Today marks the start of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Whether your team made it or not, you can't deny that this is the most exciting hockey around. There're plenty of match-ups with intrigue, vitriol, hatred, and the other things that make playoff rivalries special. If you want to watch every minute of every game, you're going to have to invest in the Center Ice package or GameCenter Live for your computer, though - not all of the games will be on NBC and Versus. You're going to have to watch some local broadcasts as well.
From NHL.com, the complete schedule and broadcast stations:
2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
|
SERIES A |
#1 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#8 |
|
Network |
Wednesday, April 13 |
at Washington, 7:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS (JIP) |
Friday, April 15 |
at Washington, 7:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
Sunday, April 17 |
at New York, 3:00 p.m. |
NBC (HD), TSN |
Wednesday, April 20 |
at New York, 7:00 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
*Saturday, April 23 |
at Washington, 3:00 p.m. |
TSN, NBC (HD) |
*Monday, April 25 |
at New York, TBD |
TSN |
*Wednesday, April 27 |
at Washington, TBD |
TSN |
|
|
|
|
SERIES B |
#2 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#7 |
|
Network |
Thursday, April 14 |
at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS-JIP |
Saturday, April 16 |
at Philadelphia, 5:00 p.m. |
TSN |
Monday, April 18 |
at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
Wednesday, April 20 |
at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
*Friday, April 22 |
at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS (JIP) |
*Sunday, April 24 |
at Buffalo, 3:00 p.m. |
NBC (HD), TSN |
*Tuesday, April 26 |
at Philadelphia, TBD |
TSN |
|
|
|
|
SERIES C |
#3 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#6 |
|
Network |
Thursday, April 14 |
at Boston, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS |
Saturday, April 16 |
at Boston, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS |
Monday, April 18 |
at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD), RDS |
Thursday, April 21 |
at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS |
*Saturday, April 23 |
at Boston, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS |
*Tuesday, April 26 |
at Montreal, TBD |
CBC (HD), RDS |
*Wednesday, April 27 |
at Boston, TBD |
CBC (HD), RDS |
|
|
|
|
SERIES D |
#4 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#5 |
|
Network |
Wednesday, April 13 |
at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD) |
Friday, April 15 |
at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD) |
Monday, April 18 |
at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS (JIP) |
Wednesday, April 20 |
at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD) |
*Saturday, April 23 |
at Pittsburgh, TBD |
CBC (HD), VERSUS (JIP) |
*Monday, April 25 |
at Tampa Bay, TBD |
CBC (HD) |
*Wednesday, April 27 |
at Pittsburgh, TBD |
CBC (HD) |
|
|
|
|
2011 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
|
SERIES E |
#1 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#8 |
|
Network |
Wednesday, April 13 |
at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
Friday, April 15 |
at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
Sunday, April 17 |
at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
Tuesday, April 19 |
at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
*Thursday, April 21 |
at Vancouver, 10:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
*Sunday, April 24 |
at Chicago, 7:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD) |
*Tuesday, April 26 |
at Vancouver, TBD |
CBC (HD) |
|
|
|
|
SERIES F |
#2 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#7 |
|
Network |
Thursday, April 14 |
at San Jose, 10:00 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
Saturday, April 16 |
at San Jose, 10:00 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
Tuesday, April 19 |
at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
Thursday, April 21 |
at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. |
TSN |
*Saturday, April 23 |
at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. |
TSN, VERSUS |
*Monday, April 25 |
at Los Angeles, TBD |
TSN |
*Wednesday, April 27 |
at San Jose, TBD |
TSN |
|
SERIES G |
#3
|
 |
vs. |
 |
#6 |
|
Network |
Wednesday, April 13 |
at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
Saturday, April 16 |
at Detroit, 1:00 p.m. |
NBC (HD), CBC (HD) |
Monday, April 18 |
at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
Wednesday, April 20 |
at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
*Friday, April 22 |
at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. |
CBC (HD), VERSUS |
*Sunday, April 24 |
at Phoenix, TBD |
CBC (HD) |
*Wednesday, April 27 |
at Detroit, TBD |
CBC (HD) |
|
|
|
|
SERIES H |
#4 |
 |
vs. |
 |
#5 |
|
Network |
Wednesday, April 13 |
at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. |
TSN |
Friday, April 15 |
at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. |
TSN |
Sunday, April 17 |
at Nashville, TBD |
TSN |
Wednesday, April 20 |
at Nashville, TBD |
TSN |
*Friday, April 22 |
at Anaheim, 10:00 p.m. |
TSN |
*Sunday, April 24 |
at Nashville, TBD |
TSN |
*Tuesday, April 26 |
at Anaheim, TBD |
TSN |
If you're looking to watch any of the Anaheim/Nashville series, you have to invest in Center Ice. Apparently Anaheim isn't considered a marketable entity for the American broadcasters. Canada, on the flip side, will be watching Shea Weber's every move and will probably be drooling and imagining him on a "real team." Or whatever.
NBC's Sunday games might as well be their regular season schedule, because they include all of the teams that the Sunday broadcasts usually include - except for the Penguins (presumably because they're sans Sid). They'll be showing Washington/New York, Philadelphia/Buffalo and Detroit/Phoenix. Personally, I'm anxious to see if any of NBC's announcers can find Phoenix on a map.