The Montreal Bell Center was swung during the final buzzer on Wednesday evening, when the Canadians ended a three -year drought and finalized the support for this season’s qualifying series.
The playoffs will start on Saturday in Winnipeg, with match 1 between the Blues of St. Louis and the Winnipeg jets, announced the NHL.
The opening tour is filled with intriguing matches. The Eastern Conference featured the first “Battle of Ontario” in 21 years, the champion of the Atlantic division Toronto Maple Leafs welcoming the Senators of Ottawa. In another regional rivalry, the Tampa Bay panthers and the Florida panthers compete for the second consecutive year, while the Hurricanes de la Caroline will welcome the Devils of New Jersey for match 1 on Sunday. The last interior Canadians will face the capital of Washington, the best team in the East this season, starting on Monday.
The Western Conference is titled by a heavyweight fight between the Colorado avalanche and the Dallas stars. The stars came out in addition to this match in the second round last season, and now have Mikko Rantanen on their side.
The winning jets of the presidents will welcome the red heated blues – who won 19 of his last 25 games – for match 1 on Saturday. After winning their fourth Pacific division in eight years, the Vegas Golden Knights welcome Minnesota Wild for match 1 on Sunday, while Edmonton’s Oilers and the Kings of Los Angeles compete in the first round for the fourth consecutive season.
Here is the complete calendar of the eight series:
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals against Montreal Canadians
Match 1: Canadians in Capitals, Monday April 21, 7 p.m. HE; ESPN, Sportsnet
Game 2: Canadians in Capitals, Wednesday April 23, 7 p.m. HE; ESPN, Sportsnet, CBC
Match 3: Capitals to Canadians, Friday April 25, 7 p.m. HE; TNT / MAX, SPORTNET, CBC
Game 4: Capitals to Canadians, Sunday April 27, 6.30 p.m.; TBS / Max, Sportsnet, CBC
* Match 5: Canadians in Capitals, Wednesday April 30, TBD
* Game 6: Capitals to Canadians, Friday May 2, TBD
* Match 7: Canadians in Capitals, Sunday May 4, TBD
Carolina Hurricanes against New Jersey Devils
Match 1: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday April 20, 3 p.m. ESPN, Sportsnet
Match 2: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday April 22, 6 p.m. E; ESPN, Sportsnet360
Match 3: Hurricanes in Devils, Friday April 25, 8 p.m. E; TBS / max, sportsnet360
Match 4: Hurricanes in Devils, Sunday April 27, 3:30 p.m.; TBS / Max, Sportsnet
* Match 5: Devils at Hurricanes, Tuesday April 29, TBD
* Match 6: Hurricanes in Devils, Friday May 2, TBD
* Match 7: Devils at Hurricanes, Sunday May 4, TBD
Toronto Maple Leafs VS Ottawa Senators
Match 1: Senators at Maple Leafs, Sunday April 20, 7 p.m. HE; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Game 2: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday April 22, 7:30 p.m.; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Match 3: Maple Leafs to the Senators, Thursday April 24, 7 p.m. HE; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Match 4: Maple Leafs to the Senators, Saturday April 26, 7 p.m. He; TBS / Max, Sportsnet, CBC
* Match 5: Senators at Maple Leafs, Tuesday April 29, TBD
* Game 6: Maple Leafs at Senators, Thursday May 1, TBD
* Match 7: Senators in Maple Leafs, Saturday May 3, TBD
Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
Match 1: Panthers in Lightning, Tuesday April 22, 8:30 p.m.; ESPN, Sportsnet360
Match 2: Panthers at Lightning, Thursday April 24, 6.30 p.m.; TBS / max, sportsnet360
Match 3: Lightning at Panthers, Saturday April 26, 1 p.m.; TBS / Max, Spotsnet
Match 4: Lightning at Panthers, Monday April 28, TBD
* Match 5: Panthers in Lightning, Wednesday April 30, TBD
* Match 6: Lightning at Panthers, Friday May 2, TBD
* Match 7: Panthers in Lightning, Sunday May 4, TBD
Western conference
Winnipeg jets against St. Louis Blues
Match 1: Blues at jets, Saturday April 19, 6 p.m. E; TNT / MAX, SPORTNET, CBC
Match 2: Blues at Jets, Monday April 21, 7:30 p.m.; ESPN2, CBC
Match 3: Jets at Blues, Thursday April 24, 9:30 pm HE; ESPN2, Sportsnet, CBC
Match 4: Jets at Blues, Sunday April 27, 1 p.m. E; TBS / Max, Sportsnet, CBC
* Match 5: Blues at jets, Wednesday April 30, TBD
* Game 6: Blues jets, Friday May 2, TBD
* Match 7: Blues at jets, Sunday May 4, TBD
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Match 1: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday April 19, 8:30 pm HE; TNT / MAX, SPORTNET
Match 2: Avalanche at Stars, Monday April 21, 8:30 pm HE; ESPN, Sportsnet360
Match 3: Stars in Avalanche, Wednesday April 23, 9:30 p.m. HE; ESPN, Sportsnet360
Match 4: Stars in Avalanche, Saturday April 26, 9:30 p.m.; TBS / Max, Sportsnet
* Match 5: Avalanche at Stars, Monday April 28, TBD
* Match 6: Stars in Avalanche, Thursday May 1, TBD
* Match 7: Avalanche at Stars, Saturday May 3, TBD
Vegas Golden Knights against Minnesota Wild
Match 1: Wild at Golden Knights, Sunday April 20, 10 p.m.; ESPN, Sportsnet
Match 2: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday April 22, 11 p.m.; ESPN, Sportsnet
Match 3: Golden Knights in Wild, Thursday April 24, 9 p.m.; TBS / max, sportsnet360
Match 4: Golden Knights in Wild, Saturday April 26, 4 p.m.; TBS / Max, Sportsnet
* Match 5: Wild at Golden Knights, Tuesday April 29, TBD
* Match 6: Golden Knights in Wild, Thursday May 1, TBD
* Match 7: Wild at Golden Knights, Saturday May 3, TBD
Los Angeles Kings against Edmonton Oilers
Match 1: Oilers at Kings, Monday April 21, 10 p.m. HE; ESPN2, Sportsnet
Match 2: Oilers at Kings, Wednesday April 23, 10 p.m. E; TBS / Max, Sportsnet, CBC
Match 3: Kings at Oilers, Friday April 25, 10 p.m. HE; TNT / MAX, SPORTNET, CBC
Match 4: Kings at Oilers, Sunday April 27, 9:30 pm HE; TBS / Max, Sportsnet, CBC
* Match 5: Oilers at Kings, Tuesday April 29, TBD
* Match 6: Kings at Oilers, Thursday May 1, TBD
* Match 7: Oilers at Kings, Saturday May 3, TBD
* If necessary
(Photo by Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa and William Nylander from Toronto: Claus Andersen / Getty Images)
