Nashville Predators Second-Round Schedule Set ... Sort Of

NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators will begin a best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series against the Winnipeg Jets Friday at 7 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be broadcast on NBCSN.

Game 2 will be Sunday at some yet-to-be-determined time. The rest of the series? That’s still an open question.

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With one first round series still incomplete - the Boston Bruins host the Toronto Maple Leafs in a decisive Game 7 Wednesday - the National Hockey League is only releasing its schedule piecemeal.

The Friday night start is something of a shock. After the Maple Leafs fell behind the Bruins 3-1, the conventional wisdom was that the Preds and Jets would open Thursday with Game 2 on Saturday so the cultural megalith and Saturday night tradition that is “Hockey Night In Canada” could show what was predicted to be the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs, but with the Leafs surging? Well, the best laid plans of ice and men. ...

However, a Saturday game would have made for epic (or irritating) day downtown, as the Country Music Marathon will hit the streets Saturday morning, bringing post-race revelers elbow to elbow with hockey fans Saturday night.