With the completion of the first round of the playoffs official late Sunday night, the NHL released the schedule for the Second Round. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers series will start on Tuesday. The first four games will all be televised on TNT in the United States. There are no more local broadcasts now that we’re in the second round.
It’s an interesting schedule in the sense that there will be multiple days off between Games Two and Three, while Games Three and Four are on back-to-back days. If you already have your tickets for Game Three make sure you note the 1:30 PM start time. Early playoff hockey!
The adjustment to the schedule is a result of a Kane Brown (with special guests Walker Hayes and Raelynn) concert on Saturday the 21st.
The full schedule as it was released:
Tuesday May 17th Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers – 7:00 PM EST
Thursday May 19th Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers – 7:00 PM EST
Sunday May 22nd Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning – 1:30 PM EST
Monday May 23rd Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning – 7:00 PM EST
Wednesday May 25th Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers – TBD *
Friday May 27th Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning – TBD *
Sunday May 29th Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers – TBD *
* If Necessary
The entire second round schedule is posted on the NHL website. The Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues will also kick off on Tuesday while the Carolina Hurricanes/New York Rangers and Calgary Flames/Edmonton Oilers will start on Wednesday.
All of the other series follow the standard every-other-day pattern that we’re used to.
Lightning/NHL News
Champions don’t lose in the first round [Raw Charge]
The Stanley Cup Champs stumbled, but did not fall. The ability to save their best for when they needed it the most is remarkable.
Sunshine State Series, Round Two [Tampa Bay Times]
These two teams have met 18 times since 2020-21 and are 9-9 (including playoffs). Can the loser be moved to the Western Conference just so we won’t have to see each other so much?
Buckle up for Round Two of Lightning/Panthers [The Athletic]
Pierre LeBrun shares his thoughts on the upcoming series as well as what might be in the future for the Maple Leafs.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers Series Odds [Draft Kings]
According to online betting company DraftKings, the Tampa Bay Lightning enter their Round Two series against the Florida Panthers as +130 underdogs. That’s not a surprise considering the Panthers are the top seed in the tournament and the Lightning were just taken to seven games by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It is possible that the unknown status of Brayden Point is affecting the number slightly, but even if he was healthy, the Bolts would likely still not be favored due to the strong season the Panthers had. It’s the second series in a row that the two-time defending champs have started off as underdogs, having been +100 prior to the Leafs series.
The Vegas odds usually mean little to the players on the ice, but if you believe in the team, and have the money to invest in them, it may be a good time to do it. If the Bolts win Game One, that number could swing drastically.
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— X – Raw Charge (@RawCharge) May 16, 2022
Mishkin’s Musings: Recapping the series [NHL.com]
It looks like we may have a couple of days to savor the victory over the Maple Leafs. Dave Mishkin looks back on the roller coaster of a series.
Darcy Kuemper ready for Game One [ESPN]
The Colorado Avalanche will be the most rested team in Round Two thanks to their sweep of the Nashville Predators. The long break has been good for them as it’s allowed the swelling around the eye of starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper to subside and he should be ready for Game One agains the St. Louis Blues.
Carter Verhaeghe: From cast-off to star [Yahoo Hockey]
It’s been a heck of a career for old-friend Carter Verhaeghe, who is going to be a free agent after this season, by the way. He’s come a long way from the ECHL Kansas City Mavericks, and the Lightning were an important part of that renaissance.
Sunday’s Games:
New York Rangers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (OT)
Tristan Jarry, Rickard Rakell, and Sidney Crosby all came back from their injuries to play for the Penguins in Game Seven, but it was the Rangers coming back from one-goal deficits twice late in the game to tie it before Artemi Panarin won it with a power play goal in overtime. The Rangers advance to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
Calgary Flames 3, Dallas Stars 2 (OT)
Another Game Seven goes to overtime. Jake Oettinger almost willed the Dallas Stars into the second round as he made 64 (!) saves. Unfortunately for the Stars Johnny Gaudreau snuck one by him at a tough angle to give the Flames the win and a date in the second round with the Edmonton Oilers.
