Great night for hockey. As I said on Twitter after the Carolina Hurricanes' OT victory over the Boston Bruins: "Scott Walker. Now that was a sucker punch."
The NHL has just announced the television schedule for the conference finals; Sidney Crosby(notes) will face the Hurricanes on Versus, while NBC has made it clear they believe the Winter Classic rematch will be a blockbuster in the West.
EAST: No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins at No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes
Monday, May 18 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Thursday, May 21 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Saturday, May 23 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 26 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Friday, May 29 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Sunday, May 31 at Carolina, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Tuesday, June 2 at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
WEST: No. 2 Detroit Red Wings at No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks
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Sunday, May 17 at Detroit, 3:00 p.m. NBC, TSN, RDS
Tuesday, May 19 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Friday, May 22 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 24 at Chicago, 3:00 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
* Wednesday, May 27 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Saturday, May 30 at Chicago, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Monday, June 1 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
As Steve Lepore of Puck the Media mentioned to us tonight, it's an interesting set-up for Canadian viewers: Games 1 and 2 on TSN, and then CBC the rest of the way.
Our previews and picks for the conference finals will run on Saturday, so please do check them out.