Predicting the Round 1 Playoff Schedule

[Mkdaman1818]

Given that we are six points back of Boston, I think it’s pretty certain we’re playing Boston round 1 without home ice.

Im most likely going to be attending the first few games (if not all of them) so here’s what I think the potential schedule is:

Game 1: Thurs April 11 at TD Garden (there’s a Muse concert April 10 so I think we’re locked in here)
Game 2: Sat April 13 at TD
Game 3: Mon April 15 at SBA
Game 4: Wed April 17 at SBA (last year they gave us game 4 on the Thursday but I think they’ll give the extra day between game 4 and 5 for the travel days, but could be wrong)
Game 5: Sat April 20 at TD (they could do this game on Friday but I think HNIC will ask for the Saturday game. Of course by doing it on Friday they could do game 6 on Sunday to avoid issues with the Monday Cher concert...)
Game 6: Tue April 23 at SBA (there’s a Cher concert on Monday April 22 at SBA)
Game 7: Thu April 25 at TD

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[Carltons Cup]

Sadly enough, League schedule makers can save themselves the time and not worry about scheduling games 5 through 7.

 

[Fenway]

Given that we are six points back of Boston, I think it’s pretty certain we’re playing Boston round 1 without home ice.

Im most likely going to be attending the first few games (if not all of them) so here’s what I think the potential schedule is:

Game 1: Thurs April 11 at TD Garden (there’s a Muse concert April 10 so I think we’re locked in here)
Game 2: Sat April 13 at TD
Game 3: Mon April 15 at SBA
Game 4: Wed April 17 at SBA (last year they gave us game 4 on the Thursday but I think they’ll give the extra day between game 4 and 5 for the travel days, but could be wrong)
Game 5: Sat April 20 at TD (they could do this game on Friday but I think HNIC will ask for the Saturday game. Of course by doing it on Friday they could do game 6 on Sunday to avoid issues with the Monday Cher concert...)
Game 6: Tue April 23 at SBA (there’s a Cher concert on Monday April 22 at SBA)
Game 7: Thu April 25 at TD

I think you are close - NBC is going to be doing games on the 13th and 20th in primetime on the main network and I expect they will do what they did last year and take Boston/Toronto. A key to this is NBC now owns their station in Boston and would retain all the local ad sales as well.

The way the US TV contract works, in the first round NBC shows every game on its cable-only channels (NBCSN, CNBC, USA and GOLF) but local broadcasters like NESN can also show first-round games EXCEPT when the games are shown on NBC itself.

But nothing is set in stone until Boston clinches the #2 seed and there are still 9 games left.

Just think back to last year when for almost 3 months it seemed certain Boston and Toronto would meet but with a week to go the Bruins moved ahead of Tampa and then faltered the last week and Tampa got the #1 seed on the last day.

Honestly, I think the hockey gods have something special planned for Bob Cole's final broadcast.

I can easily see a scenario that the Leafs need 2 points to get home ice and the Habs need 2 points to edge out Columbus to make the playoffs.

 

[KE19]

No point even scheduling games 5, 6, and 7 the way we're playing.

 

[Mkdaman1818]

I think you are close - NBC is going to be doing games on the 13th and 20th in primetime on the main network and I expect they will do what they did last year and take Boston/Toronto. A key to this is NBC now owns their station in Boston and would retain all the local ad sales as well.

The way the US TV contract works, in the first round NBC shows every game on its cable-only channels (NBCSN, CNBC, USA and GOLF) but local broadcasters like NESN can also show first-round games EXCEPT when the games are shown on NBC itself.

But nothing is set in stone until Boston clinches the #2 seed and there are still 9 games left.

Just think back to last year when for almost 3 months it seemed certain Boston and Toronto would meet but with a week to go the Bruins moved ahead of Tampa and then faltered the last week and Tampa got the #1 seed on the last day.

View attachment 202191

Honestly, I think the hockey gods have something special planned for Bob Cole's final broadcast.

View attachment 202193

I can easily see a scenario that the Leafs need 2 points to get home ice and the Habs need 2 points to edge out Columbus to make the playoffs.

Haha it’s a nice thought but I don’t think the leafs will make up six points with 9 to play. If anything I think we’ll concede and rest Freddy to get him some energy for the playoffs.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Haha it’s a nice thought but I don’t think the leafs will make up six points with 9 to play. If anything I think we’ll concede and rest Freddy to get him some energy for the playoffs.

Yeah, pretty much a done deal.

Even going 9-0 only gives Toronto a 71% chance of finishing 2nd.

 

[teddygmr]

OK...here is MY prediction: Leafs win Game 1 in Boston, 4-3......Bruin's win Game 2, 3-2; Leafs win both games in Toronto 5-2 and 5-3; Bruins face elimination in Boston but win 3-2....Leafs wrap up the series with a 4-1 victory in Game 6 in Toronto!

 

[Al14]

OK...here is MY prediction: Leafs win Game 1 in Boston, 4-3......Bruin's win Game 2, 3-2; Leafs win both games in Toronto 5-2 and 5-3; Bruins face elimination in Boston but win 3-2....Leafs wrap up the series with a 4-1 victory in Game 6 in Toronto!

