NHL Playoff Schedule 2016: Dates, TV Info, Game Times, Odds and Picks

With the way things have been going, the NHL playoff matchups could go all the way to Game 7 for both conferences. 

If that's the case, viewers will be rewarded with excellent playoff hockey. 

In the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning were all tied up at 1-1 heading into Wednesday night's game, which Pittsburgh took 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 

Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks have also taken one game apiece ahead of their Game 3 matchup on Thursday. 

Below, you'll find all the information you need to know, including TV channels and game times, to watch every matchup. 

Then, we'll look at odds and break down what to watch in both the East and the West. 

Eastern Conference Final

Game	Date	Time	Channel
Game 3	Wednesday, May 18	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 4	Friday, May 20	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 5*	Sunday, May 22	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 6*	Tuesday, May 24	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 7*	Thursday, May 26	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN

Odds

Pittsburgh (-1.5), per Odds Shark. 

Breakdown

The Lightning were once favored in this series, but three games in, the Penguins are proving they're here to win. And the odds for Game 4 now reflect that. 

Tampa Bay allowed 48 shots on goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy Tuesday night and have allowed 89 shots total over the last two games.

Needless to say, head coach Jon Cooper is not pleased.

"It's extremely disappointing to give up 48 shots in your home building in a playoff game," Cooper said, per Scott Burnside of ESPN.com. "The way things have gone these two games, it doesn't matter who's in net. You know we could have had Bish [Ben Bishop] and Vasi both playing at the same time, and they might have squeaked a couple in." 

The Penguins took the lead early and never relinquished it, going up 2-0 in the third. 

Part of the issue has been that the Lightning are relying on Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov, both of whom have 14 points in the playoffs, to get the team on the scoreboard. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday night alone, the Penguins enjoyed goals from Chris Kunitz, Carl Hagelin, Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby. 

The Lightning are now fighting an uphill battle to reclaim some momentum at home Friday. 

Pick: Penguins in 5

Western Conference Final

Game	Date	Time	Channel
Game 3	Thursday, May 19	9:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 4	Saturday, May 21	7:15 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 5*	Monday, May 23	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 6*	Wednesday, May 25	9:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 7*	Friday, May 27	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN

Odds

San Jose (-1.5), per Odds Shark.

Breakdown 

The Sharks vs. Blues matchup is compelling for many reasons. 

Neither franchise has ever won the Cup; in fact, the Sharks have never even played in the Final. 

And in this postseason, both teams are well-matched, which means we should continue to see a series that is tied at 1-1 deliver more great playoff hockey.

The Sharks shut out the Blues in Game 2, with Martin Jones making 26 saves. They also continued their exceptional postseason power-play success; Brent Burns scored two power-play goals. 

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Things didn't go San Jose's way on the power play in Game 1, as the Sharks were 0-of-3, but they entered the postseason at 31 percent on the power play, the best in the postseason, per Fox Sports. 

San Jose has won its last five at home, but the Blues have been excellent on the road, going 5-2 this postseason. 

And in both rounds of the playoffs so far, the Blues have followed a pattern of taking road games on the way to deciding their series in Game 7. 

Pick: Blues in 7