We go into the second round of the NHL Playoffs starting tonight, with the field narrowed down to eight and no real surprises from the just-concluded first round.

The Washington Capitals were taken to six games by the Columbus Blue Jackets before they prevailed, and now they will take on defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins who beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2. The Pens have been the Caps’ playoff kryptonite so let’s see how they handle them this time around.

The Tampa Bay Lightning disposed of the New Jersey Devils in five games and have been patiently waiting for the Boston Bruins who needed seven games to take care of the pesky Toronto Maple Leafs.

Speaking of waiting, surprise team Vegas Golden Knights swept the LA Kings and have been idle for nine days now, and will play the San Jose Sharks who swept the Anaheim Ducks and haven’t played in eight days themselves.

The President’s Trophy winners Nashville Predators took out upstart Colorado Avalanche in six games, and will play the Winnipeg Jets who eliminated the Minnesota Wild in five games.

All playoff series are best-of-seven with a 2-2-1-1-1 format favoring the higher seed.

Related

2018 Stanley Cup NHL playoffs: First round matchups and television schedules
Stanley Cup Playoffs 2018 – SBNation.com

Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning (A1) vs. Boston Bruins (A2)

Game 1: Sat Apr. 28 at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m. (NBC, SN, TVA)

Game 2: Mon Apr. 30 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 3: Wed May 2 at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 4: Fri May 4 at Boston, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 5 (if necessary): Sun May 6 at Tampa Bay, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Tue May 8 at Boston, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Thu May 10 at Tampa Bay, TBD

Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

Game 1: Thu Apr. 26 at Washington, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA)

Game 2: Sun Apr. 29 at Washington, 3 p.m. (NBC, CBC, TVA)

Game 3: Tue May 1 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA2)

Game 4: Thu May 3 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, SN, TVA)

Game 5 (if necessary): Sat May 5 at Washington, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Mon May 7 at Pittsburgh, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Wed May 9 at Washington, TBD

Who will win the Eastern Conference?

Western Conference

Nashville Predators (C1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (C2)

Game 1: Fri Apr. 27 at Nashville, 8 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, SN360, TVA)

Game 2: Sun Apr. 29 at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA)

Game 3: Tue May 1 at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. (CNBC, CBC, TVA)

Game 4: Thu May 3 at Winnipeg, 9:30 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 5 (if necessary): Sat May 5 at Nashville, TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Mon May 7 at Winnipeg, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Thu May 10 at Nashville, TBD

Vegas Golden Knights (P1)  vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

Game 1: Thu Apr. 26 at Vegas, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA)

Game 2: Sat Apr. 28 at Vegas, 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC, SN, TVA)

Game 3: Mon Apr. 30 at San Jose, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 4: Wed May 2 at San Jose, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 5 (if necessary): Fri May 4 at Vegas, 10 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC, TVA)

Game 6 (if necessary): Sun May 6 at San Jose, TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Tue May 8 at Vegas, TBD

Who will win the Western Conference