Carolina Hurricanes to face Boston Bruins in Eastern Conference Final

After a pair of series against first-time opponents in rounds 1 and 2 of the 2019 NHL playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes will face an old nemesis for the right to play for the Stanley Cup.

The Boston Bruins locked up their spot in the Eastern Conference Final on Monday night by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 in Game 6 of their second-round series. As a result, the Hurricanes will again face the Bruins, who they have now faced in three of their five playoff seasons since moving to North Carolina in 1997, the second-most frequent opponent for the Hurricanes behind the four meetings with the New Jersey Devils.

The NHL announced Tuesday that Game 1 will be Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston. The schedule for the rest of series is not official yet, but based on arena availability around the league, we believe Game 3 will be next Tuesday and Game 4 next Thursday at PNC Arena. Canes owner Tom Dundon may have inadvertently spilled the beans in speaking with David Glenn this afternoon:

That sets up the following as the most likely schedule for the first four games:

• Game 1: at Boston, Thursday, May 9, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN (confirmed)
• Game 2: at Boston, Sunday, May 12, 3:00 p.m., NBC
• Game 3: at Carolina, Tuesday, May 14, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 4: at Carolina, Thursday, May 16, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN

If the Stars and Avalanche advance to the conference final by winning their respective Game 7s tonight and tomorrow, the Canes/Bruins series will likely play Game 2 on Saturday. Otherwise, expect the above schedule to be correct.

This article will be updated when the dates for the other games are confirmed.

UPDATE May 9, 8:00 am

The schedules have now been confirmed for the remainder of the Eastern Conference Final

• Game 1: at Boston, Thursday, May 9, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 2: at Boston, Sunday, May 12, 3:00 p.m., NBC
• Game 3: at Carolina, Tuesday, May 14, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 4: at Carolina, Thursday, May 16, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 5: at Boston, Saturday, May 18, 7:15 p.m., NBC*
• Game 6: at Carolina, Monday, May 20, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN*
• Game 7: at Boston, Wednesday, May 22, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN*

The San Jose Sharks will face the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final

• Game 1: at San Jose, Saturday, May 11, 8:00 p.m., NBC
• Game 2: at San Jose, Monday, May 13, 9:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 3: at St. Louis, Wednesday, May 15, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 4: at St. Louis, Friday, May 17, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN
• Game 5: at San Jose, Sunday, May 19, 3:00 p.m., NBC*
• Game 6: at St. Louis, Tuesday, May 21, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN*
• Game 7: at San Jose, Thursday, May 23, 9:00 p.m., NBCSN*

* if necessary