Ever since the Bruins went on their historic 12-0-1 November run, fans have been waiting for the playoffs to start.
Three months later, the moment everyone's been waiting for is finally here, as the NHL released the quarterfinal schedule for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday.
The second-seeded Bruins will begin their championship defense against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, with the puck will dropping at 7:30 p.m. at the TD Garden. The B's and Caps will play in Boston again Saturday afternoon, before the series shifts to Washington for Game 3 Monday evening.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs will kick off with four games on Wednesday, the first of which will feature the Eastern Conference's top seed, New York, hosting the Ottawa Senators at 7 p.m.
Rivals Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will also play Wednesday night, while the Detroit Red Wings and Presidents' Trophy winners Vancouver will be in action as well.
Check out the entire first-round schedule below (all times Eastern).
| 2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS |
|
Time |
No. 1 New York versus No. 8 Ottawa |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NHL Network, CBC |
| Saturday, April 14 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Monday, April 16 |
7:30 p.m. |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
CBC, CNBC |
| Wednesday, April 18 |
7:30 p.m. |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
CBC, CNBC |
| *Saturday, April 21 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Monday, April 23 |
TBD |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26 |
TBD |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
Time |
No. 2 Boston versus No. 7 Washington |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12 |
7:30 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NESN, NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Saturday, April 14 |
3 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NBC, CBC |
| Monday, April 16 |
7:30 p.m. |
Boston at Washington |
NESN, NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Thursday, April 19 |
7:30 p.m. |
Boston at Washington |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Saturday, April 21 |
3 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NBC, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22 |
TBD |
Boston at Washington |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25 |
TBD |
Washington at Boston |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
Time |
No. 3 Florida versus No. 6 New Jersey |
Networks |
| Friday, April 13 |
7 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NHL Network, TSN |
| Sunday, April 15 |
7:30 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Tuesday, April 17 |
7 p.m. |
Florida at New Jersey |
NHL Network, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19 |
7 p.m. |
Florida at New Jersey |
NHL Network, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21 |
6:30 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NHL Network, TSN |
| *Tuesday, April 24 |
TBD |
Florida at New Jersey |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26 |
TBD |
New Jersey at Florida |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
Time |
No. 4 Pittsburgh versus No. 5 Philadelphia |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Friday, April 13 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Sunday, April 15 |
3 p.m. |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
NBC, TSN |
| Wednesday, April 18 |
7:30 p.m. |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Friday, April 20 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Sunday, April 22 |
TBD |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24 |
TBD |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS |
|
Time |
No. 1 Vancouver versus No. 8 Los Angeles |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11 |
10:30 p.m. |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
CBC, NBC Sports Network |
| Friday, April 13 |
10 p.m. |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
CBC, NBC Sports Network |
| Sunday, April 15 |
10:30 p.m. |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Wednesday, April 18 |
10 p.m. |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22 |
TBD |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24 |
TBD |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26 |
TBD |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
Time |
No. 2 St. Louis versus No. 7 San Jose |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| Saturday, April 14 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| Monday, April 16 |
10 p.m. |
St. Louis at San Jose |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19 |
10:30 p.m. |
St. Louis at San Jose |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| *Monday, April 23 |
TBD |
St. Louis at San Jose |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25 |
TBD |
San Jose at St. Louis |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
TIME |
No. 3 Phoenix verus No. 6 Chicago |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Saturday, April 14 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Tuesday, April 17 |
9 p.m. |
Phoenix at Chicago |
CNBC, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19 |
8 p.m. |
Phoenix at Chicago |
CNBC, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Monday, April 23 |
TBD |
Phoenix at Chicago |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25 |
TBD |
Chicago at Phoenix |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
|
Time |
No. 4 Nashville versus No. 5 Detroit |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11 |
