The 2012 NHL regular season concluded on Saturday, and the results finalized the first-round pairings and schedule for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers earned the top seed and will face the No. 8-seeded Ottawa Senators beginning on Thursday.
Over the course of the regular season, the Rangers went 1-3 against the Senators. Ottawa will feature goaltender Craig Anderson (2.84 goals against average and .914-save percentage) and top scorer Jason Spezza (34 goals, 50 assists, 84 points).
If New York is able to down Ottawa, it will move on to play the lowest remaining seed in the next round, while if the Senators earn a series victory, they will play the highest remaining seed.
Here's all at the schedule and TV coverage for this anticipated series:
| Thursday, April 12 | 7 p.m. | Ottawa at Rangers | NHL Network, CBC |
| Saturday, April 14 | 7 p.m. | Ottawa at Rangers | NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| Monday, April 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Rangers at Ottawa | CBC, CNBC |
| Wednesday, April 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Rangers at Ottawa | CBC, CNBC |
| *Saturday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | Ottawa at Rangers | NBC Sports Network, CBC |
| *Monday, April 23 | TBD | Rangers at Ottawa | TBD |
| *Thursday, April 26 | TBD | Ottawa at Rangers | TBD |
Here's how the rest of the Eastern Conference shapes out.
No. 2 Boston Bruins vs. No. 7 Washington Capitals: The Caps won the season-series 3-1.
No. 3 Florida Panthers vs. No. 6 New Jersey Devils: The regular-season series was split 2-2.
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers: This inter-state rivalry featured Flyers winning the season series 4-2
Here's what the Western Conference looks like: