First round schedule comes into focus, will be finalized tonight

The Los Angeles Kings, the Western Conference’s #1 wild card, will open their 2018 Stanley Cup campaign with playoff games against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Pacific Division champions, on Wednesday April 11 and Friday, April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.

The series will shift back to Staples Center in Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 on Sunday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 17.

Game 1, Los Angeles at Vegas: Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 p.m.
Game 2, Los Angeles at Vegas: Friday, April 13, 7:00 or 7:30 p.m.^
Game 3, Vegas at Los Angeles: Sunday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4, Vegas at Los Angeles: Tuesday, April 17, 7:00 or 7:30 p.m.^
Game 5, Los Angeles at Vegas: Thursday, April 19, 7:00 or 7:30 p.m.* ^
Game 6, Vegas at Los Angeles, Saturday, April 21, TBD*
Game 7, Los Angeles at Vegas, Monday, April 23, TBD*
*if necessary
^based on whether Tampa Bay or Boston wins the Atlantic Division

Should Tampa Bay win the Atlantic, Games 2 and 5 would start at 7:00, and Game 4 at 7:30.
Should Boston win the Atlantic, Games 2 and 5 would start at 7:30, and Game 4 at 7:00.

Boston hosts Florida at 4:30 p.m. PT this evening in a game that was originally scheduled for January 4 but was postponed due to a snowstorm. A Bruins win in any fashion clinches the Atlantic Division, while a loss in any fashion clinches the Atlantic Division for Tampa Bay.

This is the first playoff series between Los Angeles and Vegas. Since the switch to the divisional and wild card format for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kings have never finished in a wild card berth. In 2014, they finished with the #3 Pacific Division seed and defeated the #2 seeded Sharks in seven games, and in 2016 they finished with the #2 Pacific Division seed and were defeated by the #3 seeded Sharks in five games.

Los Angeles is 111-140 all-time in the playoffs, going 62-58 at home and 49-82 on the road.

Game 1: 19-29 /// If won, have won 13 of 19 series /// If lost, have won 8 of 29 series
Game 2: 21-27 /// If won, have won 15 of 21 series /// If lost, have won 6 of 27 series
Game 3: 19-26 /// If won, have won 13 of 19 series /// If lost, have won 7 of 26 series
Game 4: 12-30 /// If won, have won 9 of 12 series /// If lost, have won 10 of 30 series
Game 5: 18-16 /// If won, have won 12 of 18 series /// If lost, have won 6 of 16 series
Game 6: 15-8 /// If won, have won 12 of 15 series /// If lost, have won 2 of 8 series
Game 7: 7-4

The Kings have won 18 of 39 seven-game series and 14 of 31 series when their opponent has home ice advantage in a seven-game series. In seven-game series, they are 22-21 when facing elimination and 18-13 with a chance to clinch the series.

Broadcast details for the first round series will be announced at a later time. The schedule will be finalized and confirmed after tonight’s Boston-Florida game.

-Lead photo via Ethan Miller/Getty Images