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Sixteen teams begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Wednesday as the NHL playoffs begin.
Will Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins become the first team since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 to win back-to-back Stanley Cups? Will the Washington Capitals push past their postseason troubles of recent years? Will the Chicago Blackhawks solidify their dynasty with a fourth Cup in eight years?
The action begins tonight with five first-round games. The Boston Bruins visit the Ottawa Senators, while the Montreal Canadiens host the New York Rangers at 7 p.m. ET. The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins also open their postseason on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Edmonton Oilers will make their first postseason appearance in 10 seasons when they face the San Jose Sharks at 10 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Wild will face-off against the St. Louis Blues on home ice at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Here is the complete first-round schedule:
Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens (A1) vs. New York Rangers (WC1)
Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET: Rangers @ Canadiens | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET: Rangers @ Canadiens | CBC, TVA Sports, USA
Sunday, April 16, 7 p.m. ET: Canadiens @ Rangers | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m. ET: Canadiens @ Rangers | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Rangers @ Canadiens | TBD
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Canadiens @ Rangers | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Rangers @ Canadiens | TBD
Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. Boston Bruins (A3)
Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m. ET: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NHL Network
Saturday, April 15, 3 p.m. ET: Bruins @ Senators | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBC
Monday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET: Senators @ Bruins | CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wednesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. ET: Senators @ Bruins | USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Senators @ Bruins | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Bruins @ Senators | TBD
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (WC2)
Thursday, April 13, 7 p.m. ET: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | USA, CBC, TVA Sports
Saturday, April 15, 7 p.m. ET: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 7 p.m. ET: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Wednesday, April 19, 7 p.m. ET: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Capitals @ Maple Leafs | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Maple Leafs @ Capitals | TBD
Pittsburgh Penguins (M2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (M3)
Wednesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. ET: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | USA, SN 360, TVA Sports
Friday, April 14, 7 p.m. ET: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | NHL Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Sunday, April 16, 6 p.m. ET: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | CNBC, SN 360, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. ET: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | CNBC, SN 360, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Penguins @ Blue Jackets | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Blue Jackets @ Penguins | TBD
Western Conference
Chicago Blackhawks (C1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC2)
Thursday, April 13, 8 p.m. ET: Predators @ Blackhawks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Saturday, April 15, 8 p.m. ET: Predators @ Blackhawks | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 9:30 p.m.: Blackhawks @ Predators | CNBC, SN ONE, TVA Sports
Thursday, April 20, TBD: Blackhawks @ Predators | SN 360, TVA Sports
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Predators @ Blackhawks | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Blackhawks @ Predators | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Predators @ Blackhawks | TBD
Minnesota Wild (C2) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3)
Wednesday, April 12, 9:30 p.m. ET: Blues @ Wild | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports
Friday, April 14, 8 p.m. ET: Blues @ Wild | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports
Sunday, April 16, 3 p.m. ET: Wild @ Blues | NBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Wednesday, April 19, 9:30 p.m. ET: Wild @ Blues | NBCSN, SN 360, TVA Sports
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Blues @ Wild | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Wild @ Blues | TBD
*Wednesday, April 26, TBD: Blues @ Wild | TBD
Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Calgary Flames (WC1)
Thursday, April 13, 10:30 p.m. ET: Flames @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Saturday, April 15, 10:30 p.m. ET: Flames @ Ducks | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Monday, April 17, 10 p.m. ET: Ducks @ Flames | CBC, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Wednesday, April 19, 10 p.m. ET: Ducks @ Flames | CBC, TVA Sports, USA
*Friday, April 21, TBD: Flames @ Ducks | TBD
*Sunday, April 23, TBD: Ducks @ Flames | TBD
*Tuesday, April 25, TBD: Flames @ Ducks | TBD
Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)
Wednesday, April 12, 10 p.m. ET: Sharks @ Oilers | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, USA
Friday, April 14, 10:30 p.m. ET: Sharks @ Oilers | Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBCSN
Sunday, April 16, 10 p.m. ET: Oilers @ Sharks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Tuesday, April 18, 10 p.m. ET: Oilers @ Sharks | NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
*Thursday, April 20, TBD: Sharks @ Oilers | TBD
*Saturday, April 22, TBD: Oilers @ Sharks | TBD
*Monday, April 24, TBD: Sharks @ Oilers | TBD
