2014 NHL Playoffs First Round TV Schedule

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us. Round one begins this Wednesday night. For the third consecutive year CNBC, NBCSN, NBC, and NHL Network will carry every game to a national US audience while TSN and CBC do the same for the Canadian audience. 

The NHL Playoffs has a new format this year. Gone are the traditional 1-8 seeds. Instead you have 4 regions of 1-4 seeds. Here's a brief explanation on the new playoff format from Bleacher Report. 

"The NHL first-round playoff matchups based on the current NHL standings. The top three teams in each division earn berths in the playoffs. The next two teams in terms of total points in the conference, regardless of division, earn the wild card spots. This gives a total of eight teams from each conference. 

The top seed in each division plays one of the wild-card teams in its conference. The division leader with the most points plays the wild-card team with the least points. The second and third seeds in each division face each other in the first round."

Here is your first round schedule. Announcing assignments will be posted when they become available. For Canadian viewers, all games will be on the network listed by the announcers, unless noted otherwise.

A quick reminder for US viewers. Regional broadcasters will carry the first round games. If you are in one of those regions, you can only watch the regional broadcast of those games.

Colorado- Altitude

Minnesota- FS North & FS Wisconsin (some regions on Plus, between Wild & Twins)

St. Louis- FS Midwest (some regions on Plus, between Blues & Cardinals)

Chicago-  Comcast Chicago

Anaheim- None currently listed. Could air on KCOP or FS Prime.

Dallas- FS Southwest/FS Southwest+, KTXA (Game 3 on KTXA. Others currently on FS Southwest with games starting on Plus and moving to main station when Rangers finish.)

San Jose- Comcast California (currently Game 1)

Los Angeles- FS West (currently Games 1 & 2)

Boston- NESN (if Red Sox game at same time, will be on Plus)

Detroit- FS Detroit

Tampa Bay- Games 1, 3, 5, & 6 on SUN. Games 2, 4, & 7 on FS Florida.

Pittsburgh- ROOT Pittsburgh

Columbus-FS Ohio (some regions on Plus, between Blue Jackets & Reds)

NY Rangers- MSG

Philadelphia- Comcast Philadelphia

WESTERN CONFERENCE
 C1) Colorado Avalanche vs. W1) Minnesota Wild  
NBC Networks- Flexible, see below

Game 1: Thursday, April 17- 9:30 PM- at Colorado (CNBC, TSN) John Forslund, Tripp Tracy

  Game 2: Saturday, April 19- 9:30 PM- at Colorado (NBCSN) John Forslund, Tripp Tracy
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Mike Johnson, Farhan Lalji 

Game 3: Monday, April 21- 7 PM- at Minnesota (NHL, TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro, Farhan Lalji

Game 4: Thursday, April 24- 9:30 PM- at Minnesota (CNBC) John Forslund, Tripp Tracy
(TSN2) Chris Cuthbert, Ray Ferraro, Farhan Lalji

Game 5: Saturday, April 26- 9:30 PM- at Colorado (NBCSN) John Forslund, Tripp Tracy
(TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro, Farhan Lalji 

Game 6: Monday, April 28- 9 PM- at Minnesota (CNBC, TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Ray Ferraro, Farhan Lalji

Game 7: Wednesday, April 30- 9:30 PM- at Colorado (CNBC) John Forslund, Daryl Reaugh
(TSN2) Chris Cuthbert, Ray Ferraro, Farhan lalji

 C2) St. Louis Blues vs. C3) Chicago Blackhawks 
CBC Announcers- Dean Brown, Greg Millen
NBC Networks- Dave Strader, Brian Engblom, Eddie Olczyk (NBC games)

Game 1: Thursday, April 17- 8 PM- at St. Louis (NBCSN) 

Game 2: Saturday, April 19- 3 PM- at St. Louis (NBC) 

Game 3: Monday, April 21- 8:30 PM- at Chicago (CNBC) 

Game 4: Wednesday, April 23- 9:30 PM- at Chicago (NBCSN)

Game 5: Friday, April 25- 8 PM- at St. Louis (NBCSN)

Game 6: Sunday, April 27- 3 PM- at Chicago (NBC) Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire

 P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. W2) Dallas Stars  
NBC Networks- Flexible, see below

Game 1: Wednesday, April 16- 10 PM- at Anaheim (NBCSN)John Walton, Butch Goring
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Mike Johnson 

Game 2: Friday, April 18- 10 PM- at Anaheim (NBCSN)John Walton, Butch Goring
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Mike Johnson

Game 3: Monday, April 21- 9:30 PM- at Dallas (NBCSN, TSN) John Forslund, Joe Micheletti

