The National Hockey League has officially released its full Stanley Cup Playoff schedule for the first round. With final Western Conference standing points tabulated, all matchups have been set with start times determined.
The Winnipeg Jets will begin the opening round with a game every second day in the first four dates of their best-of-seven series with the No. 1 seed Vegas Golden Knights.
With Vegas holding home ice advantage through the Western Conference Final, the Jets will open the postseason on the road.
As a Central Division, Western Conference wild card club, Winnipeg has also drawn the short end of the stick in terms of game start times. Between 3:00 PM weekend afternoons and 9:00 PM week nights, both fans and players alike will need to adapt schedules in order to best prepare themselves for the opening four games.
Start times have not yet been determined for Games 5, 6 and 7, should they be required. But with the NHL continuing to follow its 2-2-1-1-1 hosting schedule, Games 5 and 7 would be played from T-Mobile Arena in Vegas, while a possible Game 6 would be held at Canada Life Centre from downtown Winnipeg.
The full schedule will see Winnipeg and Vegas facing off immediately following the conclusion of the coinciding Toronto/Tampa Bay series in Games 1, 2 and 4, while the Jets and Golden Knights will play before the Leafs and Lightning next Saturday for Game 3.
The full Round 1 schedule is as follows:
