The Stanley Cup Conference finals will begin on Sunday with the Western Conference finals being at 3pm ET on NBC and the Eastern Conference finals kicking off at 7pm ET. The NHL announced the rest of the schedules this afternoon, and yes, there will be differences depending on who wins tonight’s Game 7 between Boston and Philadelphia.
If Boston advances, the schedule breaks down like this:
Western Conference
Sunday, May 16 3:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose NBC, TSN, RDS
Tuesday, May 18 9:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Thursday, May 20 8:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Saturday, May 22 3:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago NBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, May 24 * 9:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 26 * 8:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 29 * TBD Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Eastern Conference
Sunday, May 16 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Boston VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 19 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Boston VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 21 7:00 p.m. Boston at Montreal VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 23 3:00 p.m. Boston at Montreal NBC, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 25 * 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Boston VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Thursday, May 27 * 7:00 p.m. Boston at Montreal VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 29 * TBD Montreal at Boston VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* - if necessary
If Philadelphia completes their incredible comeback tonight, the schedule will go like this:
Western Conference
Sunday, May 16 3:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose NBC, TSN, RDS
Tuesday, May 18 10:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Friday, May 21 8:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Sunday, May 23 3:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago NBC, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 25 * 9:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Thursday, May 27 * 8:00 p.m. San Jose at Chicago VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 29 * 8:00 p.m. Chicago at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Eastern Conference
Sunday, May 16 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 18 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Thursday, May 20 7:00 p.m. Philadelphia at Montreal VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Saturday, May 22 3:00 p.m. Philadelphia at Montreal NBC, CBC, RDS
Monday, May 24 * 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Wednesday, May 26 * 7:00 p.m. Philadelphia at Montreal VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, May 28 * 7:00 p.m. Montreal at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* - if necessary
The differences here are that if Philadelphia advances, we’ll have another two-game night on Tuesday, but if Boston advances, the Eastern Conference finals will get two days off after Game 1. The crazy part here is if either series manages to get to a Game 7, we’re looking at the Stanley Cup finals starting in June. If nothing else, it’s an effective way to help shorten the NHL offseason.
If Boston should advance and both Conference finals end up going seven, it sets up May 29th as a potential hockey overload day with two Game 7s in one day. I don’t like to bust out the hyperbole, but that could prove to be the most amazing and nerve racking day of hockey all year long.