The NHL playoff schedule is out and the grueling battle for the Stanley Cup begins Wednesday.
The Tampa Bay Lightning clinched second place in the Atlantic, giving them the home-ice edge in a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens that gets under way on Wednesday. Every Canadiens playoff game can be heard live on TSN Radio 690 Montreal or at TSN.ca/Montreal.
The NHL on TSN's coverage begins Wednesday at 9:30pm et/6:30pm pt, as the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks face the Dallas Stars, who are back in the postseason for the first time since 2008 after securing the West's second wild-card spot.
TSN's other featured matchups for the first round include the Central Division-leading Colorado Avalanche taking on the Minnesota Wild, the Atlantic Division champion Boston Bruins facing the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers taking on the Philadelphia Flyers.
Joining the NHL on TSN as a guest analyst for the first round is Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo. The two-time Olympic gold medallist will be in the TSN Studio to provide his insight and analysis during the opening round.
The following is the postseason schedule for Round 1, as released by the league on Sunday:
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES A - Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Friday, April 18 - 7:30pm: Detroit at Boston (NBCSN, TSN)
Sunday, April 20 - 3pm: Detroit at Boston (NBC, TSN)
Tuesday, April 22 - 7:30pm: Boston at Detroit (NBCSN, TSN)
Thursday, April 24 - 8pm: Boston at Detroit (NBCSN, TSN)
*Saturday, April 26 - 3pm: Detroit at Boston (NBC, TSN)
*Monday, April 28 - TBD: Boston at Detroit (TSN)
*Wednesday, April 30 - TBD: Detroit at Boston (TSN)
SERIES B - Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 - 7pm: Montreal at Tampa Bay (CBC, RDS, CNBC)
Friday, April 18 - 7pm: Montreal at Tampa Bay (CBC, RDS, CNBC)
Sunday, April 20 - 7pm: Tampa Bay at Montreal (CBC, RDS, NBCSN)
Tuesday, April 22 - 7pm: Tampa Bay at Montreal (CBC, RDS, NHLN U.S.)
*Thursday, April 24 - 7pm: Montreal at Tampa Bay (CBC, RDS, CNBC)
*Sunday, April 27 - TBD: Tampa Bay at Montreal (CBC, RDS, NBCSN)
Tuesday, April 29 - TBD: Montreal at Tampa Bay (CBC, RDS)
SERIES C - Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 - 7:30pm: Columbus at Pittsburgh (NBCSN, CBC)
Saturday, April 19 - 7pm: Columbus at Pittsburgh (NBCSN, CBC)
Monday, April 21 - 7pm: Pittsburgh at Columbus (NBCSN, CBC)
Wednesday, April 23 - 7pm: Pittsburgh at Columbus (NBCSN, CBC)
*Saturday, April 26 - TBD: Columbus at Pittsburgh (CBC)
*Monday, April 28 - TBD: Pittsburgh at Columbus (CBC)
*Wednesday, April 30 - TBD: Columbus at Pittsburgh (CBC)
SERIES D - New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 - 7pm: Philadelphia at NY Rangers (CNBC, TSN)
Sunday, April 20 - Noon Philadelphia at NY Rangers (NBC, TSN)
Tuesday, April 22 - 8pm: NY Rangers at Philadelphia (NBC, TSN)
Friday, April 25 - 7pm: NY Rangers at Philadelphia (CNBC, TSN)
*Sunday, April 27 - Noon Philadelphia at NY Rangers (NBC, TSN)
*Tuesday, April 29 - TBD: NY Rangers at Philadelphia (TSN)
*Wednesday, April 30 - TBD: Philadelphia at NY Rangers (TSN)
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
SERIES E - Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 - 9:30pm: Minnesota at Colorado (CNBC, TSN)
Saturday, April 19 - 9:30pm: Minnesota at Colorado (NBCSN, TSN)
Monday, April 21 - 8pm: Colorado at Minnesota (NHLN U.S., (TSN)
Thursday, April 24 - 9:30pm: Colorado at Minnesota (CNBC, TSN2)
*Saturday, April 26 - TBD: Minnesota at Colorado (TSN)
*Monday, April 28 - TBD: Colorado at Minnesota (TSN)
*Wednesday, April 30 - TBD: Minnesota at Colorado (TSN)
SERIES F - St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 - 8pm: Chicago at St. Louis (NBCSN, CBC)
Saturday, April 19 - 3pm: Chicago at St. Louis (NBC, CBC)
Monday, April 21 - 8:30pm: St. Louis at Chicago (CNBC, CBC)
Wednesday, April 23 - 9:30pm: St. Louis at Chicago (NBCSN, CBC)
*Friday, April 25 - 8pm: Chicago at St. Louis (NBCSN, CBC)
*Sunday, April 27 - 3pm: St. Louis at Chicago (NBC, CBC)
*Tuesday, April 29 - TBD: Chicago at St. Louis (CBC)
SERIES G - Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Wednesday, April 16 - 10pm: Dallas at Anaheim (NBCSN, TSN)
Friday, April 18 - 10pm: Dallas at Anaheim (NBCSN, TSN)
Monday, April 21 - 9:30pm: Anaheim at Dallas (NBCSN, TSN)
Wednesday, April 23 - 8pm: Anaheim at Dallas (CNBC, TSN)
*Friday, April 25 - 10:30pm: Dallas at Anaheim (NBCSN, TSN)
*Sunday, April 27 - TBD: Anaheim at Dallas (TSN)
*Tuesday, April 29 - TBD: Dallas at Anaheim (TSN)
SERIES H - San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
TIME (ET), NETWORKS
Thursday, April 17 - 10:30pm: Los Angeles at San Jose (NBCSN, CBC)
Sunday, April 20 - 10pm: Los Angeles at San Jose (NBCSN, CBC)
Tuesday, April 22 - 10pm: San Jose at Los Angeles (NBCSN, CBC)
Thursday, April 24 - 10:30pm: San Jose at Los Angeles (NBCSN, CBC)
*Saturday, April 26 - TBD: Los Angeles at San Jose (NBCSN, CBC)
*Monday, April 28 - TBD: San Jose at Los Angeles (CBC)
*Wednesday, April 30 - TBD: Los Angeles at San Jose (CBC)
