A few Game 6s on Friday night could close the door on the first round — or kick the chaos can down the road another 48 hours. Out East, the Montreal Canadiens grabbed a tight Game 5 victory to move ahead 3-2, leaving the Tampa Bay Lightning staring at elimination. The Buffalo Sabres are also up 3-2, but couldn’t finish the job in Game 5 after the Boston Bruins survived in overtime to extend things at least one more night. In the West, the lone straggler of the first round in that conference has the Vegas Golden Knights holding a 3-2 edge after winning a wild, double-overtime track meet against the Utah Mammoth.
If any of these matchups need a Game 7, they’ll be played Sunday, though times and networks still up in the air.
Meanwhile, the second round doesn’t wait for anyone. It gets rolling Saturday with the Philadelphia Flyers — fresh off a hard-win six-game win over the Pittsburgh Penguins — taking on the regular-season juggernaut Carolina Hurricanes –, who’ve been sitting around after making quick work of the Ottawa Senators last Saturday.
UPDATE: Buffalo and Vegas were able to take care of business, so no Game 7’s for them, but Montreal and Tampa will still duke it out on Sunday. Another Round 2 matchup is also now premiering Sunday: Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild.
All times below are Central Time
Friday, May 1
Game 6: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens, ESPN2, 6 p.m.
Game 6: Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins, ESPN, 6:30 p.m.
Game 6: Vegas Golden Knights at Utah Mammoth, ESPN, 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 2
Game 1: Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers, ABC, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 3
Game 7: Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, TNT/TruTV/HBO MAX, 6 p.m.
Game 1: Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, TNT/TruTV/HBO MAX, 9 p.m.
Game 7: Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins, TBD (if needed)
Game 7: Vegas Golden Knights at Utah Mammoth, TBD (if needed)