NHL Playoff Bracket 2018: Stanley Cup Schedule of Dates, Live Stream and Guide

The second round of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs presents us with four intriguing divisional encounters that should produce more drama than the eight first-round series.

Boston Bruins secured the final berth in the conference semifinals Wednesday with their Game 7 win over Toronto Maple Leafs, which sets up an Atlantic Division clash with Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals renew hostilities in the Metropolitan Division portion of the bracket, as the Capitals try to finally get over the second-round hump and defeat their main playoff nemesis.

Over in the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks are in line for a defensive showcase in the Pacific Division bracket, while two of the top goalies in the league square off in the Central Division series between Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule

Thursday, April 26

Game 1: Pittsburgh at Washington (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 1: San Jose at Vegas (10 p.m., NBCSN)

Friday, April 27

Game 1: Winnipeg at Nashville (8 p.m., NBCSN)

Saturday, April 28

Game 1: Boston at Tampa Bay (3 p.m., NBC)

Game 2: San Jose at Vegas (8 p.m., NBC)

Sunday, April 29

Game 2: Pittsburgh at Washington (3 p.m., NBC) 

Game 2: Winnipeg at Nashville (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Monday, April 30

Game 2: Boston at Tampa Bay (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 3: Vegas at San Jose (10 p.m., NBCSN)

Tuesday, May 1

Game 3: Washington at Pittsburgh (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 3: Nashville at Winnipeg (8 p.m., CNBC)

Wednesday, May 2

Game 3: Tampa Bay at Boston (7 p.m., NBCSN) 

Game 4: Vegas at San Jose (10 p.m., NBCSN)

Thursday, May 3

Game 4: Washington at Pittsburgh (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 4: Nashville at Winnipeg (9:30 p.m., NBCSN)

Friday, May 4

Game 4: Boston at Tampa Bay (7 p.m., NBCSN)

Game 5: San Jose at Vegas (10 p.m., NBCSN)*

Saturday, May 5

Game 5: Pittsburgh at Washington (TBD)*

Game 5: Winnipeg at Nashville (TBD)*

Sunday, May 6

Game 5: Boston at Tampa Bay (TBD)*

Game 6: Vegas at San Jose (TBD)*

Monday, May 7

Game 6: Washington at Pittsburgh (TBD, NBCSN)*

Game 6: Nashville at Winnipeg (TBD, NBCSN)*

Tuesday, May 8

Game 6: Tampa Bay at Boston (TBD, NBCSN)*

Game 7: San Jose at Vegas (TBD, NBCSN)*

Wednesday, May 9

Game 7: Pittsburgh at Washington (TBD, NBCSN)*

Thursday, May 10

Game 7: Boston at Tampa Bay (TBD, NBCSN)*

Game 7: Winnipeg at Nashville (TBD, NBCSN)*

*-if necessary

All Times ET.

Games can be live-streamed on NBC Sports Live.

Guide

Eastern Conference

The majority of the focus in the Eastern Conference will be on the series between the Penguins and Capitals because of the recent history the two franchises have.

Washington hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 1998, when it went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Capitals exited the postseason in the second round in each of the last three seasons, and they could be in line for a fourth given how dominant the Penguins looked in their opening-round series against Philadelphia Flyers.

The Metropolitan Division rivals split their regular-season series, with the Capitals winning the last meeting on April 1 by a 3-1 score.

Both offenses should be on top form, as three of the top postseason scorers reside on both rosters. Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby have six goals each for Pittsburgh, while Alexander Ovechkin has five for the Capitals.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Don't be surprised if the supporting casts play major roles with the defensive focus on Crosby and Ovechkin.

In the first round, 18 different Capitals recorded a point, while 16 Penguins played a role in at least one goal.

Boston and Tampa Bay are also familiar with each other, and they've played more recently than the Penguins and Capitals. 

The Bruins and Lightning traded victories in their final two regular-season meetings on March 29 and April 3, with Tampa Bay earning its first win over the Bruins in the latter to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference.

Before the 4-0 victory at Amalie Arena, the Lightning conceded 10 goals over three games to the Bruins while struggling to put three tallies on the board.

Bruce Cassidy's Bruins tied the Penguins for most goals in the first round with 28, but they also let in 20 against Toronto.

In order to win the series, Boston's defense must improve against a Tampa Bay attack led by Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, who combined for 16 points in the first round.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

If the defensive game plan doesn't work, the Bruins could overwhelm the Lightning in order to pick up an early advantage.

David Pastrnak and Jake Debrusk scored five goals each for the Bruins against Toronto, while four other players recorded eight or more points.

Western Conference

While the East is going to produce fireworks in almost every game, the two series in the West could be completely different.

Vegas and San Jose steamrolled their first-round opponents with remarkable defensive performances, as they combined for seven goals against.

Although the Golden Knights and Sharks earned sweeps over Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, respectively, history isn't on their side, as ESPN's Steve Levy noted:

Marc-Andre Fleury put together a .977 save percentage in his four victories for Vegas, while six different players contributed two or more points as the Knights scored seven goals versus the Kings.

On the other hand, San Jose scored 16 goals while Martin Jones recorded a save percentage of .970 in net against the Ducks.

The Sharks have the upper hand entering the series on the offensive side of the puck and in experience, as they made a run to the Stanley Cup Final two years ago.

San Jose has the offensive weapons in Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane and others to smother Vegas' defense.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Although the Sharks went 1-3 in the regular season against Vegas, they scored 11 goals, including seven in the first two meetings.

If San Jose unlocks the Vegas defense and beats Fleury, the Golden Knights might not have enough to keep up with the Sharks.

Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck are expected to feature in starring roles in the Central Division series beginning Friday.

Both goalies rank in the top five in save percentage and goals-against average in the postseason, but they'll face plenty of threats from the opposing offense.

The breakout star of the series could be Winnipeg's Patrik Laine, who scored 44 goals in the regular season and followed it up with a pair against the Minnesota Wild.

Laine is one of the most dynamic young talents in the game, and if he plays to his potential, he'll be an unstoppable force against the P.K. Subban-led Nashville defense.

Blake Wheeler, who had a 91-point regular season, is another player to watch if you haven't seen much of the Jets.

Kamil Krzaczynski/Associated Press

Nashville's quest to return to the Stanley Cup Final is led by Subban, Rinne and Filip Forsberg.

Forsberg and Austin Watson were the top attackers in the first round for the Predators with four goals apiece, while Colton Sissons tied Watson for most points with seven.

In order to keep Winnipeg at bay, the Predators might tighten up the defense that allowed 15 goals to the Colorado Avalanche over six games.

If the Predators contain Laine and Wheeler, they should be able to open up an early gap in the series at home.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Hockey Reference.