The Stanley Cup Playoffs 2018 first-round television schedules have been released. Here’s a complete television guide for the series between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche.
The last team into the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche, will take on the Nashville Predators, the President’s Trophy winner, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 2018. This is a Central Division rivalry, so it should be a great series. The Avs are playing with house money, so an upset can’t be completely ruled out.
However, Nashville appears ready to live up to the lofty expectations of winning the President’s Trophy. The Preds have played impressive as of late, steamrolling their competition in the final month of the regular season.
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Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 will be held in Nashville. Meanwhile, Games 3, 4, and 6 will be held in Colorado. Here’s a quick look at the television schedule for the series.
- Game 1, Thursday, April 12 at 8:30 p.m. CT (9:30 p.m. ET) NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports
- Game 2, Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. CT (3:00 p.m. ET) NBC, CNBC, SN, TVA Sports
- Game 3, Monday, April 16 at 9 p.m. CT (10:00 p.m. ET) NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports
- Game 4, Wednesday, April 18 at 9 p.m. CT (10 p.m. ET) NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports
- Game 5, Friday, April 20 (time to be determined) [if needed] TBD
- Game 6, Sunday, April 22 (time to be determined) [if needed] TBD
- Game 7, Tuesday, April 24 (time to be determined) [if needed] TBD
Analysis
The series, unlike some in the first round, strictly follows the every-other-day pattern. There are no two-day breaks between games for the Predators and Avalanche. That might help ratchet up the tension between these teams. Though with both being from the Central division, tension might not be a problem.
This seems very much like a David versus Goliath situation, with the Nashville Predators fresh off a Stanley Cup Final appearance in addition to their President’s Trophy win. They’ll be looking to head back to the Stanley Cup Final.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche have been one of the hottest teams over the last few months of NHL action, as their win over the St. Louis Blues proves. While the Avs were the last team into the playoffs, they will be looking not to be the first ones out.
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This series might need a few games past the announced four. The Preds are favored heavily, but the Avs are a very relentless team. Nashville won the season series 4-0-0, with three of those wins coming in regulation.
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