Coming Sunday: Official schedule for first round

The Stanley Cup Playoffs start Wednesday, and there are three more Western Conference matchups to be decided after Sunday games starting at 5 p.m. ET.

Then the fun starts.

Once those Sunday games end, NHL.com will post the official League schedule of teams and game days for all possible 56 Conference Quarterfinals games as soon as NHL officials have it finalized. We can't tell you an exact time for the schedule release–feel free to keep checking – but you will see the complete first-round schedule as soon as it's official here at NHL.com.

Three Eastern Conference matchups are set for home ice: No. 8 Montreal at No. 1 Boston, No. 7 New York at No. 2 Washington, and No. 6 Carolina at No. 3 New Jersey. The other series will feature state rivals Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with Sunday's Rangers-Flyers game deciding which Pennsylvania team will have the home-ice advantage.

In the Western Conference, we know Chicago skates at home to open a No. 4-No.5 series against Calgary. The visiting opponents for the other three series -- to be hosted by San Jose, Detroit and Vancouver -- will await matchups to be decided Sunday. Possible opponents will come from Columbus, St. Louis and Anaheim.

Look for the game results – and the official and complete schedule for the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs – right here at NHL.com. Coming Sunday night.

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