NHL playoff schedule

The time has finally come. The 2022 NHL playoffs are ready to get started,. Sixteen teams will compete for the Stanley Cup, eight in the Eastern Conference ...

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The NHL's playoff picture did not get locked in until the final game of the last full night of the schedule ended in dramatic fashion on Friday.

Wednesday, May 4: at Edmonton, 10 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Monday, May 2: at Edmonton, 10 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Monday, May 9: at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Saturday, May 7: at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Thursday, May 5: at Calgary, 10 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Tuesday, May 3: at Calgary, 10 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Monday, May 9: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Saturday, May 7: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Thursday, May 5: at New York, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Tuesday, May 3: at New York, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC) Monday, May 2: at Carolina, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet 360) Monday, May 2: at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet/CBC)

There are plenty of rooting options for casual fans when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Maple Leafs star finished the regular season with 106 points (60 goals and 46 assists) and had the most goals in a single season in team history. If you enjoy rooting for the top player in the sport, the Edmonton Oilers are for you. Over the past five seasons, the Maple Leafs have been eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flames have reached the Stanley Cup Final three times in team history and won it during the 1988-89 season. If you're looking to root for a favorite and the Panthers aren't doing it for you, the Avalanche are another option. In three of those five campaigns, the Maple Leafs had stellar regular seasons in which they recorded at least 95 points. Florida also has a marquee veteran player chasing his first Stanley Cup title in winger Claude Giroux. Giroux had spent the first 15 years of his professional career with the Philadelphia Flyers and only reached the Stanley Cup Final on one occasion in 2010. Both teams possess two of the more polarizing players during the 2021-22 season. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs (1947-49, 1962-64), Montreal Canadiens (1956-60, 1976-79), and New York Islanders (1980-83) have won at least three consecutive Stanley Cup championships. In fact, the Avalanche were neck-in-neck with the Panthers for the Presidents' Trophy in the final days of the regular season. The Avalanche were a standard bearer for the NHL in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Stanley Cup playoffs are among the most exciting in sports where anything can happen.

The Florida Panthers had a magical regular season, finishing with the best record in the NHL for the first time in franchise history.

The Lightning are coming off back-to-back Stanley Cups and are aiming for their third straight title. That said, it'll be difficult for the team to beat Bobrovsky and the Panthers if they can't get the offense rolling. Florida's defense had also been surprisingly impressive despite losing Aaron Ekblad to injury. Moving on to Nashville, the Predators barely clinched a playoff berth. A big difference for the Avalanche this season was the addition of Darcy Kuemper in goal. However, Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog are Colorado's heavy-hitters in the scoring department, each having scored at least 30 goals this season. However, Mike Smith also played well and could step in if needed. The Oilers have been paced offensively by McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman this season. The first round begins on Monday, May 2. Game 3: Saturday, May 7 at 7 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 4: Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 1: Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 21: The Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set. The NHL unveiled schedules ...

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (M1) vs. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set.

The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are here and the first-round schedule has been announced. You can watch all of the Canadian teams in action live on CBC TV or ...

Game 4: Flames @ Stars — Monday, May 9 (9:30 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 3: Flames @ Stars — Saturday, May 7 (9:30 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 2: Stars @ Flames — Thursday, May 5 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 1: Stars @ Flames — Tuesday, May 3 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 4: Oilers @ Kings — Sunday, May 8 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 3: Oilers @ Kings — Friday, May 6 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 2: Kings @ Oilers — Wednesday, May 4 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 1: Kings @ Oilers — Monday, May 2 (10 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 4: Rangers @ Penguins — Monday, May 9 (8 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 3: Rangers @ Penguins — Saturday, May 7 (8 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 2: Penguins @ Rangers— Thursday, May 5 (8 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca) Game 1: Penguins @ Rangers — Tuesday, May 3 (8 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca)