Hockey is BACK! After a brief hiatus from the season due to Covid-19, fans and players rejoice as they get to watch and play the sport they love. The NHL resumed its 2020 season on August 1st with the top 24 teams vying for a spot in the playoffs. After 10 days of play, we have our first playoff matchups!

The NHL has been playing its first two weeks back in Canada where both Edmonton and Toronto have been hosting the games for the remaining 24 teams. The top four teams during the regular season in both conferences played a three-game round robin for seeding in the First Round. The eight winners of the best-of-5 Qualifying Round advanced to the First Round. These games have all been fanless with live broadcasts of each series for fans to watch. The NHL, like other major sporting events, have taken health and safety precautions to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 to the players and staff. So far, the NHL has remained pretty healthy as they dive into the remainder of the playoffs. With 16 teams now remaining, each team will play in a best of 7 series to advance to the elite 8. The upcoming schedule and where to watch them is below.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (Scotiabank Arena)

No. 1 Philadelphia Flyers vs. No. 8 Montreal Canadiens

Wednesday, Aug. 12: Montreal at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 14: Montreal at Philadelphia, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday, Aug. 16: Philadelphia at Montreal, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Tuesday, Aug. 18: Philadelphia at Montreal, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Wednesday, Aug. 19: Montreal at Philadelphia – TBD
*Friday, Aug. 21: Philadelphia at Montreal – TBD
*Sunday, Aug. 23: Montreal at Philadelphia – TBD

No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 7 Columbus Blue Jackets

Tuesday, Aug. 11: Columbus at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 13: Columbus at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 15: Tampa Bay at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Monday, Aug. 17: Tampa Bay at Columbus, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Wednesday, Aug. 19: Columbus at Tampa Bay – TBD
*Friday, Aug. 21: Tampa Bay at Columbus – TBD
*Saturday, Aug. 22: Columbus at Tampa Bay – TBD

No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 6 New York Islanders

Wednesday, Aug. 12: NY Islanders at Washington, 3 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 14: NY Islanders at Washington, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday, Aug. 16: Washington at NY Islanders, 12 p.m. ET – USA Network
Tuesday, Aug. 18: Washington at NY Islanders, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Thursday, Aug. 20: NY Islanders at Washington – TBD
*Saturday, Aug. 22: Washington at NY Islanders – TBD
*Sunday, Aug. 23: NY Islanders at Washington – TBD

No. 4 Boston Bruins vs. No. 5 Carolina Hurricanes

Tuesday, Aug. 11: Carolina at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 13: Carolina at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 15: Boston at Carolina, 12 p.m ET – NBC
Monday, Aug. 17: Boston at Carolina, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Wednesday, Aug. 19: Carolina at Boston – TBD
*Thursday, Aug. 20: Boston at Carolina – TBD
*Sunday, Aug. 23: Carolina at Boston – TBD

*if necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE (Rogers Place)

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks

Tuesday, Aug. 11: Chicago at Vegas, 10:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 13: Chicago at Vegas, 5:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Saturday, Aug. 15: Vegas at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET – NBC
Sunday, Aug. 16: Vegas at Chicago, 6:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Tuesday, Aug. 18: Chicago at Vegas – TBD
*Thursday, Aug. 20: Vegas at Chicago – TBD
*Saturday, Aug. 22: Chicago at Vegas – TBD

No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 7 Arizona Coyotes

Wednesday, Aug. 12: Arizona at Colorado, 5:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 14: Arizona at Colorado, 2 p.m. ET – NHL Network
Saturday, Aug. 15: Colorado at Arizona, 3 p.m. ET – CNBC
Monday, Aug. 17: Colorado at Arizona, 5:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Wednesday, Aug. 19: Arizona at Colorado – TBD
*Friday, Aug. 21: Colorado at Arizona – TBD
*Sunday, Aug. 23: Arizona at Colorado – TBD

No. 3 Dallas Stars vs. No. 6 Calgary Flames

Tuesday, Aug. 11: Calgary at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Thursday, Aug. 13: Calgary at Dallas, 10:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 14: Dallas at Calgary, 10:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday, Aug. 16: Dallas at Calgary, 2 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Tuesday, Aug. 18: Calgary at Dallas – TBD
*Thursday, Aug. 20: Dallas at Calgary – TBD
*Saturday, Aug. 22: Dallas at Calgary – TBD

No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Vancouver Canucks

Wednesday, Aug. 12: Vancouver at St. Louis, 10:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Friday, Aug. 14: Vancouver at St. Louis, 6:30 p.m. ET – NHL Network
Sunday, Aug. 16: St. Louis at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET – CNBC
Monday, Aug. 17: St. Louis at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET – NBCSN
*Wednesday, Aug. 19: Vancouver at St. Louis – TBD
*Friday, Aug. 21: St. Louis at Vancouver – TBD
*Sunday, Aug. 23: Vancouver at St. Louis – TBD

*if necessary

Major Sports Events in 2018- Any Of These Your Bucket List?

May 19: Preakness, post time 6:48 p.m., Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md.; Justify seeks to win second leg of Triple Crown.

May 27-June 10:French Open, Roland Garros, Paris; Rafa Nadal’s playground. He goes for an 11^th title. To play the French Open or not? Selena Williams has a big decision to make. Played on the infamous clay courts of Roland Garos.

May 27: Indy 500, 12:20 p.m., Indianapolis Speedway; Patrick says she’ll race here, too, before her full retirement.

End of May: Stanley Cup Finals begin; April 11: first day of NHL playoffs; Forget those regular-season standings. Hockey begins now.

End of May until as late as June 17: NBA Finals; Golden State was the prohibitive favorite going into the season. Now the Warriors are just one of six teams with a good shot.

June 9: Belmont Stakes, post time shortly after 6:30 p.m., Elmont, N.Y.; If a Triple Crown is at stake, this is tremendously fun. If not, it’s still a party!

June 14-17: U.S. Open (golf), Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, N.Y.; This is where Phil Mickelson blew the Open in 2004. Welcome back!

June 14-July 15: FIFA World Cup Soccer, various venues in Russia; This year is different. The Americans and Italy did not qualify for the world’s soccer tournament. The beautiful game now leads the pack among youth sports participants now in the US.

July 2-15: Wimbledon, All-England Club; The ageless Roger Federer, the defending champ,goes for a ninth Wimbledon title. Only major still played on grass.

July 7-29: Tour de France, throughout France, ending in Paris; This year will mark the 105th edition.

July 17: MLB All-Star Game, first pitch sometime after 7:30 p.m., Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.; The Home Run Derby, the day before. It’s a weekend extravaganza celebrating basketball not just a one day event.

July 19-22: British Open, Carnoustic Championship Course, Angus, Scotland;

Aug. 9-12: PGA Championship, Bellerive Country Club, Town and Country, Missouri (a St. Louis suburb); Been 26 years since this course hosted its last major. Nick Price won the PGA title in 1992.

Aug. 27-Sept. 9: U.S. Open (tennis), National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, NY;  Most attended US sporting event. Polo and Mercedes regular sponsors of this prestigious event. Playing surface are the famous blue colored courts.

Sept. 6: Opening Thursday night game of NFL season, in home of NFL Super Bowl champion;

Late September: WNBA Finals; Would help if it weren’t Minneapolis-Los Angeles for a third time in a row.

Mid-October: NWSL final; Women’s soccer showcase.

End of October: World Series; Astros? Dodgers? Cubs? Red Sox? Indians? Yankees look good this year!

Early December: MLS Cup final; Toronto is a very cold place in December, but get used to it.

Dec. 31: College football semifinals, Cotton Bowl (Dallas) and Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens); Historic college football venues.

Major Sports Events in 2019 include NCAA College Football Championship, Super Bowl. Daytona 500, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NCAA Frozen Four, The Masters, Kentucky Derby and the FA Cup Final.