NHL Playoff Schedule 2016: Stanley Cup Final Dates, TV Info and Latest Odds

The Stanley Cup conference finals are wrapping up, and by Friday we'll know which two teams will face off in the Stanley Cup Final beginning in early June. 

In the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning lead the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 and will look to take the series in their matchup on Tuesday.  

Meanwhile in the West, the San Jose Sharks defeated the St. Louis Blues at home 6-3 on Monday. They now lead the series at 3-2 and will host Game 6 on Wednesday. 

Below, you'll find all the information you need to know regarding game dates and times for the remaining matchups in the conference finals, as well as odds.

Then, we'll break down what each team needs to do to advance to the Final.

Eastern Conference Final

Game	Date	Time	Channel
Game 6	Tuesday, May 24	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 7*	Thursday, May 26	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN

The Penguins and Lightning will face off in Game 6 on Tuesday night, and Tampa Bay is one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

Per Odds Shark, however, this series may make it all the way to Game 7; the odds site has the Lightning listed as 1.5-point underdogs heading into Game 6.

But the odds don't tell the whole story, and the Lightning are white-hot.

Nikita Kucherov is leading the NHL in scoring this postseason, per the Associated Press' Fred Goodall (via Yahoo Sports). He has scored 11 times in 15 games overall. 

The Russian had a huge moment in Game 5 when he scored late in the game to force overtime, which Tampa Bay eventually took 4-3. 

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is struggling at the worst time. The Penguins have not benefited from a goalie carousel, as veteran Marc-Andre Fleury replaced rookie Matt Murray in Game 5 after returning from injury, only to give up leads of 2-0 and 3-2. 

In the 13 games he has started this postseason, Murray is 9-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.

Meanwhile, if head coach Mike Sullivan is wondering which goaltender to start on Tuesday, analysts have some opinions. ESPN's Linda Cohn had a strong take on the subject:

Perhaps Sullivan should listen.  

Western Conference Final

Game	Date	Time	Channel
Game 6	Wednesday, May 25	9:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Game 7*	Friday, May 27	8:00 p.m. ET	NBCSN

The Blues are reeling after losing Game 5 to the San Jose Sharks at home in the Scottrade Center on Monday. 

The loss drops St. Louis to 3-2 on the series as the teams prepare to head back to the SAP Center on Wednesday. 

Needless to say, the Blues' backs are against the wall. They'll need a win on Wednesday to force Game 7 on Friday.

Odds Shark gives the nod to San Jose; the Sharks are 1.5-point favorites ahead of Game 6. 

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

The Blues were strong to start the game, leading 3-2 late in the second period.

However, San Jose forward Joe Pavelski scored two goals in less than two minutes, one on a power play, to give the Sharks a 4-3 lead.

San Jose then scored two empty-net goals for the 6-3 result. 

However, the series isn't over until it's over, and Blues captain David Backes is feeling optimistic.

Per Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, when told that the team was 60 minutes away from having its postseason run ended, Backes replied, "We’re 60 minutes away from a Game 7, too." 

Hopefully the team can rally around that leadership, but it's beginning to look dire for the Blues.