A quick look at what games will be on what channels in tonight’s Stanley Cup playoff action …
Lightning at Canadiens, 6:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN
In a strange twist, some believe that Nikita Kucherov was robbed on a goal that didn’t count ... and then the Montreal Canadiens may have been robbed on the Kucherov double-OT winner that did count. Michel Therrien & Co. weren’t happy with what appeared to be an offside violation on that clincher, but the bottom line is that the tired Tampa Bay Lightning managed to take a 1-0 series lead on Friday. The Habs now face a lot of pressure to even this series before in shifts to Tampa Bay. That’s a tall task, especially since some get the impression that Steven Stamkos has to break free at some point. Preview action starts at 5 p.m. ET for this one.
Wild at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
The Chicago Blackhawks managed to win Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild, but not without blowing a three-goal lead. With those stumbles, it’s more than fair to wonder if Chicago may have to outscore its problems through these playoffs. Considering the run Devan Dubnyk had in the regular season and during parts of the postseason, that might not be a simple task for the ‘Hawks. Many believe that this could be a long and challenging series for both sides; Minnesota could heighten those odds by stealing home-ice advantage with a Game 2 win.
Flames at Ducks, 10:00 p.m. ET on CNBC
Let’s be honest: the Anaheim Ducks outright pulverized the Calgary Flames in Game 1. Anaheim got pretty lucky in wrapping up the Winnipeg Jets in four games - they led Calgary more on Thursday than the combined times they managed leads against Winnipeg in that difficult sweep - but this could be a very advantageous situation for the Ducks. Imagine, for a moment, if the Ducks can dispatch the Flames quickly while Chicago and Minnesota duke it out in a marathon series. That could be the sort of edge Anaheim needs for a deep playoff run, yet it’s of course true that Game 1 was just one game. The early indication is that Calgary will have the likes of Jiri Hudler back despite injury scares tonight, so there’s a good chance that the Flames will give Anaheim their best shot. It should be fascinating to see if Calgary can once again beat the odds and tie this series up. Preview fun begins at 9 p.m. ET.