Ah, nothing like first-round action to clear up that postseason picture. Now that the next set of matchups have been determined, I can present a more-or-less complete NHL playoffs schedule (with plenty of To Be Determineds, which I’ll fill in as they become determined).

So, here we go. All times EST:

UPDATE, 5/14/2006: Carolina-Buffalo pairing set for the East, with gametimes TBD; Anaheim date for the West finals set, gametimes and sites TBD once the San Jose-Edmonton series is done.

UPDATE, 5/17/2006: Edmonton shocks again, taking down the Sharks (who I figured were susceptible defensively). So it’s Anaheim-Edmonton to decide the West. Conference Finals matchups and schedules updated below, as well as the start date of the Stanley Cup Finals.

LAST UPDATE, 6/1/2006: We’re set! The Oilers shocked the world by making it all the way to the Finals, while the ‘Canes lived up to their top-seed potential. Stanley Cup round schedule below, all the way through to the if-necessary Game 7 on June 19th. After that, it’s Entry Draft time.

Conference Semifinals

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Ottawa Senators vs. No. 4 Buffalo Sabres
Game One: Fri, May 5 - Buf at Ott, 7 p.m. (OLN)
Game Two: Mon, May 8 – Buf at Ott, 7 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Wed, May 10 – Ott at Buf, 7 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Thu, May 11 – Ott at Buf, 7 p.m. (OLN)
Game Five: Sat, May 13 – Buf at Ott, 7 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Six: Mon, May 15 – Ott at Buf, 7 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Seven: Wed, May 17 – Buf at Ott, 7 p.m. (OLN)*

No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 3 New Jersey Devils
Game One: Sat, May 6 – NJ at Car, 2 p.m. (NBC)
Game Two: Mon, May 8 – NJ at Car, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Wed, May 10 – Car at NJ, 7 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Sat, May 13 – Car at NJ, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Game Five: Sun, May 14 – NJ at Car, 7 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Six: Tue, May 16 – Car at NJ, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Seven: Thu, May 18 – NJ at Car, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)*

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 5 San Jose Sharks vs. No. 8 Edmonton Oilers
Game One: Sun, May 7 – Edm at SJ, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Two: Mon, May 8 – Edm at SJ, 10:30 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Wed, May 10 – SJ at Edm, 10 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Fri, May 12 – SJ at Edm, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Five: Sun, May 14 – Edm at SJ, 10 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Six: Wed, May 17 – SJ at Edm, TBD*
Game Seven: Fri, May 19 – Edm at SJ, TBD (OLN)*

No. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. No. 7 Colorado Avalanche
Game One: Fri, May 5 – Col at Ana, 10 p.m. (OLN)
Game Two: Sun, May 7 – Col at Ana, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Game Three: Tues, May 9 – Ana at Col, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Thurs, May 11 – Ana at Col, 10 p.m. (OLN)
Game Five: Sun, May 14 – Col at Ana, 3 p.m. (NBC)*
Game Six: Wed, May 17 – Ana at Col, TBD (OLN)*
Game Seven: Fri, May 19 – Col at Ana, TBD (OLN)*

Conference Finals

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Buffalo Sabres
Game One: Sat, May 20 – Buf at Car, 2 p.m. (NBC)
Game Two: Mon, May 22 – Buf at Car, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Wed, May 24 – Car at Buf, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Fri, May 26 – Car at Buf, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)
Game Five: Sun, May 28 – Buf at Car, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Six: Tue, May 30 – Car at Buf, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Seven: Thu, Jun 1 – Buf at Car, 7:30 p.m. (OLN)*

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. No. 8 Edmonton Oilers
Game One: Fri, May 19 – Edm at Ana, 9 p.m. (OLN)
Game Two: Sun, May 21 – Edm at Ana, 9 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Tues, May 23 – Ana at Edm, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Four: Thurs, May 25 – Ana at Edm, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Five: Sat, May 27 – Edm at Ana, 9 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Six: Mon, May 29 – Ana at Edm, 8 p.m. (OLN)*
Game Seven: Wed, May 31 – Edm at Ana, 9 p.m. (OLN)*

Stanley Cup Finals

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Edmonton Oilers
Game One: Mon, Jun 5 – Edm at Car, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Two: Wed, Jun 7 – Edm at Car, 8 p.m. (OLN)
Game Three: Sat, Jun 10 – Car at Edm, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Game Four: Mon, Jun 12 – Car at Edm, 8 p.m. (NBC)
Game Five: Wed, Jun 14 – Edm at Car, 8 p.m. (NBC)*
Game Six: Sat, Jun 17 – Car at Edm, 8 p.m. (NBC)*
Game Seven: Mon, Jun 19 – Edm at Car, 8 p.m. (NBC)*

* - if necessary

Check back here as the series progress.