NHL Playoffs 2016: Updated Schedule, Stanley Cup Odds and Picks

It's still early in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, but as the activity shifts to Sunday's schedule, there is significant pressure on the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim Ducks.

The Red Wings dropped the first two games of their series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and they are carrying a four-game losing streak into Game 3. The Red Wings host the Lightning at Joe Louis Arena tonight at 7 p.m. E.T. and need a victory to avoid going down 0-3 in the series.

The Red Wings made the playoffs for the 25th consecutive year—even though they dropped their final two regular-season games. It looked like they would have an excellent chance to win their opening-round series because the Lightning were without superstar Steven Stamkos (blood clot) and defenseman Anton Stralman (fractured leg).

However, the short-handed Lightning have taken advantage of their opportunities to record back-to-back home victories. Nikita Kucherov has been especially effective for the Lightning with three goals in the first two games. Tyler Johnson has two goals and four assists, while Alex Killorn has two goals and a pair of helpers.

Matchup	Date	Time (ET)	TV
St. Louis at Chicago	April 17	3 p.m.	NBC, TVAS, SN
Tampa Bay at Detroit	April 17	7 p.m.	CNBC, CBC, TVAS, FS-D, SUN
Florida at NY Islanders	April 17	8 p.m.	NBCSN, SN, TVAS2, MSG+, FS-F
Nashville at Anaheim	April 17	10:30 p.m.	NBCSN, TVAS, SN, FS-W, FS-TN
Washington at Philadelphia	April 18	7 p.m.	USA, SN360, TVAS2, FS-TN, PRIME
Dallas at Minnesota	April 18	8:30 p.m.	CNBC, SN, TVAS2, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-SW
Los Angeles at San Jose	April 18	10:30 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS, CSN-CA, PRIME
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Rangers	April 19	7 p.m.	USA, TVAS, SN, MSG, ROOT
Tampa Bay at Detroit	April 19	7 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS2, FS-D, FS-F
St. Louis at Chicago	April 19	9:30 p.m.	NBCSN, TVAS, SN, CSN-CH, FS-MW
Anaheim at Nashville	April 19	9:30 p.m.	USA, SN360, TVAS2, FS-TN, PRIME

Playing at home should give the Red Wings a bit of a jolt, but first-year head coach Jeff Blashill needs to see his team start dictating the pace of the games and get better goaltending if the Red Wings are going to get their first victory in the series.

If those things don't happen, it's likely that the Lightning will get the best of Detroit and put the Red Wings on the brink of elimination.

The Anaheim Ducks put themselves in a strong position when they won their final game of the regular season and used those two points to win the Pacific Division title. They leapfrogged the Los Angeles Kings, and that victory set them up for a first-round playoff series with the Nashville Predators.

Team	Odds
Anaheim Ducks	8-1
Chicago Blackhawks	15-2
Dallas Stars	8-1
Detroit Red Wings	33-1
Florida Panthers	20-1
Los Angeles Kings	7-1
Minnesota Wild	28-1
Nashville Predators	25-1
New York Islanders	25-1
New York Rangers	16-1
Philadelphia Flyers	33-1
Pittsburgh Penguins	9-1
San Jose Sharks	16-1
St. Louis Blues	10-1
Tampa Bay Lightning	20-1
Washington Capitals	4-1

While the Preds had a strong second half of the season, playing Nashville seemed to be a more favorable matchup than competing against the San Jose Sharks. That's who the Ducks would have had to play had they finished second in the division.

The Ducks played a rather ordinary game in the series opener. They dropped a 3-2 decision on home ice and the onus is squarely on them to pick it up in Game 2.

Filip Forsberg scored the game-winner in the series opener when his wrist shot skittered past Anaheim goalie John Gibson shortly after the midway point of the third period. The Ducks pulled Gibson in the final two minutes of the third period and pressured Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, but they could not get the tying goal past him.

Harry How/Getty Images

While that Forsberg goal proved decisive, it was Nashville's game-opening goal that was even more difficult to accept. The Ducks appeared to be sleeping after the opening faceoff when a puck was left unattended in front of Gibson. James Neal swooped in and fired it for the game-opening goal at the 35-second mark.

Ryan Getzlaf would score late in the first period during a two-man advantage, and Ryan Kesler scored early in the second to give Anaheim the lead, but the Predators forced the pace from that point on and earned the opening victory.

The Ducks impressed observers throughout the league with their second-half performance, but if they drop Game 2 at home, then they could cause themselves significant harm.

They need to come up with the best effort and square the series if they are going to survive and advance.