Don’t make any plans this weekend, Islanders and Rangers fans.
The NHL announced some of the start times and broadcast details for Game 1s of the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, which includes the Rangers hosting the Capitals at Madison Square Garden and the Isles traveling to Carolina.
The Blueshirts begin their hunt for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup title since 1994 on Sunday with a 3 p.m. puck drop.
The game is slated to air on ESPN nationally.
The Islanders’ series with the Hurricanes begins on Saturday at 5 p.m. at PNC Arena, with Game 1 set to be broadcast on TBS.
The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will also be shown on teams’ local broadcast channels, but MSG Networks has not announced the playoff schedule yet for either New York team.
This will be the second consecutive season that the Islanders and Rangers have both made the postseason, as the Metropolitan Division rivals look to make some waves.
The Rangers are coming off a regular season in which they finished with a 55-23-4 record and won the Presidents’ Trophy.
The Blueshirts will face the Caps in the playoffs for the 10th time in franchise history.
The Rangers have knocked out Washington in their three previous postseason clashes — 2012, 2013 and 2015.
The Islanders are looking to exorcise some of their demons of the past when they face the Canes for the third time in the playoffs and second time in as many years.
The Hurricanes have knocked the Isles out of the postseason in both of their previous playoff meetings — 2019 and 2023.
Among the other Game 1s that the NHL announced start times for, the Bruins and Maple Leafs will play on Saturday at 8 p.m., and the Panthers and Lightning will play on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
