The New Jersey Devils begin the hunt for the fourth Stanley Cup championship in franchise history Wednesday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Finals (8 p.m. ET, NBC).

The Devils and Kings are unlikely participants in the Finals. New Jersey was the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, while Los Angeles was the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Devils won series against the Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers to reach the Finals. The Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Coyotes to reach the Finals.

The TV schedule for the series is as follows (All times Eastern):

Game 1, Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils: Wednesday, May 30, 8 p.m. on NBC, CBC

Game 2, Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils: Saturday, June 2, 8 p.m. on NBC, CBC

Game 3, New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings: Monday, June 4, 8. p.m. on NBCSN, CBC

Game 4, New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings: Wednesday, June 6, 8 p.m. on NBCSN, CBC

Game 5, Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils (if necessary): Saturday, June 9, 8 p.m. on NBC, CBC

Game 6, New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings (if necessary): Monday, June 11, 8 p.m. on NBC, CBC

Game 7, Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils (if necessary): Wednesday, June 13, 8 p.m. on NBC, CBC

-- See In Lou We Trust for more about the Devils

NHL Stanley Cup Finals Preview: Devils and Kings Series Has Both Team and Individual Sub-Plots (via sbnation)