NHL playoffs 2021: How Flyers fans can watch the first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Playoff hockey is here, as the Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins kick off the first round of the 2021 NHL playoffs this Saturday, May 15. In a little less conventional fashion, this year’s playoffs feature 16 teams split among the four divisions -- East, Central, North and West.
The top four teams from each division made the playoffs, and the first round will be the No. 1 seeds playing the No. 4 seeds, and No. 2 playing No. 3. The winner of those two series will play for a chance to advance to the semifinals, with one team from each division competing for the opportunity to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.
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Here is the schedule for the first round of the 2021 NHL playoffs.
East
No. 4 New York Islanders vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins -- livestream for the series
Philadelphia Flyers
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Sunday, May 16: Islanders at Penguins, 12 p.m. ET (NBC)
Tuesday, May 18: Islanders at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Thursday, May 20: Penguins at Islanders, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Saturday, May 22: Penguins at Islanders, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)
*Monday, May 24: Islanders at Penguins TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Penguins at Islanders TBD
*Friday, May 28: Islanders at Penguins TBD
No. 3 Boston Bruins vs. No. 2 Washington Capitals -- livestream for the series
Saturday, May 15: Bruins at Capitals, 7:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, May 17: Bruins at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Wednesday, May 19: Capitals at Bruins, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Friday, May 21: Capitals at Bruins, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
*Sunday, May 23: Bruins at Capitals TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: Capitals at Bruins TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Bruins at Capitals TBD
Central
No. 4 Nashville Predators vs. No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes -- livestream for the series
Monday, May 17: Predators at Hurricanes, 8 p.m. ET (CNBC)
Wednesday, May 19: Predators at Hurricanes, 8 p.m. ET (CNBC)
Friday, May 21: Hurricanes at Predators, 7 p.m. ET (USA Network)
Sunday, May 23: Hurricanes at Predators TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: Predators at Hurricanes TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Hurricanes at Predators TBD
*Saturday, May 29: Predators at Hurricanes TBD
No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 2 Florida Panthers -- livestream for the series
Sunday, May 16: Lightning at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Tuesday, May 18: Lightning at Panthers, 8 p.m. ET (CNBC)
Thursday, May 20: Panthers at Lightning, 6:30 p.m. ET (USA Network)
Saturday, May 22: Panthers at Lightning, 12:30 p.m. ET (CNBC)
*Monday, May 24: Lightning at Panthers TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Panthers at Lightning TBD
*Friday, May 28: Lightning at Panthers TBD
North
No. 4 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs -- livestream for the series
Thursday, May 20: Canadiens at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
Saturday, May 22: Canadiens at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET (CNBC)
Monday, May 24: Maple Leafs at Canadiens TBD
Tuesday, May 25: Maple Leafs at Canadiens TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Canadiens at Maple Leafs TBD
*Saturday, May 29: Maple Leafs at Canadiens TBD
*Monday, May 31: Canadiens at Maple Leafs TBD
No. 3 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 2 Edmonton Oilers -- livestream for the series
Wednesday, May 19: Jets at Oilers, 9 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Friday, May 21: Jets at Oilers, 9 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Sunday, May 23: Oilers at Jets TBD
Monday, May 24: Oilers at Jets TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Jets at Oilers TBD
*Friday, May 28: Oilers at Jets TBD
*Sunday, May 30: Jets at Oilers TBD
West
No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 1 Colorado Avalanche -- livestream for the series
Monday, May 17: Blues at Avalanche, 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Wednesday, May 19: Blues at Avalanche, 10:30 p.m. ET (CNBC)
Friday, May 21: Avalanche at Blues, 9:30 p.m. ET (USA Network)
Sunday, May 23: Avalanche at Blues TBD
*Tuesday, May 25: Blues at Avalanche TBD
*Thursday, May 27: Avalanche at Blues TBD
*Saturday, May 29: Blues at Avalanche TBD
No. 3 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 2 Vegas Golden Knights -- livestream for the series
Sunday, May 16: Wild at Golden Knights, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)
Tuesday, May 18: Wild at Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Thursday, May 20: Golden Knights at Wild, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
Saturday, May 22: Golden Knights at Wild, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)
*Monday, May 24: Wild at Golden Knights TBD
*Wednesday, May 26: Golden Knights at Wild TBD
*Friday, May 28: Wild at Golden Knights TBD
Bryan Murphy contributed to this story.
