NHL Playoff Schedule 2018: Dates, TV Guide, Bracket and Stanley Cup Standings

The Vegas Golden Knights are not going to whip through the Stanley Cup playoffs in undefeated fashion.

After eliminating the Los Angeles Kings in four games and opening their second-round series with a 7-0 triumph over the San Jose Sharks, the Golden Knights were extended to overtime in Game 2. 

After an apparent game-winning score by Jonathan Marchessault in the first overtime was wiped out by a goaltender-interference review, the Sharks evened the series early in the second overtime when Logan Couture sent a power-play wrist shot by Marc-Andre Fleury.

That goal allowed the Sharks to skate off with a 4-3 victory Saturday night and tied the second-round series at one game each. The series resumes Monday night at SAP Center.

The Sharks knew their effort in Game 1 simply was not good enough and sought to resolve that issue. "We competed harder all over the ice," Couture said, per Stats/AP (h/t CBSSports.com). "We were harder on pucks, we won more battles. I think when you're creating offensive chances and you're forcing other teams to play defensive hockey, that's when penalties happen. They get tired and you wear them down."

As the Sharks evened their series in the Western Conference, the Boston Bruins made a statement with a 6-2 triumph in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.

Rick Nash and Patrice Bergeron scored two goals each, while Brad Marchand and rookie Jake DeBrusk also potted in the surprisingly easy Game 1 triumph.

The Bruins were taken to the limit during their seven-game opening-round triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Lightning defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games.

Tampa Bay pushed the pace in the first 10 minutes, but Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask handled the assault by squaring up well against the Lightning's shooters. Rask stopped 34 of 36 shots overall, including five each from defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Ondrej Palat.

The Lightning will try to square the series Monday night at home.

Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule

Sunday, April 29

Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals, 3 p.m., NBC. Pittsburgh leads series 1-0.

Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m., NBCSN. Winnipeg leads series 1-0.

Monday, April 30

Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m., NBCSN. Boston leads series 1-0.

Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m., NBCSN. Series tied 1-1.

All times ET.

Here's a link to the full bracket for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press/Associated Press

The Washington Capitals face a crucial game Sunday against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals led 2-0 in the third period of Game 1 before the Penguins scored three goals in quick succession to take a 3-2 victory in the series opener.

While that was just one game, the Penguins have eliminated the Capitals in each of the previous two playoff seasons. It is vital for Washington to find a way to win Game 2 and even the series before going to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4.

The Penguins could see star center Evgeni Malkin return to the lineup Sunday. He has been out of the team with a lower-body injury since Game 4 of the Pens' first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Malkin practiced Saturday without any issues, although he said he felt a bit winded.

"When you feel something wrong, you always hope it's not going to be bad," Malkin said, per Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "You hope it's small things. But sometimes you need time to recover. I'm trying to do my best. I can't play last [game] but maybe [Sunday]."

The Nashville Predators won the Presidents' Trophy this year and have designs on winning the Stanley Cup after getting to the championship round and falling short last year.

They face a crucial game at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday after dropping the opener to the Winnipeg Jets by a 4-1 margin.

The Preds dominated the puck throughout Game 1 and had a 48-18 advantage in shots on goal. However, Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped Nashville in its tracks and allowed the visitors to steal the victory.

Hellebuyck played well in Winnipeg's five-game triumph over the Minnesota Wild in the opening round and brought his game to a new level against Nashville in Game 1.

"I love the intensity," Hellebuyck said after the victory, per Stats/AP (CBSSports.com). "I love the game in front of me. It's awesome and a little different. Intense is the right way to put it."