NHL finally announces schedule for Panthers, Lightning playoffs

The Florida Panthers finally know when they’ll be playing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The schedule was finally released Thursday afternoon.

Game 1 will be at BB&T Center on Sunday night at 7:30 with the game broadcast nationally on NBCSN and locally on one of the two Bally Sports regional carriers with Steve Goldstein and Randy Moller on the call.

The Panthers will also host Game 2 on Tuesday night at 8; that game will be on CNBC.

If you live outside the local broadcast zone, my suggestion is to figure out exactly where CNBC and USA Network is on your dial.

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As for the initial schedule, Florida will play host to Games 1-2, 5 and 7 (if needed) and the first four games will be broadcast both locally and nationally.

The starting times and television schedule for the final three games of the series have not been determined yet.

Here is the complete schedule for the first Florida-Tampa Bay playoff series in history:

GAME 1: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers; Sunday, 7:30 (NBCSN, BS-FLA/SUN)

GAME 2: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers; Tuesday, 8 (CNBC, BS-FLA/SUN)

GAME 3: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning; Thursday, 6:30 (USA, BS-FLA/SUN)

GAME 4: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning; Saturday, 12:30 (CNBC, BS-FLA/SUN)

GAME 5*: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers; Monday May 24 TBD

GAME 6*: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning; Wednesday May 26 TBD

GAME 7*: Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers; Friday May 28 TBD

(*) — If neccessary