The NHL finally released the first round schedule, so now we know more than just the first games.
The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders will kick off their series at PNC Arena at 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 20 and then Game 2 will follow on Monday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
The series then shifts to New York where Game 3 is slated for Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. and then Game 4 will be on Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m.
And then if necessary, Game 5 will take place in Carolina on Tuesday, April 30, Game 6 will be back in New York on Thursday, May 2 and then finally a Game 7 would be back at PNC Arena on Saturday, May 4.
Times for all those games will be determined as necessary.
Games 1 and 4 will be broadcasted both on team broadcasts as well as TBS while Game 2 and 3 will be on local or ESPN2.
For some reason, rather than just playing every other day, the NHL has elected to elongate the series a bit with three day gaps between Games 2 and 3 and 4 and 5.
"Even when I was a player, and it's a lot different now, but I always thought it was interesting how you'll play 17, 18 games in a month with travel and then the playoffs come and there's no travel and they milk it," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Like we probably could have played four in five nights. Travel once and knock these things out because the guys just want to play and you're not doing too much at practice now.
"I'd love to see us move the games along a little quicker."