Blues vs. Stars Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule: Round 2 starts tonight

The good thing about the second round is that there are fewer series to try to keep up with, and it’s easier to figure out who’s on what TV channel. Unfortunately, if you’re a fan of a Western Conference team, your sleep schedule gets hosed. Hard.

Eastern Conference games will always have a scheduled 7 or 7:30 Eastern start time, which means that the Western Conference games get a later start. By virtue of time zones, that’s going to happen anyway, but if you’re a fan of a Western Conference team in the Central time zone, that time zone bonus isn’t as good as if you were, say, a fan of the Sharks.

Instead of a 7 or 7:30 Central start for the Blues and Stars, two teams in the Central, fans are getting an 8:30 start time for game one tonight, and that’s not the only time where hockey might impact your sleep schedule. Game two has an early Saturday afternoon start for the NBC audiences, and game three starts at a reasonable 7:30 in Dallas. But oh, boy, games one, four, and five... just get the coffee ready the night before. If you live in the Eastern time zone like I do, just go on and explain things to your boss in advance.

ROUND 2 SCHEDULE

Game 1: Blues vs. Stars

Thursday, April 25 - 8:30 p.m.

Enterprise Center

NBCSN, NBC Sports App

Game 2: Blues vs. Stars

Saturday, April 27 - 2 p.m.

Enterprise Center

NBC, NBC Sports App

Game 3: Blues at Stars

Monday, April 29 - 7 p.m.

American Airlines Center

NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports App

Game 4: Blues at Stars

Wednesday, May 1 - 8:30 p.m.

American Airlines Center

NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports App

Game 5: Blues vs. Stars *

Friday, May 3 - 8:30 p.m.

Enterprise Center

NBC Sports Network, NBC Sports App

Game 6: Blues at Stars *

Sunday, May 5 - Time TBD

American Airlines Center

Broadcasts TBD

Game 7: Blues vs. Stars *

Tuesday, May 7 - Time TBD

Enterprise Center

Broadcasts TBD