a coronation for the Lightning as the Eastern Conference champs. Instead, it turned into a nightmare.

A 7-3 shellacking at the hands of the Rangers—which was punctuated by a five-goal third period by New York—levels the series at 3-3 and leaves Tampa Bay on the precipice of bowing out of the playoffs with a Game 7 on the road standing as a barrier to entry to the Stanley Cup Finals.

On Monday night, the Anaheim Ducks did what no one has done so far to the Chicago Blackhawks this postseason: take them down in overtime. Matt Beleskey’s goal just 45 seconds into the extra period gave the Ducks a 3-2 series lead, with Chicago needing a win on home ice to keep its Stanley Cup dreams alive.

There aren’t many games left in the conference finals, but with both coming down to the wire, here is the schedule for the remaining games and predictions for the rest of both series:

Game	Date	Matchup (Series Tied 3-3)	Time (ET)	TV
1	Sat., May 16	Rangers win 2-1	-	-
2	Mon., May 18	Lightning win 6-2	-	-
3	Wed., May 20	Lightning win 6-5 (OT)	-	-
4	Fri., May 22	Rangers win 5-1	-	-
5	Sun., May 24	Lightning win 2-0	-	-
6	Tues., May 26	Rangers win 7-3	-	-
7	Fri., May 29	Tampa Bay at New York	8 p.m.	NBCSN

Game	Date	Matchup (Ducks lead 3-2)	Time (ET)	TV
1	Sun., May 17	Ducks win 4-1	-	-
2	Tues., May 19	Blackhawks win 3-2 (3OT)	-	-
3	Thurs., May 21	Ducks win 2-1	-	-
4	Sat., May 23	Blackhawks win 5-4 (2OT)	-	-
5	Mon., May 25	Ducks win 5-4 (OT)	-	-
6	Wed., May 27	Anaheim at Chicago	8 p.m.	NBCSN
7*	Sat., May 30	Chicago at Anaheim	9 p.m.	NBCSN

Chicago Keeps the Series Alive with a Game 6 Victory

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Maybe Chicago’s overtime magic this postseason only applies when multiple extra periods are played?

After winning each of their first four overtime games—all of which went to at least a second overtime—including two earlier in the series against Anaheim, Game 5 had only one possible outcome.

That was until Beleskey flipped the script in the blink of an eye:

But while Chicago fans are likely heartbroken over the loss, they mustn't forget that the Blackhawks accomplished a Herculean task by even forcing the game into overtime.

Two goals in the final 1:50 of regulation—well after the game was seemingly dead and buried—sent the game to an unexpected overtime and almost left Emilio Estevez with egg on his face:

"

DUCKS: 4!!!!!! HAWKS....two.....QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! @AnaheimDucks @NHL

— Emilio Estevez (@EMILIOTHEWAY) May 26, 2015"

But even though Estevez was vindicated by the Ducks' victory, the fact that the Blackhawks climbed back into the game at all is an achievement in and of itself and should leave Chicago fans with a lot of hope.

Patrick Kane is due for another bounce back after failing to record a point in Game 5—the third time the winger has done so against the Ducks—and Corey Crawford's confidence should continue to grow the more time he spends on the ice.

With the advantage of home ice in Game 6 and the knowledge that no deficit is too much to overcome after Game 6, Chicago will find a way to bounce back and force a return trip to Anaheim for Game 7.

New York Rangers Return to the Stanley Cup Finals with a Game 7 Win

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

What happened in Game 6? Heading into the second intermission, the Rangers held a slim 2-1 lead over the Lightning and the outcome of the contest was in doubt.

But a little more than seven minutes into the third period, the game was out of reach, with New York extending its lead to 5-1. Ben Bishop was subsequently pulled, and the series was going to a Game 7:

Something happened in between the final two periods of Game 6 that not only changed the course of the game itself, but possibly changed the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

New York, who had yet to capture the regular-season form that had won it the President's Trophy, found another gear in the third period and looked nearly unstoppable against a suspect Lightning defense.

As ESPN's Linda Cohn pointed out, this isn't the first time the Rangers have stepped up their game with the season on the line:

Now, with Game 7 back in New York this Friday, the Lightning could be in serious trouble. The Rangers are more experienced and look to have finally found the scoring touch that had mysteriously vanished for most of the postseason.

Not to mention with all of the momentum in New York’s corner coming out of Game 6, it looks like the Lightning are going to have to wait at least another season before lifting the Stanley Cup.