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The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Wednesday night and a number of former Wisconsin men's hockey players are expected to skate in big roles.
At this point, 11 former Badgers are on rosters of teams who reached the postseason and more could potentially be added as the AHL season wraps up.
Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh are expected to play significant roles for the New York Rangers as they face off with the Philadelphia Flyers. Both players have excelled since returning from the Olympics in Sochi, and McDonagh has even been mentioned as a potential Norris Trophy candidate as the best defenseman in the NHL.
San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski is another player who will draw headlines this week as the playoffs begin. The former Wisconsin All-American finished the regular season third in the NHL in goals with 41 and ninth in points with 79.
Brian Elliott had another big season for the St. Louis Blues, winning 18 games and losing just six in regulation while carrying a .922 save percentage. While the Blues added high-profile goaltender Ryan Miller at the trade deadline, don't be surprised to see Elliott play as Miller has been awful down the stretch.
The Detroit Red Wings' Brendan Smith enjoyed his best season as a pro and will be relied upon to play big minutes when the Wings attempt to upset the Boston Bruins in the first round. As a versatile player, Smith has spent time at both forward and defense this season due to injuries.
Arguably the most important player to any team this Stanley Cup Playoffs will be Ryan Suter with the Minnesota Wild. Suter logged 2,411:54 of ice time this season, the most in a single season since Brian Leetch (2,449:19) in 1998-99.
Other former Badgers who will be in the playoffs include Jack Skille (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Rene Bourque (Montreal Canadiens).
One former Badger whose playoffs are in jeopardy is Adam Burish, who suffered a serious hand injury while blocking a shot in late March. Burish's status is not yet known at this time.
Two other players with uncertain playoff features include Dany Heatley and Jake Dowell, both with the Minnesota Wild. Dowell is on the roster for added center depth and isn't expected to play unless there are a number of injuries. Heatley has been a lightning-rod for Wild fans all season, and looks to be the 13th forward as Minnesota prepares to face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs TV Schedule
Detroit Red Wings (Brendan Smith) vs. Boston Bruins
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Apr 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Detroit at Boston | NBCSN, TSN |
| 2 | Sun, Apr 20 | 3 p.m. | Detroit at Boston | NBC, TSN |
| 3 | Tue, Apr 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Boston at Detroit | NBCSN, TSN |
| 4 | Thu, Apr 24 | 8 p.m. | Boston at Detroit | NBCSN, TSN |
| 5* | Sat, Apr 26 | 3 p.m. | Detroit at Boston | NBC, TSN |
| 6* | Mon, Apr 28 | TBD | Boston at Detroit | TSN |
| 7* | Wed, Apr 30 | TBD | Detroit at Boston | TSN |
Montreal Canadiens (Rene Bourque) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed, Apr 16 | 7 p.m. | Montreal at Tampa Bay | CBC, RDS, CNBC |
| 2 | Fri, Apr 18 | 7 p.m. | Montreal at Tampa Bay | CBC, RDS, CNBC |
| 3 | Sun, Apr 20 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay at Montreal | CBC, RDS, NBCSN |
| 4 | Tue, Apr 22 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Bay at Montreal | CBC, RDS, NHLN U.S. |
| 5* | Thu, Apr 24 | 7 p.m. | Montreal at Tampa Bay | CBC, RDS, CNBC |
| 6* | Sun, Apr 27 | TBD | Tampa Bay at Montreal | CBC, RDS, NBCSN |
| 7* | Tue, Apr 29 | TBD | Montreal at Tampa Bay | CBC, RDS |
Columbus Blue Jackets (Jack Skille) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed, Apr 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Columbus at Pittsburgh | NBCSN, CBC |
| 2 | Sat, Apr 19 | 7 p.m. | Columbus at Pittsburgh | NBCSN, CBC |
| 3 | Mon, Apr 21 | 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh at Columbus | NBCSN, CBC |
| 4 | Wed, Apr 23 | 7 p.m. | Pittsburgh at Columbus | NBCSN, CBC |
| 5* | Sat, Apr 26 | TBD | Columbus at Pittsburgh | CBC |
| 6* | Mon, Apr 28 | TBD | Pittsburgh at Columbus | CBC |
| 7* | Wed, Apr 30 | TBD | Columbus at Pittsburgh | CBC |
Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers (Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh)
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Apr 17 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia at NY Rangers | CNBC, TSN |
| 2 | Sun, Apr 20 | Noon | Philadelphia at NY Rangers | NBC, TSN |
| 3 | Tue, Apr 22 | 8 p.m. | NY Rangers at Philadelphia | CNBC, TSN |
| 4 | Fri, Apr 25 | 7 p.m. | NY Rangers at Philadelphia | CNBC, TSN |
| 5* | Sun, Apr 27 | Noon | Philadelphia at NY Rangers | NBC, TSN |
| 6* | Tue, Apr 29 | TBD | NY Rangers at Philadelphia | TSN |
| 7* | Wed, Apr 30 | TBD | Philadelphia at NY Rangers | TSN |
Minnesota Wild (Ryan Suter, Dany Heatley, Jake Dowell) vs. Colorado Avalanche
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Apr 17 | 9:30 p.m. | Minnesota at Colorado | CNBC, TSN |
| 2 | Sat, Apr 19 | 9:30 p.m. | Minnesota at Colorado | NBCSN, TSN |
| 3 | Mon, Apr 21 | 7 p.m. | Colorado at Minnesota | NHLN U.S., TSN |
| 4 | Thu, Apr 24 | 9:30 p.m. | Colorado at Minnesota | CNBC, TSN2 |
| 5* | Sat, Apr 26 | TBD | Minnesota at Colorado | TSN |
| 6* | Mon, Apr 28 | TBD | Colorado at Minnesota | TSN |
| 7* | Wed, Apr 30 | TBD | Minnesota at Colorado | TSN |
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues (Brian Elliott)
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Apr 17 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at St. Louis | NBCSN, CBC |
| 2 | Sat, Apr 19 | 3 p.m. | Chicago at St. Louis | NBC, CBC |
| 3 | Mon, Apr 21 | 8:30 p.m. | St. Louis at Chicago | CNBC, CBC |
| 4 | Wed, Apr 23 | 9:30 p.m. | St. Louis at Chicago | NBCSN, CBC |
| 5* | Fri, Apr 25 | 8 p.m. | Chicago at St. Louis | NBCSN, CBC |
| 6* | Sun, Apr 27 | 3 p.m. | St. Louis at Chicago | NBC, CBC |
| 7* | Tue, Apr 29 | TBD | Chicago at St. Louis | CBC |
Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks (Joe Pavelski, Adam Burish)
| GAME | DATE | TIME (ET) | WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND | NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Apr 17 | 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles at San Jose | NBCSN, CBC |
| 2 | Sun, Apr 20 | 10 p.m. | Los Angeles at San Jose | NBCSN, CBC |
| 3 | Tue, Apr 22 | 10 p.m. | San Jose at Los Angeles | NBCSN, CBC |
| 4 | Thu, Apr 24 | 10:30 p.m. | San Jose at Los Angeles | NBCSN, CBC |
| 5* | Sat, Apr 26 | TBD | Los Angeles at San Jose | NBCSN, CBC |
| 6* | Mon, Apr 28 | TBD | San Jose at Los Angeles | CBC |
| 7* | Wed, Apr 30 | TBD | Los Angeles at San Jose | CBC |