8 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| Friday, April 13 |
7:30 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| Sunday, April 15 |
Noon |
Nashville at Detroit |
NBC, CBC |
| Tuesday, April 17 |
7:30 p.m. |
Nashville at Detroit |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Friday, April 20 |
8 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22 |
TBD |
Nashville at Detroit |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24 |
TBD |
Detroit at Nashville |
TBD |
| 2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS |
| SERIES A |
TIME (ET) |
#1  vs.  #8 |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NHL Network, CBC |
| Saturday, April 14, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Monday, April 16, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
CBC, CNBC |
| Wednesday, April 18, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
CBC, CNBC |
| *Saturday, April 21, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Monday, April 23, 2012 |
TBD |
NY Rangers at Ottawa |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26, 2012 |
TBD |
Ottawa at NY Rangers |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES B |
TIME (ET) |
#2  vs.  #7 |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Saturday, April 14, 2012 |
3 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NBC, CBC |
| Monday, April 16, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Boston at Washington |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Thursday, April 19, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Boston at Washington |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Saturday, April 21, 2012 |
3 p.m. |
Washington at Boston |
NBC, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22, 2012 |
TBD |
Boston at Washington |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25, 2012 |
TBD |
Washington at Boston |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES C |
TIME (ET) |
#3  vs.  #6 |
Networks |
| Friday, April 13, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NHL Network, TSN |
| Sunday, April 15, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Tuesday, April 17, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
Florida at New Jersey |
NHL Network, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19, 2012 |
7 p.m. |
Florida at New Jersey |
NHL Network, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21, 2012 |
6:30 p.m. |
New Jersey at Florida |
NHL Network, TSN |
| *Tuesday, April 24, 2012 |
TBD |
Florida at New Jersey |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26, 2012 |
TBD |
New Jersey at Florida |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES D |
TIME (ET) |
#4  vs.  #5 |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Friday, April 13, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Sunday, April 15, 2012 |
3 p.m. |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
NBC, TSN |
| Wednesday, April 18, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Friday, April 20, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Sunday, April 22, 2012 |
TBD |
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24, 2012 |
TBD |
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS |
| SERIES E |
TIME (ET) |
#1  vs.  #8 |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11, 2012 |
10:30 p.m. |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
CBC, NBC Sports Network |
| Friday, April 13, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
CBC, NBC Sports Network |
| Sunday, April 15, 2012 |
10:30 p.m. |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Wednesday, April 18, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22, 2012 |
TBD |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24, 2012 |
TBD |
Vancouver at Los Angeles |
TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26, 2012 |
TBD |
Los Angeles at Vancouver |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES F |
TIME (ET) |
#2  vs.  #7 |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| Saturday, April 14, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| Monday, April 16, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
St. Louis at San Jose |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19, 2012 |
10:30 p.m. |
St. Louis at San Jose |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
San Jose at St. Louis |
CNBC, TSN |
| *Monday, April 23, 2012 |
TBD |
St. Louis at San Jose |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25, 2012 |
TBD |
San Jose at St. Louis |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES G |
TIME (ET) |
#3  vs.  #6 |
Networks |
| Thursday, April 12, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Saturday, April 14, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| Tuesday, April 17, 2012 |
9 p.m. |
Phoenix at Chicago |
CNBC, TSN |
| Thursday, April 19, 2012 |
8 p.m. |
Phoenix at Chicago |
CNBC, TSN |
| *Saturday, April 21, 2012 |
10 p.m. |
Chicago at Phoenix |
NBC Sports Network, TSN |
| *Monday, April 23, 2012 |
TBD |
Phoenix at Chicago |
TBD |
| *Wednesday, April 25, 2012 |
TBD |
Chicago at Phoenix |
TBD |
| |
|
|
|
| SERIES H |
TIME (ET) |
#4  vs.  #5 |
Networks |
| Wednesday, April 11, 2012 |
8 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| Friday, April 13, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| Sunday, April 15, 2012 |
Noon |
Nashville at Detroit |
NBC, CBC |
| Tuesday, April 17, 2012 |
7:30 p.m. |
Nashville at Detroit |
NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Friday, April 20, 2012 |
8 p.m. |
Detroit at Nashville |
CNBC, CBC |
| *Sunday, April 22, 2012 |
TBD |
Nashville at Detroit |
TBD |
| *Tuesday, April 24, 2012 |
TBD |
Detroit at Nashville |
TBD |
