NHL Playoffs 2016: Dates, TV Channels, Start Times, Complete Schedule For Every First Round Series

After six and a half months of regular-season games, the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs are finally here. Sixteen teams will compete in the first round, which begins Wednesday night with three games.

The Detroit Red Wings will start things off on the road against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Eastern Conference champions. Tampa Bay finished second in the Atlantic Division with 97 points, and Detroit hasn’t missed the playoffs since 1990. The Lightning defeated the Red Wings in the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs in seven games.

The series between the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks is the only one that doesn’t begin until Friday. Anaheim won the Pacific Division with 103 points, finishing in first place for a third consecutive year. The Minnesota Wild are the only playoff team in the West that totaled fewer points than Nashville.

Leading the league with 120 points, the Washington Capitals are the favorites to win the title. They start their series against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, along with six other teams.

Every postseason game will be broadcasted nationally across networks owned by NBCUniversal, including USA and CNBC. Below is a look at the complete schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Game 1: Wednesday, April 13, at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 2: Friday, April 15, at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 3: Sunday, April 17, at Detroit, 7 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 4: Tuesday, April 19, at Detroit, 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 5: Thursday, April 21, at Tampa Bay, TBA*

Game 6: Sunday, April 24, at Detroit, TBA*

Game 7: Tuesday, April 26, at Tampa Bay, TBA*

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 1: Wednesday, April 13, at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m. ET (USA)

Game 2: Saturday, April 16, at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)

Game 3: Tuesday, April 19, at New York, 7 p.m. ET (USA)

Game 4: Thursday, April 21, at New York, TBA

Game 5: Saturday, April 23, at Pittsburgh, TBA*

Game 6: Monday, April 25, at New York, TBA*

Game 7: Wednesday, April 27, at Pittsburgh, TBA*

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals

Game 1: Thursday, April 14, at Washington, 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 2: Saturday, April 16, at Washington, 7 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 3: Monday, April 18, at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 4: Wednesday, April 20, at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 5: Friday, April 22, at Washington, TBA*

Game 6: Sunday, April 24, at Philadelphia, TBA*

Game 7: Wednesday, April 27, at Washington, TBA*

New York Islanders vs. Florida Panthers

Game 1: Thursday, April 14, at Florida, 8 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 2: Friday, April 15, at Florida, 7:30 p.m. ET (NHL Network)

Game 3: Sunday, April 17, at New York, 8 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 4: Wednesday, April 20, at New York, 8 p.m. ET (USA)

Game 5: Friday, April 22, at Florida, TBA*

Game 6: Sunday, April 24, at New York, TBA*

Game 7: Tuesday, April 26, at Florida, TBA*

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

Game 1: Wednesday, April 13, at St. Louis, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 2: Friday, April 15, at St. Louis, 8 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 3: Sunday, April 17, at Chicago, 3 p.m. ET (NBC)

Game 4: Tuesday, April 19, at Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 5: Thursday, April 21, at St. Louis, TBA*

Game 6: Saturday, April 23, at Chicago, TBA*

Game 7: Monday, April 25, at St. Louis, TBA*

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

Game 1: Thursday, April 14, at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 2: Saturday. April 16, at Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 3: Monday, April 18, at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 4: Wednesday, April 20, at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 5: Friday, April 22, at Dallas, TBA*

Game 6: Sunday, April 24, at Minnesota, TBA*

Game 7: Tuesday, April 26, at Dallas, TBA*

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Game 1: Thursday, April 14, at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET (CNBC)

Game 2: Saturday, April 16, at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 3: Monday, April 18, at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 4: Wednesday, April 20, at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. ET (USA)

Game 5: Friday, April 22, at Los Angeles, TBA*

Game 6: Sunday, April 24, at San Jose, TBA*

Game 7: Tuesday, April 26, at Los Angeles, TBA*

Nashville Predators vs. Anaheim Ducks

Game 1: Friday, April 15, at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 2: Sunday, April 17, at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)

Game 3: Tuesday, April 19, at Nashville, 9:30 p.m. ET (USA)

Game 4: Thursday. April 21, at Nashville, 8 p.m. ET

Game 5: Saturday, April 23, at Anaheim, TBA*

Game 6: Monday, April 25, at Nashville, TBA*

Game 7: Wednesday, April 27, at Anaheim, TBA*