Eastern Conference Finals: The Schedule

The wait is over.

The Eastern Conference Finals will (finally) get underway this Saturday, May 14th, at TD Garden in Boston. This news comes more than a week after the Tampa Bay Lightning dispatched the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Boston’s in the same boat, however, having swept the Philadelphia Flyers in their own semifinal series.

Remember, tickets to games played at the St. Pete Times Forum go on sale officially at 10 AM on Friday.  The complete schedule is below the jump along with the entirety of the Lightning press release with the news.

LIGHTNING, BRUINS TO OPEN EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

OF 2011 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS SATURDAY

Bolts to Host Game 3 on Thursday, May 19

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning will open the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, May 14 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts at 8 p.m. The Bolts will hit home ice for the first time in Game 3 on Thursday, May 19 at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Bruins hold the home ice advantage by nature of having the higher seed.

The Lightning will make their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals since the 2004 postseason, when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games en route to winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship. The series also marks the first time in which the Lightning and Bruins will meet in the postseason.

The best way to catch all the exhilarating playoff action is to lock in 2011-12 Lightning Season Tickets. Not only will fans freeze pricing from this season, but they will also have the opportunity to “Cheer Now, Pay Later” for the playoffs. Benefits also include concert and event priority, free tickets to the 2011 Lightning Launch Weekend Concert, guaranteed giveaways and more.

Single-game tickets for the Eastern Conference Finals start as low as $40 and will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m. A pre-sale will be held beginning Wednesday, May 11, at 10 a.m. for full and half season ticket holders, suite holders, sponsors and individuals looking to purchase 10-packs. To purchase tickets fans are advised to visit the McDonald’s Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum, www.ticketmaster.com/lightningplayoffs or call 1-800-745-3000.

2011 Eastern Conference Finals Schedule

Game Date Location Time
Game 1 Sat., May 14 TD Garden (Boston, MA) 8 p.m.
Game 2 Tues., May 17 TD Garden (Boston, MA) 8 p.m.
Game 3 Thurs., May 19 St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, FL) 8 p.m.
Game 4 Sat., May 21 St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, FL) 1:30 p.m.*
Game 5** Mon., May 23 TD Garden (Boston, MA) 8 p.m.
Game 6** Wed., May 25 St. Pete Times Forum (Tampa, FL) 8 p.m.
Game 7** Fri., May 27 TD Garden (Boston, MA) 8 p.m.

* – Time subject to change
** – If Necessary

Eastern Conference Finals prediction