Game 4: Wednesday, April 23- 8 PM- at Dallas (CNBC) Gord Miller, Joe Micheletti
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Mike Johnson

Game 5: Friday, April 25- 10:30 PM- at Anaheim (NBCSN) John Walton, Butch Goring
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Mike Johnson

Game 6: Sunday, April 27- 8 PM- at Dallas (NBCSN) Gord Miller, Joe Micheletti
(TSN) Chris Cuthert, Mike Johnson


 P2) San Jose Sharks vs. P3) Los Angeles Kings 
CBC Announcers- Mark Lee, Kelly Hrudey, Scott Oake
NBC Networks- Randy Hahn, Drew Remenda (Comcast Bay Area simulcast)

Game 1: Thursday, April 17- 10:30 PM- at San Jose (NHL)

Game 2: Sunday, April 20- 10 PM- at San Jose (NBCSN)

Game 3: Tuesday, April 22- 10 PM- at Los Angeles (NBCSN)

Game 4: Thursday, April 24- 10:30 PM- at Los Angeles (NBCSN)

Game 5: Saturday, April 26- 10 PM- at San Jose (CNBC)

Game 6: Monday, April 28- 10 PM- at Los Angeles (NBCSN)

Game 7: Wednesday, April 30- 10 PM- at San Jose (NBCSN) Dave Strader, Brian Engblom

EASTERN CONFERENCE
 A1) Boston Bruins vs. W2) Detroit Red Wings  
NBC Networks- Mike Emrick, Pierre McGuire, Eddie Olczyk (NBC games)

Game 1: Friday, April 18- 7:30 PM- at Boston (NBCSN)
(TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro

Game 2: Sunday, April 20- 3 PM- at Boston (NBC, TSN) 

Game 3: Tuesday, April 22- 7:30 PM- at Detroit (NBCSN) 
(TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro 

Game 4: Thursday, April 24- 8 PM- at Detroit (NBCSN) 
(TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro 

Game 5: Saturday, April 26- 3 PM- at Boston (NBC, TSN)


 A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3) Montreal Canadiens  
CBC & NBC Networks Announcers- Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy, David Amber
RDS Announcers- Pierre Houde, Marc Denis

Game 1: Wednesday, April 16- 7 PM- at Tampa Bay(CNBC) 

Game 2: Friday, April 18- 7 PM- at Tampa Bay (CNBC)

Game 3: Sunday, April 20- 7 PM- at Montreal (NBCSN)

Game 4: Tuesday, April 22- 7 PM- at Montreal (NHL)


 M1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. W1) Columbus Blue Jackets 
x-CBC Announcers- Bob Cole, Garry Galley, Cassie Campbell-Pascall
NBC Networks- Flexible, see below

x-Game 1: Wednesday, April 16- 7:30 PM- at Pittsburgh (NBCSN) Mike Emrick, Pierre McGuire

Game 2: Saturday, April 19- 7 PM- at Pittsburgh (NBCSN) Gord Miller, Pierre McGuire

Game 3: Monday, April 21- 7 PM- at Columbus (NBCSN)Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire

Game 4: Wednesday, April 23- 7 PM- at Columbus (NBCSN) Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire

Game 5: Saturday, April 26- 7 PM- at Pittsburgh (NBCSN)Ken Daniels, Joe Micheletti

Game 6: Monday, April 28- 7 PM- at Columbus (NBCSN) Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire

x- Denotes CHEX broadcast with CBC crew.

 M2) New York Rangers vs. M3) Philadelphia Flyers  
NBC Networks- Flexible, see below

Game 1: Thursday, April 17- 7 PM- at New York (CNBC)Ken Daniels, Pierre McGuire
(TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro 

 
Game 2: Sunday, April 20- Noon- at New York (NBC, TSN) Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti
 
Game 3: Tuesday, April 22- 8 PM- at Philadelphia (CNBC) Dave Strader, Brian Englom
(TSN) Chris Cuthbert, Ray Ferraro

Game 4: Friday, April 25- 7 PM- at Philadelphia (CNBC)Ken Daniels, Pierre McGuire
 (TSN) Gord Miller, Ray Ferraro 

Game 5: Sunday, April 27- Noon- at New York (NBC, TSN) Kenny Albert, Brian Engblom
 

Game 6: Tuesday, April 29- 7:30 PM- at Philadelphia (NBCSN) Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
 (TSN) Gord Miller, Mike Johnson

Game 7: Wednesday, April 30- 7 PM- at New York (NBCSN) Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
(TSN2) Gord Miller,  Mike Johnson