NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League today announced the schedule, including the dates, starting times and broadcast information, for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals.
The 2013 Eastern Conference Final schedule is set. The series begins on Sat., June 1, in Pittsburgh when the Penguins host the Boston Bruins at 8 p.m. ET.
The Western Conference Final will match the Los Angeles Kings against the Chicago Blackhawks. Game 1 will be Sat., June 1, at 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT in Chicago.
National rightsholders NBC Sports Group in the U.S. and CBC, TSN and RDS in Canada once again will provide exclusive national television coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals.
All times listed are Eastern Time and subject to change.
2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
SERIES M 1 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. BOSTON BRUINS 4
Game 1: Sat. @PIT 8PM Game 2: Mon. @PIT 8PM Game 3: Wed. @BOS 8PM Game 4: 6/7 @BOS 8PM Game 5: 6/9 @PIT 8PM * Game 6: 6/11 @BOS TBD * Game 7: 6/12 @PIT TBD *
2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
SERIES N 1 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS 5
Game 1: Sat. @CHI 5PM Game 2: Sun. @CHI 8PM Game 3: Tue. @LA 9PM Game 4: 6/6 @LA 9PM Game 5: 6/8 @CHI 8PM * Game 6: 6/10 @LA 9PM * Game 7: 6/12 @CHI TBD *
* if necessary
TBD – To Be Determined (but I feel like they're all gonna turn out to be 8PM)
I have no idea who to pick, so I'll pick the #1s. I feel like both of these series will go long.
Blackhawks vs Penguins or Blackhawks vs Bruins should be good. It's either "the two teams with the great futures still ahead of 'em" or "an original six match-up"
Oh and I don't like the Kings. But I think it'll be
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... Bruins upset the Penguins in 6.
Can't decide who wins the West. I think it ends up being the most closely contested series of the entire playoffs, with each team taking a split of the first two games in each location, the home teams winning Games 5 & 6, and Game 7 going to overtime. All I know is that whoever wins the West is taking the Cup.
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I'm going with Penguins in 5. Boston's tough, but Pittsburgh just has too many weapons offensively. They look like the team to beat. As for the West, I really hope it's Chicago in 4 because I hate the Kings so much (still mad at them for beating the Devils last year), but I feel it's going to take the full 7 for the Blackhawks to win.
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Yeah, I'm in the traditionalist camp with home whites. The Bruins are wearing their black this year at home and guess what? They still suck. Hell, put 'em all in Cooperalls I say. Nothing said intimidation like the Whale wearing green pants.