NHL posts full second-round schedule

The NHL’s second round schedule is finally fully mapped out, and that matters because this is the point in the playoffs when planning gets weird fast. Start times move. TV windows slide around. One series can be over while another is still fighting through Game 6 or 7. On Monday, May 11, the league’s official schedule page locked in the dates, matchups and most of the broadcast windows for all four second-round series, with one big twist already settled — Carolina is done and waiting. ### Which series are we actually talking about? The four second-round matchups are Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche, and Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights. But one of those is no longer active. Carolina beat Philadelphia 3-0 in Game 1 and finished the series with a 3-2 win in Game 4 on May 9, so the Hurricanes are already through to the Eastern Conference final. (nhl.com) ### What got posted Monday? The useful part is the full bracket-level calendar. NHL.com’s second-round schedule page lists every game slot for all four best-of-seven series, including the if-necessary games. Some of those later windows still carry “TBD” start times, which is normal this time of year because the league waits to see which series are still alive before finalizing national TV placement. (nhl.com) ### What’s still on the board right now? As of Monday night, Colorado leads Minnesota 2-1 with Game 4 set for May 11 at 8 p.m. ET. Vegas leads Anaheim 2-1 with Game 4 on May 10 and Game 5 scheduled for May 12. Buffalo and Montreal are tied 1-1, with Game 4 set for May 12 at 7 p.m. ET after the league separately confirmed that start time last week. ### Why does Carolina matter so much? Because the Hurricanes are the first team to clear the round, and that changes the shape of the bracket. (nhl.com) Carolina can rest, heal up and scout the Buffalo-Montreal winner while the West keeps grinding. In playoff terms, a sweep is like getting to leave the airport while everyone else is still stuck at the gate. That extra recovery time can matter a lot by the conference finals. (nhl.com) ### Are the Hurricanes the betting favorite now? Not quite — at least not on ESPN’s live futures board Monday. An earlier ESPN betting story had Carolina and Colorado tied at +160 heading into Saturday’s games. But the current futures page showed Colorado at +160 and Carolina just behind at +165, with Vegas a distant third at +550. So the broader point is that Carolina is in the very top tier, but not the clear standalone favorite everywhere. (nhl.com) ### What should fans watch for next? Two things. First, the TBD windows on May 14 through May 17, because those will firm up as series lengths become clearer. Second, whether Colorado or Vegas can create the same kind of separation Carolina already did. Right now, the East has one settled finalist. The rest of the bracket still feels open. ### Why is this more than a TV guide? Because the schedule is really a snapshot of playoff leverage. (espn.com) Carolina’s dates are over — that tells you the team has already bought itself time. Buffalo-Montreal is still basically a coin flip. Colorado and Vegas have control, but not closure. The posted schedule makes that imbalance visible in one glance. ### Bottom line? The news is not just that the NHL posted times. It’s that the second round now has a clear shape: Carolina is waiting, the other three series are still sorting themselves out, and the Cup race remains tight enough that one sweep has not fully settled the odds. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2) (nhl.com 3)