Throw away your razors and start growing those beards: the schedule for the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs is set, with with five of the eight series dropping the puck Wednesday night, led by Game 1 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Boston Bruins, the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, open their series with the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night, at 7 p.m., in Boston.
Here's the complete schedule for the 2011 NHL Playoffs. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher-seeded team playing at home in Games 1-2 and, if necessary, 5 and 7. The pairings are re-seeded after the first round.
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 8 New York Rangers
Game 1: Wed., April 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Fri., April 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., April 17 at 3 p.m.
Game 4: Wed., April 20 at 7 p.m.
Game 5*: Sat., April 23 at 3 p.m.
Game 6*: Mon., April 25 at TBD
Game 7*: Wed., April 27 at TBD
No. 2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. No. 7 Buffalo Sabres
Game 1: Thu., April 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Sat., April 16 at 5 p.m.
Game 3: Mon., April 18 at 7 p.m.
Game 4: Wed., April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Fri., April 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 6*: Sun., April 24 at 3 p.m.
Game 7*: Tues., April 26 at TBD
No. 3 Boston Bruins vs. No. 6 Montreal Canadiens
Game 1: Thurs., April 14 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Sat., April 16 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Mon., April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Thurs., April 21 at 7 p.m.
Game 5*: Sat., April 23 at 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Tues., April 26 at TBD
Game 7*: Wed., April 27 at TBD
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1: Wed., April 13 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Fri., April 15 at 7 p.m.
Game 3: Mon., April 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Wed., April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Sat., April 23 at TBD
Game 6*: Mon., April 25 at TBD
Game 7*: Wed., April 27 at TBD
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
No. 1 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks
Game 1: Wed., April 13 at 10 p.m.
Game 2: Fri., April 15 at 10 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., April 17 at 8 p.m.
Game 4: Tues., April 19 at 8 p.m.
Game 5*: Thurs., April 21 at 10 p.m.
Game 6*: Sun., April 24 at 8 p.m.
Game 7*: Tues., April 26 at TBD
No. 2 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Kings
Game 1: Thurs., April 14 at 10 p.m.
Game 2: Sat., April 16 at 10 p.m.
Game 3: Tues., April 19 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Thurs., April 21 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Sat., April 23 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 6*: Mon., April 25 at TBD
Game 7*: Wed., April 27 at TBD
No. 3 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 6 Phoenix Coyotes
Game 1: Wed., April 13 at 7 p.m.
Game 2: Sat., April 16 at 1 p.m.
Game 3: Mon., April 17 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Wed., April 20 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Fri., April 22 at 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Sun., April 24 at TBD
Game 7*: Wed., April 27 at TBD
No. 4 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 5 Nashville Predators
Game 1: Wed., April 13 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 2: Fri., April 15 at 10:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sun., April 17 at TBD
Game 4: Wed., April 20 at TBD
Game 5*: Fri., April 22 at 10 p.m.
Game 6*: Sun., April 24 at TBD
Game 7*: Tues., April 26 at TBD