The regular season has ended and the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin, and NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, will have Mike Bolt, the keeper of the Cup, on set to talk about some of his favorite moments with Lord Stanley's cherished trophy.

The New York Rangers open up the playoffs Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, and we'll have Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh on set to talk about his recovery from injury and hopes for the postseason.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will get started Wednesday night with Game 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and League scoring leader Sidney Crosby will talk about making another run at a title in the Steel City.

Also, E.J. and Craig Button will face off as they discuss the first-round series matchups.

NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, is set for the announcement of the Hobey Baker Award for college hockey's best player. The presentation will be at 6 p.m. and college hockey insider Julie Robenhymer joins the show to talk about the winner and college free agents who could be signed prior to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Brendan Shanahan is leaving the NHL to become the president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs and we'll talk to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly about Shanahan's time with the League.

Seven games dot the NHL schedule for Friday night, including the Washington Capitals hosting the Chicago Blackhawks. Analyst Eddie Olczyk joins us from the Arena Cam at Verizon Center to talk about what's going to happen in Washington in the wake of the Capitals missing the playoffs, as well as what's ahead for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.

NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday on NHL Network, welcomes in two-time Stanley Cup winning forward Grant Marshall to break down the races for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With six days left in the regular season there are 10 games on the schedule Tuesday. Famed photographer Bruce Bennett will be at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for his 5,000th game as the New York Islanders host the Ottawa Senators, and we'll talk to him live via the Arena Cam.

The Washington Capitals are desperate for points as they face the St. Louis Blues. NBCSN analyst Brian Engblom will provide us with an update from the Arena Cam at Scottrade Center.

Forward Brett Gallant will become the latest player to make his NHL debut for the New York Islanders when they host the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Gallant was recalled Monday from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League, where he had one goal, one assist and 245 penalty minutes in 56 games this season.

Gallant, 25, has played the past four seasons in Bridgeport after being signed as an undrafted free agent. He joins forwards Ryan Strome, John Persson, Johan Sundstrom and Mike Halmo, and defensemen Kevin Czuczman and Scott Mayfield, as Islanders to make their NHL debut during the 2013-14 season. Forward Brock Nelson made his regular-season debut this season after playing one game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

Windsor Spitfires forward and top 2014 NHL Draft prospect Joshua Ho-Sang has been suspended for the first 15 games of the 2014-15 Ontario Hockey League season for an incident during a playoff game against the London Knights on March 27.

In the second period of Game 4 of the teams' first-round playoff series, Ho-Sang was chasing London defenseman Zach Bell when he pushed Bell from behind. Bell fell feet first into the boards and sustained a broken leg. Ho-Sang received a minor penalty for holding on the play.

London won the game 4-3 to finish the four-game sweep.

NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek, at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network, begins the countdown to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With one week remaining in the regular season and six spots still up for grabs, the hosts discuss who they think will make the cut and who will fall a little short.

The New Jersey Devils are one of those teams not currently in a playoff spot but still in the fight. They host the Calgary Flames on Monday and we'll go out on Arena Cam to Prudential Center to discuss their chances with MSG analyst Ken Daneyko.

The Dallas Stars are fighting for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, and we'll chat with coach Lindy Ruff about their prospects.

Also, NHL Network analyst Barry Melrose will be on the show for his weekly coaches chat, discussing his choices for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

Washington Capitals forward Dustin Penner is day-to-day with an upper-body injury and won't play Saturday against the New York Islanders, who see forward Michael Grabner return to the lineup.

The Capitals activated forward Aaron Volpatti off injured reserve to take the place of Penner, who has one goal and two assists in 14 games since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Two players ranked in the top 10 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings of the top North American skaters for the 2014 NHL Draft will take part in Hockey Canada's evaluation camp for the 2014 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Defenseman Haydn Fleury of the Red Deer Rebels and forward Brendan Perlini of the Niagara IceDogs were among the 19 players invited to the camp, which will be held April 5-8 in Toronto.

Fleury had 46 points and a plus-16 rating in 70 games this season. He's No. 6 on Central Scouting's list, No. 2 among defenseman.

Perlini had 34 goals and 71 points in 58 games. He's No. 8 on Central Scouting's list.

Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk will make his long-awaited return to the lineup Friday against the Buffalo Sabres at Joe Louis Arena, and he may not be the only key player back.

Veteran forward Daniel Alfredsson, who missed the game Wednesday against the Boston Bruins with back issues, is a game-time decision. Although Alfredsson didn't take part in line rushes at the morning skate, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland believes he'll play, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.

Datsyuk is official, though, and Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said he'll start the game on a line with forwards Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader. Knee inflammation has kept Datsyuk out since Feb. 27 and he's been limited to 39 games this season.

NHL Live with Steve Mears and E.J. Hradek previews a seven-game Friday that features a battle between the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils as each team looks to make up ground in a desperate push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. John Walton, radio play-by-play voice of the Capitals, joins us from the Arena Cam at Prudential Center to discuss the must-win situation the Capitals face.

NHL Network analyst Barry Melrose will be on hand to talk the playoff picture in the Western Conference as well as award his Mullet of the Week.

Also, University of Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox calls in for our weekly college report to chat the Frozen Four.