Been a long time coming for the favorites, but this year they triumphed at all but the 4th spot. This season marks the FIRST time since the NHL went to six divisions that the 1-3 seeds in both Conferences advanced past the first round.

The last time all division winners escaped round one was 1995-96, when there were still four divisions. That year, Pacific Division winner (and eventual champs) Colorado, Central Division winner Detroit, Atlantic Division winner Philadelphia and Northeast Division winner Pittsburgh all got through their first round series.

2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

SERIES I                        TIME (ET)        #1 Washington vs. #5 Tampa Bay                Network        
Friday, April 29, 2011                7 p.m.                Tampa Bay at Washington                        VERSUS**, TSN
Sunday, May 1, 2011                7 p.m.                Tampa Bay at Washington                        VERSUS**, CBC
Tuesday, May 3, 2011                TBD                Washington at Tampa Bay                        VERSUS, TSN
Wednesday, May 4, 2011                  7 p.m.                Washington at Tampa Bay                        TSN
*Saturday, May 7, 2011                12:30 p.m.        Tampa Bay at Washington                        NBC, TSN
*Monday, May 9, 2011                TBD                Washington at Tampa Bay                        VERSUS, TSN
*Wednesday, May 11, 2011        TBD                Tampa Bay at Washington                        VERSUS, TSN

SERIES J                        TIME (ET)        #2 Philadelphia vs. #3 Boston                Network        
Saturday, April 30, 2011                3 p.m.                Boston at Philadelphia                        NBC, CBC
Monday, May 2, 2011                7:30 p.m.                Boston at Philadelphia                        VERSUS**, TSN
Wednesday, May 4, 2011                7 p.m.                Philadelphia at Boston                        VERSUS**, CBC
Friday, May 6, 2011                8 p.m.                Philadelphia at Boston                        VERSUS (JIP), CBC
*Sunday, May 8, 2011                3 p.m.                Boston at Philadelphia                        NBC, CBC
*Tuesday, May 10, 2011                TBD                Philadelphia at Boston                        VERSUS, CBC
*Thursday, May 12, 2011                TBD                Boston at Philadelphia                        VERSUS, CBC
                               

2011 WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

SERIES K                        TIME (ET)        #1 Vancouver vs. #5 Nashville                Network                
Thursday, April 28, 2011                9 p.m.                Nashville at Vancouver                        CBC, VERSUS
Saturday, April 30, 2011                9 p.m.                Nashville at Vancouver                        CBC, VERSUS**
Tuesday, May 3, 2011                TBD                Vancouver at Nashville                        CBC, VERSUS
Thursday, May 5, 2011                TBD                Vancouver at Nashville                        CBC, VERSUS
*Saturday, May 7, 2011                8 p.m.                Nashville at Vancouver                        CBC, VERSUS**
*Monday, May 9, 2011                TBD                Vancouver at Nashville                        CBC, VERSUS
*Wednesday, May 11, 2011        TBD                Nashville at Vancouver                        CBC, VERSUS

SERIES L                        TIME (ET)        #2 San Jose vs. #3 Detroit                        Network                
Friday, April 29, 2011                10 p.m.                Detroit at San Jose                        VERSUS, TSN
Sunday, May 1, 2011                3 p.m.                Detroit at San Jose                        NBC, TSN
Wednesday, May 4, 2011                8 p.m.                San Jose at Detroit                        VERSUS (JIP), TSN
Friday, May 6, 2011                7 p.m.                San Jose at Detroit                        VERSUS**, TSN
*Sunday, May 8, 2011                8 p.m.                Detroit at San Jose                        VERSUS**, TSN
*Tuesday, May 10, 2011                TBD                San Jose at Detroit                        VERSUS, TSN
*Thursday, May 12, 2011                TBD                Detroit at San Jose                        VERSUS, TSN

* If necessary                          VERSUS** denotes exclusive telecast                  JIP –

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