The NHL announced tonight that the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin in primetime on NBC this Saturday, May 15 - immediately following live coverage of The 146th Preakness Stakes - when Alex Ovechkin and the No. 2 seed Washington Capitals host Brad Marchand and the No. 3 seed Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their First Round series.

The complete 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round schedule, as well as NBC Sports' comprehensive coverage schedule across the networks of NBCUniversal, will be announced in the coming days.