2011 NHL Playoffs Schedule: Lightning Open Second Round Series Against Capitals Friday In Washington

The Tampa Bay Lightning will begin their second round series against the Eastern Conference's top seeded Washington Capitals on Friday night in Washington in a game that will start at 7 p.m.. You can find the game on Versus.

After getting a little bit of a break with the very injured Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, the Lightning now have to face a Capitals team which seems to have hit it's stride a little bit in the second half of the season. They have a new renewed defensive identity and a young goalie playing very well in Michal Neuvirth. The Lightning's extremely talented front line will have to crack that defense if the Lightning have any chance in this series, because we know the Capitals will be able to score on the other end.

Here is the schedule for the entire series, the most recent change is that we now have a time for Game 3, which was previously "TBD." It will be played at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Tampa Bay.

Game 1: Friday, April 29, 7 p.m. ET (VERSUS/TSN) at The Verizon Center in Washington.

Game 2: Sunday, May 1, 7 p.m. ET (VERSUS/CBC) at The Verizon Center in Washington.

Game 3: Tuesday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. ET (VERSUS/TSN) at The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

Game 4: Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m. ET (TSN) at The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, May 7, 12:30 p.m. ET (NBC/TSN) at The Verizon Center in Washington.

Game 6 (if necessary): Monday, May 9, TBD (VERSUS/TSN) at The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

Game 7 (if necessary): Wednesday, May 11, TBD (VERSUS/TSN) at The Verizon Center in Washington.

For the full second round schedule for the NHL playoffs, check out SB Nation's playoff hub. And for more coverage of the Lightning, follow the blog Raw Charge.

NHL Playoffs Schedule 2011, Second Round: USF Graduation Ceremonies Force Games 3 And 4 To Be Played On Back-To-Back Nights

When the schedule came out for second round match-up between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning came out, the NHL made the odd decision to have Games 3 and 4 to be played on back-to-back night at the St. Pete Times Forum. There wasn't any explination given why it was scheduled that way, but Greg Auman of the St. Pete Times found out the reason this morning.

Normally USF holds the graduation ceremonies at the Sun Dome on campus. But with the arena undergoing a complete renovation this summer, officials from the university moved everything downtown to the Forum. Unfortunately, it just fell on the right day to force the NHL's hand.

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For the full second round schedule for the NHL playoffs, check out SB Nation's playoff hub. And for more coverage of the Lightning, follow the blog Raw Charge.

NHL Playoffs Schedule 2011, Second Round: Tampa Bay Lightning Vs. Washington Capitals

With the Tampa Bay Lightning's victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Wednesday night, the Lightning advance on to the second round of the NHL playoffs. The Lightning weren't considered likely to reach the second round, as they were seeded lower than Pittsburgh and started off the series in a 3-1 hole, but they came back to win despite the long odds.

This second round could be challenging for the Bolts, as the Washington Capitals came in first place in the entire Eastern Conference this year. The Capitals also won the season-long match-up between the two clubs, winning four of the six games and outscoring the Lightning by eight goals. And as the higher seeded club, they will also have home-ice advantage.

The full schedule for their second round match-up is below: 

Tampa Bay vs. Washington

Game 1: Friday, April 29, 7:00 p.m. ET (VERSUS/TSN)

Game 2: Sunday, May 1, 7:00 p.m. ET (VERSUS/CBC)

Game 3: Tuesday, May 3, TBD (VERSUS/TSN)

Game 4: Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m. ET (TSN)

Game 5: Saturday, May 7, 12:30 p.m. ET (NBC/TSN)

Game 6: Monday, May 9, TBD (VERSUS/TSN)

Game 7: Wednesday, May 11, TBD (VERSUS/TSN)

For the full second round schedule for the NHL playoffs, check out SB Nation's playoff hub. And for more coverage of the Lightning, follow the blog Raw Charge.