Best part about this prediction? Our Leafs never lose to Boston after being up 4-1. Good job.

 

[Mugzy97]

Sadly enough, League schedule makers can save themselves the time and not worry about scheduling games 5 through 7.

No point even scheduling games 5, 6, and 7 the way we're playing.

I never want to party with you guys

 

[Suntouchable13]

Don't forget that the Raptors and Celtics exist too, so that will impact the schedule too.

 

[egd27]

Sadly enough, League schedule makers can save themselves the time and not worry about scheduling games 5 through 7.

No point even scheduling games 5, 6, and 7 the way we're playing.

I never want to party with you guys

Party with them? I'm slightly embarrassed to be in the same fan base.

 

[Mkdaman1818]

Don't forget that the Raptors and Celtics exist too, so that will impact the schedule too.

Yup but the way it’s looking, the Celtics will be the road team in their series, and the raptors the home team in their series. which would be the reverse of the bruins and leafs. So arena availability should be pretty open if that remains the case.

 

[Carltons Cup]

I never want to party with you guys

Ya but I'd be the life of the party for games 1-4 though

 

[theaub]

Based on the last six years of Raps playoffs, their home games will be the 13/14th, 16th, 24th and 28th. So no conflicts with OP.

Schedule seems right, unless there's a Caps/Pens R1 that steals the Saturday night primetime games, in which case Leafs/Bruins probably gets both Sunday NBC games.

 

[Tall Morty]

I understand not being overly confident, but I don’t know what good this talk of being swept does for anyone

 

[deletethis]

Given that we are six points back of Boston, I think it’s pretty certain we’re playing Boston round 1 without home ice.

Im most likely going to be attending the first few games (if not all of them) so here’s what I think the potential schedule is:

Game 1: Thurs April 11 at TD Garden (there’s a Muse concert April 10 so I think we’re locked in here)
Game 2: Sat April 13 at TD
Game 3: Mon April 15 at SBA
Game 4: Wed April 17 at SBA (last year they gave us game 4 on the Thursday but I think they’ll give the extra day between game 4 and 5 for the travel days, but could be wrong)
Game 5: Sat April 20 at TD (they could do this game on Friday but I think HNIC will ask for the Saturday game. Of course by doing it on Friday they could do game 6 on Sunday to avoid issues with the Monday Cher concert...)
Game 6: Tue April 23 at SBA (there’s a Cher concert on Monday April 22 at SBA)
Game 7: Thu April 25 at TD

Gotta love that "Toronto" is buried in the corporate sponsor acronym for the Bruins' stadium.

 

[justafan22]

Yup but the way it’s looking, the Celtics will be the road team in their series, and the raptors the home team in their series. which would be the reverse of the bruins and leafs. So arena availability should be pretty open if that remains the case.

raptors games 1 and 2 are 100% going to be the 13th and either 15th/16th.

 

[Mugzy97]

Ya but I'd be the life of the party for games 1-4 though

Judging by your first post, I have a hard time believing that.

 

[Mkdaman1818]

raptors games 1 and 2 are 100% going to be the 13th and either 15th/16th.

Correct. They’ll most likely be the 13th at 12:30 pm, and probably the 16th at 7 or 8 pm, if the leafs play on the 15th. Vice Versa if they decide to have the leafs play on the 16th.

 

[hoglund]

Sadly enough, League schedule makers can save themselves the time and not worry about scheduling games 5 through 7.

O doubt the Leafs will sweep the Bruins, I think it's the Leafs in 6.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Correct. They’ll most likely be the 13th at 12:30 pm, and probably the 16th at 7 or 8 pm, if the leafs play on the 15th. Vice Versa if they decide to have the leafs play on the 16th.

I doubt the Raps play at 1230. They have been given a lot of national spotlight in the USA this season. Lots of primetime national games on TNT and ESPN. 530pm at the earliest

 

[Mkdaman1818]

I doubt the Raps play at 1230. They have been given a lot of national spotlight in the USA this season. Lots of primetime national games on TNT and ESPN. 530pm at the earliest

Those games on TNT and ESPN have usually been against quality opponents or big TV draws like Boston, Philly, OKC etc. Toronto will probably face Brooklyn, Detroit or Miami in round 1, so it will be a low rating game 1. 12:30 is almost a guarantee in that case, since ESPN/TNT get zero revenue from the Canadian rights. Also, game 2 is almost sure to be a Saturday night HNIC game, so why would they bastardize ratings even more? 12:30 would be perfect for both sides.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Bruins play a lot of afternoon games on weekends

 

[FelixPotvin29]

OK...here is MY prediction: Leafs win Game 1 in Boston, 4-3......Bruin's win Game 2, 3-2; Leafs win both games in Toronto 5-2 and 5-3; Bruins face elimination in Boston but win 3-2....Leafs wrap up the series with a 4-1 victory in Game 6 in Toronto!

If only!

 

[Fenway]

Tickets in Boston just went on sale


Promo code is LMTA19

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