Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:35 am EDT

Russell Crowe once got so Cup Crazy that he threw a phone at a dude and made out with Meg Ryan. And while that might not be entirely accurate, here's what is: The NHL's official schedule of first-round games for the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Here on Puck Daddy, we have some rather interesting things planned for the next three days before faceoff. Our previews of individual series will run on Tuesday and Wednesday; we'll have our official staff picks coming up and some unorthodox methodologies for selecting winners; and we'll also have some special videos for you to view in preparation for the playoffs. Much fun will be had by all.
In looking at the schedules, the Washington Capitals/New York Rangers series and the Pittsburgh Penguins/Philadelphia Flyers series are both scheduled to be on NBC twice if necessary. The Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils won't be on national television in the U.S. until Game 6; and only Game 2 of the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens is scheduled for Versus.
Every game of the San Jose Sharks/Anaheim Ducks series and the Vancouver Canucks/St. Louis Blues series are scheduled to be on Versus. The Vancouver series also has a quirk: Game 4 is on a Tuesday and Game 5 is on a Friday. A few extra days of ice packs for Misters Tkachuk and Sundin.
The schedules follow. What a ride this is going to be.
From the NHL:
2009 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS
No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 8 Montreal Canadiens
Thursday, April 16 7 p.m. Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
Saturday, April 18 8 p.m. Montreal at Boston VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Monday, April 20 7 p.m. Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS
Wednesday, April 22 7 p.m. Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS
*Saturday, April 25 7 p.m. Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
*Monday, April 27 TBD Boston at Montreal CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, April 29 TBD Montreal at Boston CBC, RDS
No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 7 New York Rangers
Wednesday, April 15 7 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington TSN
Saturday, April 18 1 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington NBC, TSN
Monday, April 20 7 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers VERSUS, TSN
Wednesday, April 22 7 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers VERSUS, TSN
*Friday, April 24 7 p.m. NY Rangers at Washington VERSUS, TSN, RDS
*Sunday, April 26 2 p.m. Washington at NY Rangers NBC, TSN, RDS
*Tuesday, April 28 TBD NY Rangers at Washington VERSUS, TSN, RDS
No. 3 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 6 Carolina Hurricanes
Wednesday, April 15 7:30 p.m. Carolina at New Jersey TSN, RIS
Friday, April 17 7:30 p.m. Carolina at New Jersey TSN, RIS
Sunday, April 19 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Carolina TSN, RIS
Tuesday, April 21 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Carolina TSN, RIS
*Thursday, April 23 7:30 p.m. Carolina at New Jersey TSN, RIS
*Sunday, April 26 TBD New Jersey at Carolina TSN, VERSUS
*Tuesday, April 28 7:30 p.m. Carolina at New Jersey TSN
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers
Wednesday, April 15 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Friday, April 17 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, April 19 3 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia NBC, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, April 21 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Thursday, April 23 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, April 25 3 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia NBC, CBC
*Monday, April 27 TBD Philadelphia at Pittsburgh VERSUS, CBC
2009 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS
No. 1 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 Anaheim Ducks
Thursday, April 16 10:30 p.m. Anaheim at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Sunday, April 19 10 p.m. Anaheim at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, April 21 10:30 p.m. San Jose at Anaheim VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Thursday, April 23 10:30 p.m. San Jose at Anaheim VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Saturday, April 25 10 p.m. Anaheim at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Monday, April 27 TBD San Jose at Anaheim VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, April 29 TBD Anaheim at San Jose VERSUS, CBC, RDS
No. 2 Detroit Red Wings vs. No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets
Thursday, April 16 7 p.m. Columbus at Detroit VERSUS, TSN
Saturday, April 18 6 p.m. Columbus at Detroit TSN
Tuesday, April 21 7 p.m. Detroit at Columbus TSN
Thursday, April 23 7 p.m. Detroit at Columbus TSN
*Saturday, April 25 7 p.m. Columbus at Detroit VERSUS, TSN
*Monday, April 27 TBD Detroit at Columbus TSN
*Wednesday, April 29 TBD Columbus at Detroit VERSUS, TSN
No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 St. Louis Blues
Wed., April 15 10 p.m. St. Louis at Vancouver CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Friday, April 17 10 p.m. St. Louis at Vancouver CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Sunday, April 19 7 p.m. Vancouver at St. Louis CBC, VERSUS
Tuesday, April 21 8 p.m. Vancouver at St. Louis CBC, VERSUS
*Friday, April 24 10 p.m. St. Louis at Vancouver CBC, VERSUS, RDS
*Sunday, April 26 8 p.m. Vancouver at St. Louis CBC, VERSUS, RDS
*Tuesday, April 28 TBD St. Louis at Vancouver CBC, VERSUS, RDS
No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Calgary Flames
Thursday, April 16 8:30 p.m. Calgary at Chicago TSN, VERSUS
Saturday, April 18 TBD Calgary at Chicago TSN
Monday, April 20 9:30 p.m. Chicago at Calgary TSN, VERSUS
Wednesday, April 22 TBD Chicago at Calgary TSN, VERSUS
*Saturday, April 25 10 p.m. Calgary at Chicago TSN, RIS
*Monday, April 27 TBD Chicago at Calgary TSN
*Wednesday, April 29 TBD Calgary at Chicago TSN
Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Philadelphia 3, New Jersey 2 (Feb. 8)
Posted Feb 7 2010
San Jose 3, Toronto 2 (Feb. 8)
Posted Feb 7 2010
Phoenix 6, Edmonton 1 (Feb. 8)
Posted Feb 7 2010
Edited by MJD
Edited by 'Duk
Edited by J.E. Skeets
Edited by Greg Wyshynski
Edited by Matt Hinton
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Jay Busbee
Edited by Jay Busbee
Edited by Steve Cofield
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Chris Chase
Edited by Brooks Peck
Edited by Andy Behrens
306 Comments
1 - 25 of 306
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
It's hard not to love Philly/Pitt and Ana/SJ. Those will be two fantastic series.
Report Abuse
No respect for the Eastern top seed... plus its a more entertaining series than the Canucks-Blues...
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
I think that has more to do with the fact that the four games in Vancouver work as doubleheader games for Versus.
Report Abuse
predictions??
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Suck my balls!
[/Cartman]
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
I'm obviously pulling for the Note, but either way, that series is going 6 or 7 easy.
Oh, and F**K DETROIT!
1 - 25 of 306