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We almost went the entire postseason without any evidence that the 2013 season was marred by a lengthy, four-month-long lockout. Then, the NHL released the schedule for the Conference Finals.
The Eastern Conference Finalist Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins will have at least a week-long wait between Rounds 2 and 3, not kicking off their head-to-head series for the Prince of Wales Trophy until Saturday, a full seven days after Boston eliminated the New York Rangers in the Conference Semifinals.
Here's the full Eastern Conference Finals schedule. They'll kick things off on network television in the United States from Consol Energy Center on Saturday.
| Gm | Date | Eastern Conference Finals | Time (ET) | National TV |
| 1 | Sat, Jun 1 | Bruins at Penguins | 8 p.m. | NBC, CBC, RDS |
| 2 | Mon, Jun 3 | Bruins at Penguins | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 3 | Wed, Jun 5 | Penguins at Bruins | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 4 | Fri, Jun 7 | Penguins at Bruins | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 5* | Sun, Jun 9 | Bruins at Penguins | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 6* | Tue, Jun 11 | Penguins at Bruins | TBD | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 7* | Wed, Jun 12 | Bruins at Penguins | TBD | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
There's still a bit more to solve out West with one Game 7 to be played on Wednesday night between the Blackhawks and Red Wings. Should top-seeded Chicago win, they'll host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night, the first game of a doubleheader on NBC. Game 2, oddly, would be the next evening.
Here's the full schedule of a potential Kings vs. Blackhawks series:
| Gm | Date | If Chicago wins Game 7... | Time (ET) | National TV |
| 1 | Sat, Jun 1 | Kings at Blackhawks | 5 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 2 | Sun, Jun 2 | Kings at Blackhawks | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 3 | Tue, Jun 4 | Blackhawks at Kings | 9 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 4 | Thu, Jun 6 | Blackhawks at Kings | 9 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 5* | Sat, Jun 8 | Kings at Blackhawks | 8 p.m. | NBC, CBC, RDS |
| 6* | Mon, Jun 10 | Blackhawks at Kings | 9 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 7* | Wed, Jun 12 | Kings at Blackhawks | TBD | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
Should the Red Wings come out victorious in Game 7, the Kings will host Game 1 and it will be Friday night, May 31 at Staples Center. Here's the full schedule of a potential Detroit vs. Los Angeles series:
| Gm | Date | If Detroit wins Game 7... | Time (ET) | National TV |
| 1 | Fri, May 31 | Red Wings at Kings | 9 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 2 | Sun, Jun 2 | Red Wings at Kings | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 3 | Tue, Jun 4 | Kings at Red Wings | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, TSN, RDS |
| 4 | Thu, Jun 6 | Kings at Red Wings | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 5* | Sat, Jun 8 | Red Wings at Kings | 8 p.m. | NBC, CBC, RDS |
| 6* | Mon, Jun 10 | Kings at Red Wings | 8 p.m. | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
| 7* | Wed, Jun 12 | Red Wings at Kings | TBD | NBCSN, CBC, RDS |
More in the NHL:
• Complete Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage