NHL Playoffs 2021: TV, Live-Stream Schedule and Stanley Cup Bracket Predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning's quest to repeat as Stanley Cup champion got off to an impressive start as they defeated the Florida Panthers in six games in the first round. And they've since carried over that momentum into the second round.

On Tuesday night, the Lightning defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 for the second consecutive game to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Both of those wins came on the road, and now Tampa Bay heads home to host Games 3 and 4. Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the Central Division, but it could now be in some trouble.

And there's more second-round action to come once all four series have started, with the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens set to face off in a Game 1 matchup on Wednesday.

Here's a look at the full second-round schedule, followed by some predictions for how things will unfold.

Complete 2nd-Round Schedule

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

No. 3 Boston Bruins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
Game 1: Boston won 5-2
Game 2: New York won 4-3 (OT)
Game 3: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 4: Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET, NBC
Game 5: Monday at TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): June 9 at TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): June 11 at TBD

No. 3 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 2: Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network
Game 3: Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 4: Monday at TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): June 9 at TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): June 11 at TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): June 13 at TBD

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1: Tampa Bay won 2-1
Game 2: Tampa Bay won 2-1
Game 3: Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, USA Network
Game 4: Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, USA Network
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday at TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): June 10 at TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): June 12 at TBD

No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1: Colorado won 7-1
Game 2: Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 3: Friday at 10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 4: Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday at TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): June 10 at TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): June 12 at TBD

All games can be streamed live on the NBC Sports app

Lightning Will Go on to Sweep Hurricanes

Karl B DeBlaker/Associated Press

The Lightning are the healthiest they've been all season, and it's showing. Their top players (such as forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos) are on the ice, which has helped them win six of their first eight games this postseason.

However, the primary reason for Tampa Bay's success while taking a 2-0 lead against Carolina has been the play of goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Lightning have scored only four total goals in the series, but that has been enough thanks to the Russian, who has allowed only two goals and recorded 70 saves.

"It does make you sit an inch taller on the bench when you've got him back there," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said, per Aaron Beard of the Associated Press.

With Vasilevskiy on a roll and the Lightning heading home, they're in a great position. In fact, don't be surprised if they go on to sweep the Hurricanes, who are a solid team but won't be able to take back the momentum in the series at this point.

Tampa Bay is going to continue to be dangerous this postseason and will be one of the final four teams standing.

Two Series Will Go the Full 7 Games

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

One of these predictions shouldn't be a surprise, considering what we've seen so far.

The Bruins and Islanders are tied at 1 in their series, after New York bounced back to win 4-3 in overtime in Game 2. These two teams will keep battling it out for a full seven-game series.

But that's also going to be the case for the Avalanche and the Golden Knights, even though Colorado outmatched Vegas at home in Game 1, which it won 7-1. It was an impressive performance for the Avs, but the Golden Knights are capable of better, and that will show throughout the series.

"Playoffs are about having short memories and getting ready for the next one," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said, per Pat Graham of the Associated Press. "The bottom line was we weren’t good enough [in Game 1]. They were very good."

The Golden Knights know a thing or two about the playoffs, considering they've been here in each of the franchise's first four seasons. That experience, plus their talented roster, will prevent this series from becoming one-sided.

However, it will take seven games before either Colorado or Vegas emerges victorious.

Canadiens Will Continue Surprise Run with Another Upset

Peter Power/Associated Press

Few could have predicted that the Canadiens would be here. They had 59 regular-season points (the fewest of any team to reach the postseason) and just held onto the No. 4 seed in the North Division. Then, they fell behind 3-1 in their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But Montreal didn't stop fighting. It won both Games 5 and 6 in overtime, and then it defeated Toronto 3-1 in a Game 7 matchup on the road. Now, the Canadiens have reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and they're ready to make an even deeper run as an underdog.

"We have a lot of pride in that dressing room and definitely want to get more," Montreal forward Phillip Danault said, per NHL.com's Tim Campbell.

The Canadiens are being powered by goaltender Carey Price, who allowed only 16 goals in the seven-game series against the Maple Leafs while recording a .932 save percentage.

Expect the 33-year-old to do an equally strong job of shutting down Winnipeg, which will push Montreal to a series win and make it one of the last four remaining teams this postseason.