Stanley Cup playoffs schedule: Round 2 gets underway Thursday with a pair of Game 1s

The second round of the 2018 NHL playoffs is finally here, with a pair of series openers set for Thursday night — one a storied rivalry from recent years and the other featuring a brand new team that is red hot.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals open the second round with Game 1 from Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN). This is the third straight year the Pens and Caps have met in the postseason, all coming in the second round. Washington, like this year, had home ice advantage in each of the last two matchups but Pittsburgh prevailed both times en route to winning the Stanley Cup.

Washington lost the first two games of their first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime, but recovered to win the final four games to advance. Pittsburgh dispatched the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.

The nightcap on Thursday features the first-year Vegas Golden Knights, playing like no expansion team has ever done. The Golden Knights host the San Jose Sharks in a Pacific Division matchup, beginning with Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (10 p.m., NBCSN).

Vegas swept away the Los Angeles Kings in the first round while the Sharks did the same to the Anaheim Ducks. Thursday will be the Golden Knights’ first game in nine days, and the first game in eight days for the Sharks.

7 p.m. ET | Penguins at Capitals
Capital One Arena | Washington D.C.
TV: NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports | Streaming: NBC Sports

10 p.m. ET | Sharks at Golden Knights
T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVA Sports | Streaming: NBC Sports