NHL Playoff Bracket 2019: Updated Dates, TV Schedule and Projections

The Boston Bruins are nearing a trip to the Stanley Cup Final, but they'll have to continue playing well against the Carolina Hurricanes to make it.

The Bruins won the first two games of the Eastern Conference Final at home. However, the Hurricanes are 5-0 at home this postseason, and they'll host Game 3 takes place Tuesday night.

As for the Western Conference Final, the series is tied after the first two games between the San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues.

Conference Finals Schedule

*If necessary. All times ET.

Tuesday, May 14

Game 3: Boston at Carolina, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Wednesday, May 15

Game 3: San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Thursday, May 16

Game 4: Boston at Carolina, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Friday, May 17

Game 4: San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Saturday, May 18

Game 5: Carolina at Boston, 7:15 p.m., NBC*

Sunday, May 19

Game 5: St. Louis at San Jose, 3 p.m., NBC

Monday, May 20

Game 6: Boston at Carolina, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network*

Tuesday, May 21

Game 6: San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network*

Wednesday, May 22

Game 7: Carolina at Boston, 8 p.m., NBC Sports Network*

Thursday, May 23

Game 7: St. Louis at San Jose, 9 p.m., NBC Sports Network*

Projections

Bruins Take Care of Business in 5 Games

The Hurricanes have been one of the surprise teams of the postseason, and they're looking to home ice and take back some momentum with a Game 3 win. However, don't expect that to faze the Bruins.

Boston is the better team in this series and arguably the best remaining team in the playoffs. So, although Carolina won't get swept, the Bruins will go on to win in five games.

According to NHL.com's Matt Kalman, since the conference format was adopted for the 1981-82 season, teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in the conference finals have won 30 out of 32 times. With those odds and the early success they've had, the Bruins will follow the same formula to take down the Hurricanes.

"I think for us, it's just about playing as much offense as we can and having the puck in their end, having the puck on our sticks, skating with it," Bruins center Sean Kuraly. "And when we have it and we're trying to push the pace and be aggressive, it's tough for them to get much going."

Blues Win Long Series over Sharks

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Both of these teams have only played long series this postseason. So why should this one be any different?

The Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets in six games and the Dallas Stars in seven, while the Sharks won seven-game series against both the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. These are two resilient Western Conference teams that are going to push each other to the limit.

After dropping Game 1, St. Louis continued its road success, improving to 6-2 in away games this postseason by winning Game 2 in San Jose.

"We had a good start, we were disciplined. When they tied it up, we stayed composed," Blues goalie Jordan Binnington said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "That's really important, this time of year especially. We enjoyed the moment and competed hard until the end."

Binnington has had a strong postseason, and the Blues have had a balanced scoring attack. Those factors will be the difference that leads them to a series win and their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1970.