Hello to everyone and welcome to day #1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Leafs aren't playing tonight, but other teams are, in fact eight other teams are up to play tonight, and it is a long standing PPP tradition that we have an open chat for everyone to enjoy laughing at all the foibles and failures, gawk at the crazy goals, and in general chit-chat about all those other teams playing on the nights the Leafs are not. Also in particular to laugh at the Oilers somehow always managing to lose.

This is your open forum to chat about these games tonight (all times ET):

New York Islanders @ Carolina Hurricanes
7:00 p.m.
Watch on: ESPN2, Sportsnet 360

Florida Panthers @ Boston Bruins
7:30 p.m.
Watch on: ESPN, CBC, TVA

Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars
9:30 p.m.
Watch on: ESPN2, Sportsnet 360

L.A. Kings @ Edmonton Oilers
10:00 p.m.
Watch on: ESPN, CBC, TVA

Plus you can chat and argue about anything else you like too: cats, non-cat animals, beer recommendations,  the worth of certain condiments, cats, Star Trek, how olives are awesome and people who don't like olives are freaks... whatever!

Enjoy the Leafs first night off of the playoffs.

How to watch the NHL Playoffs in Canada (in English)

All NHL playoff games will be on television on a Sportsnet channel of some description. Not all games will be on the main channel, however.

All NHL playoff games will be on Sportsnet Now The listed price is $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year.

Caution: If you want to start a streaming package that runs to next season, you need the more expensive Premium version to avoid regional blackouts in the regular season. All Maple Leafs games broadcast by SN on TV were available to stream in the Leafs region this season with the Premium package. Other games were available on-demand the next day. (This is a new format for this season.)

Some games, noted as HNIC games in our previews, are on CBC on television and CBC Gem online. Gem is free, but making an account will be required to watch any channel out of your region in a convenient way.

Games in America are on regional broadcasters, ESPN/TNT/TBS and their related streaming services.

Game Coverage