It's time for the second season to begin, or as some prefer calling it, "the real season." It's going to be tough, long, and drawn out, but there's not a single series that doesn't prove to be exciting in some way, shape, or form.
| SERIES A | TIME (ET) |
#1  VS.  #8
|
NETWORKS |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 | 7 P.M. | OTTAWA AT NY RANGERS | NHL NETWORK, CBC |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012 | 7 P.M. | OTTAWA AT NY RANGERS | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | NY RANGERS AT OTTAWA | CBC, CNBC |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | NY RANGERS AT OTTAWA | CBC, CNBC |
| *SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 | 7 P.M. | OTTAWA AT NY RANGERS | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| *MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 | TBD | NY RANGERS AT OTTAWA | TBD |
| *THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 | TBD | OTTAWA AT NY RANGERS | TBD |
Make no mistake about this one, this series has the potential to go down to the wire. Sure, you have Henrik Lundqvist, but you also have to remember that the Rangers were 1-2-1 in the regular season schedule and were outscored 13-8. Write Ottawa off at your own risk.
| SERIES B | TIME (ET) |
#2  VS.  #7
|
NETWORKS |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT BOSTON | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012 | 3 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT BOSTON | NBC, CBC |
| MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | BOSTON AT WASHINGTON | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | BOSTON AT WASHINGTON | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| *SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 | 3 P.M. | WASHINGTON AT BOSTON | NBC, CBC |
| *SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | TBD | BOSTON AT WASHINGTON | TBD |
| *WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 | TBD | WASHINGTON AT BOSTON | TBD |
There was some worry that the Washington Capitals weren't even going to make the playoffs this season; their 7th overall finish is both unfamiliar territory and a bit of a relief for their fans. The Bruins have had hiccups through the season, but they're still the defending Stanley Cup Champions. That means they have something to fight for. Also, Braden Holtby is probably Washington's starter, so draw your own conclusions
| SERIES C | TIME (ET) |
#3  VS.  #6
|
NETWORKS |
| FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 | 7 P.M. | NEW JERSEY AT FLORIDA | NHL NETWORK, TSN |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | NEW JERSEY AT FLORIDA | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 | 7 P.M. | FLORIDA AT NEW JERSEY | NHL NETWORK, TSN |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 | 7 P.M. | FLORIDA AT NEW JERSEY | NHL NETWORK, TSN |
| *SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 | 6:30 P.M. | NEW JERSEY AT FLORIDA | NHL NETWORK, TSN |
| *TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 | TBD | FLORIDA AT NEW JERSEY | TBD |
| *THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 | TBD | NEW JERSEY AT FLORIDA | TBD |
The Florida Panthers are not only back in the playoffs for the first time since 2000, they've won their first Southeast Division banner in the process. Unfortunately, winning the Southeast Division isn't exactly tough work, and the Panthers made it harder than they needed to. Their -24 goal differential is atrocious (the only other playoff team in either conference to have a negative goal differential is Washington at a -8) and their 94 points wouldn't've made the playoffs in the Western Conference.
| SERIES D | TIME (ET) |
#4  VS.  #5
|
NETWORKS |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | PHILADELPHIA AT PITTSBURGH | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | PHILADELPHIA AT PITTSBURGH | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 | 3 P.M. | PITTSBURGH AT PHILADELPHIA | NBC, TSN |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | PITTSBURGH AT PHILADELPHIA | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| *FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | PHILADELPHIA AT PITTSBURGH | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| *SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | TBD | PITTSBURGH AT PHILADELPHIA | TBD |
| *TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 | TBD | PHILADELPHIA AT PITTSBURGH | TBD |
This Keystone State matchup is probably the most anticipated and most hatred-filled matchup in either conference. Evgeny Malkin. Claude Giroux. Sidney Crosby. Scott Hartnell. Kris Letang. Jaromir Jagr. You want star power? You want teams that really, really, REALLY hate each other in every possible way? Well, here you go. Playoff perfection.
| SERIES E | TIME (ET) |
#1  VS.  #8
|
NETWORKS |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 | 10:30 P.M. | LOS ANGELES AT VANCOUVER | CBC, NBC SPORTS NETWORK |
| FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 | 10 P.M. | LOS ANGELES AT VANCOUVER | CBC, NBC SPORTS NETWORK |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 | 10:30 P.M. | VANCOUVER AT LOS ANGELES | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 | 10 P.M. | VANCOUVER AT LOS ANGELES | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| *SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | TBD | LOS ANGELES AT VANCOUVER | TBD |
| *TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 | TBD | VANCOUVER AT LOS ANGELES | TBD |
| *THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 | TBD | LOS ANGELES AT VANCOUVER | TBD |
If you like goaltending, this is the series for you. Roberto Luongo's solid, and Jonathan Quick's the league leader in shutouts at 10. Also, the Kings have lost more games 1-0 than any team in the NHL, so if you're all about scoring you might want to flip on a different series.
| SERIES G | TIME (ET) |
#3  VS.  #6
|
NETWORKS |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012 | 10 P.M. | CHICAGO AT PHOENIX | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012 | 10 P.M. | CHICAGO AT PHOENIX | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 | 9 P.M. | PHOENIX AT CHICAGO | CNBC, TSN |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 | 8 P.M. | PHOENIX AT CHICAGO | CNBC, TSN |
| *SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 | 10 P.M. | CHICAGO AT PHOENIX | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, TSN |
| *MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 | TBD | PHOENIX AT CHICAGO | TBD |
| *WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 | TBD | CHICAGO AT PHOENIX | TBD |
So what if the Chicago Blackhawks have more points than the Phoenix Coyotes? They managed to go through a stretch where it looked like they could drop out of playoff contention, and a decent chunk of these problems can be attributed to a slightly uneven goaltending duo. Phoenix has Mike Smith, who has allowed two goals over his last five games. I would consider that an edge.
| SERIES H | TIME (ET) |
#4  VS.  #5
|
NETWORKS |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 | 8 P.M. | DETROIT AT NASHVILLE | CNBC, CBC |
| FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | DETROIT AT NASHVILLE | CNBC, CBC |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2012 | NOON | NASHVILLE AT DETROIT | NBC, CBC |
| TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 | 7:30 P.M. | NASHVILLE AT DETROIT | NBC SPORTS NETWORK, CBC |
| *FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 | 8 P.M. | DETROIT AT NASHVILLE | CNBC, CBC |
| *SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012 | TBD | NASHVILLE AT DETROIT | TBD |
| *TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012 | TBD | DETROIT AT NASHVILLE | TBD |
For the first time since the Bush administration (the first one), the Red Wings don't have home ice advantage. That might not help them, as despite the fact that they've defeated the Predators every time they've played them in the playoffs, they've had soem rough games against them at the loud Bridgestone Arena. Home ice advantage could very well help the Preds immensely.