NHL Playoffs 2018: TV, Live-Stream Schedule and Stanley Cup Bracket Predictions

A Stanley Cup bracket loaded with possible first-time champions also hosts the NHL's longest one-sided rivalry.

Half the remaining field has lost one of the past five Stanley Cup Finals, but only three of eight teams have hoisted the trophy. The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, must again conquer the Washington Capitals en route to a three-peat.

The back-to-back champions have defeated the Capitals in nine of the teams' 10 playoff meetings after sending them home in 2016 and 2017. They followed their past three series wins by claiming the Stanley Cup.

On Thursday night, Pittsburgh flattened its long-suffering adversary by scoring three goals in Game 1's third period. It therefore has a chance to leave Capital One Arena with a 2-0 series lead Sunday.

In a second-round slate otherwise featuring fresh feuds, Washington must rewrite a frustrating script to avoid another early exit. Let's look at the schedule, courtesy of NHL.com, before dissecting the latest Penguins-Capitals showdown.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins

Game 1: Bruins 6, Lightning 2

Game 2: Boston at Tampa Bay: Monday, April 30 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 3: Tampa Bay at Boston: Wednesday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 4: Tampa Bay at Boston: Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

*Game 5: Boston at Tampa Bay: Sunday, May 6 at TBD

*Game 6: Tampa Bay at Boston: Tuesday, May 8 at TBD

*Game 7: Boston at Tampa Bay: Thursday, May 10 at TBD

Prediction: Lightning in seven.

Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 1: Pittsburgh 3, Washington 2

Game 2: Pittsburgh at Washington: Sunday April 29 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 3: Washington at Pittsburgh: Tuesday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 4: Washington at Pittsburgh: Thursday, May 3 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSCN

*Game 5: Pittsburgh at Washington: Saturday, May 5 at TBD

*Game 6: Washington at Pittsburgh: Monday, May 7 at TBD

*Game 7: Pittsburgh at Washington: Wednesday, May 9 at TBD

Prediction: Penguins in six.

Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets

Game 1: Winnipeg 4, Nashville 1

Game 2: Winnipeg at Nashville: Sunday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 3: Nashville at Winnipeg: Tuesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on CNBC

Game 4: Nashville at Winnipeg: Thursday, May 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

*Game 5: Winnipeg at Nashville: Saturday, May 5 at TBD

*Game 6: Nashville at Winnipeg: Monday, May 7 at TBD

*Game 7: Winnipeg at Nashville: Thursday, May 10 at TBD

Prediction: Jets in seven.

Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. San Jose Sharks

Gamne 1: Las Vegas 7, San Jose 0

Game 2: San Jose 4, Las Vegas 3 (2OT)

Game 3: Las Vegas at San Jose: Monday, April 30 at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 4: Las Vegas at San Jose: Wednesday, May 2 at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN

*Game 5: San Jose at Las Vegas: Friday, May 4 at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN

*Game 6: Las Vegas at San Jose: Sunday, May 6 at TBD

*Game 7: San Jose at Las Vegas: Tuesday, May 8 at TBD

Prediction: Golden Knights in six.

*=If necessary. Live stream: NBC Sports Live

Penguins vs. Capitals...Again

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Washington jumped into a lead 17 seconds into the series. Alex Ovechkin scored less than a minute into the final period, at home against a Pittsburgh squad missing Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin, to establish a 2-0 advantage.

With everything working in Washington's favor, Pittsburgh rallied. Despite winning eight fewer faceoffs and attempting nine fewer shots, the Penguins escaped with a 3-2 win behind a goal and two assists from Jake Guentzel. The 23-year-old has 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) through seven playoff games.

As NHL Public Relations noted, he has joined his star teammate and the franchise's owner in postseason lore:

Sidney Crosby, meanwhile, has only amassed 15 playoff points this year, giving him 61 in his past 55 postseason games. Per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan analyzed the two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner's success on the grand stage.

"I don't necessarily see a different player," Sullivan said. "I see an elite player who brings his game to another level when the stakes are high. That is a testament to his competitive spirit, his appetite to win, and that's what it takes to win championships. Your best players have to be your best players."

Offensive dominance from Guentzel and Crosby has concealed Pittsburgh's defensive progress. The Penguins, who tied the Florida Panthers for an NHL-high 34.4 shots per game during the regular season, have relinquished just 26 shots per playoff bout. They already wield a plus-14 point differential behind two shutouts and a 0.917 save percentage from Matt Murray.

Already a postseason veteran, the 23-year-old continued to flaunt his affinity for big moments Thursday night. Washington fired 18 shots in the final period, but Murray let just one pass as his team completed a comeback. NHL illustrated two particularly difficult saves:

The Capitals have attempted 36.7 shots per game this postseason, so Ovechkin and Co. will keep Murray busy throughout the series. In order to finally vanquish their foes, they will need a superior showing from Braden Holtby.

After concluding the regular season with personal worsts in save percentage (0.907) and goals allowed (2.99), the 28-year-old saved 137 of 147 shots during a five-game opening series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yet on Thursday, he could not secure his first shutout since April 5, 2017, or preserve a 2-0 lead.

Last year, Holtby yielded either two or three goals in every contest of the Caps' memorable seven-game battle with Pittsburgh. As shown in Game 1, that extra score often makes a major difference. 

Game 1 was hardly a must-win bout. After all, an opening victory could not steer the Capitals past its foe in 2001, 2009 or 2016. Last year, they rallied from 3-1 down before falling in Game 7.

Yet Washington must regret missing an opportunity to land the first punch with Malkin sidelined. The star center, who tallied five points in as many games against the Philadelphia Flyers before suffering a leg injury, could return as soon as Sunday. Per the team's Twitter account, Sullivan called Malkin a "game-time decision" for Game 2. 

Washington can't afford to go into Pittsburgh down 2-0, as the Penguins won 30 of 41 regular-season home games. A healthy Malkin could doom the Capitals to repeat history and once again perish by the Penguins' sword before the Eastern Conference Final.