The NHL Playoffs begin on Wednesday, with Game 1 of three of the eight first round series. For the first time in a very long time, every single playoff game will be broadcast on a nationally available network from start to finish. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers kick things off at 7:00 p.m. ET in the Eastern Conference with an Atlantic Division grudge match. That game can be seen on NBC Sports Network.
Sandwiched between that game and the late game is the beginning of the Western Conference's 4-5 matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, which can be seen at 8:00 p.m. ET on CNBC. The night's action concludes in British Columbia, where the Vancouver Canucks take on the Los Angeles Kings on NBC Sports Network at 10:30 p.m.
The full schedule:
No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers at No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins
7:30 p.m. ET -- Game 1, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals | Series tied, 0-0
National TV: NBCSN, TSN, RDS | Local TV: CSN Philly, ROOT Pittsburgh
No. 5 Detroit Red Wings at No. 4 Nashville Predators
8 p.m. ET -- Game 1, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Series tied, 0-0
National TV: CNBC, CBC, RDS2 | Local TV: FS Detroit, SportSouth
No. 8 Los Angeles Kings at No. 1 Vancouver Canucks
10:30 p.m. ET -- Game 1, Western Conference Quarterfinals | Series tied, 0-0
National TV: NBCSN, CBC, RDS | Local TV: KCOP 13
For complete coverage of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stick with SB Nation's NHL hub. You can find team-by-team coverage from our network of hockey blogs.
