NHL playoff schedule: Kings and Ducks

Get ready for hockey doubleheaders.…

Not only are the Kings and the Ducks both in the Stanley Cup playoffs, they will be playing almost all of their first-round games on the same days, according to the just-released schedule.

The defending Stanley Cup champion and fifth-seeded Kings open at No. 4 St. Louis with Game 1 on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and Game 2 on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. They return to Staples Center for Game 3 on Saturday at 7 p.m., and Game 4 is in Los Angeles on May 6, also at 7 p.m.

No. 2 Anaheim will host No. 7 Detroit starting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Honda Center, and Game 2 is Thursday in Anaheim at 7 p.m. That series moves to Detroit on Saturday with Game 3 at 4:30 p.m., and Game 4 is in Detroit on May 6, at 5 p.m.

All times are Pacific.

Beyond the first four games, the times have not been set.

In the Kings-Blues series, if necessary, Game 5 would be on May 8 in St. Louis, Game 6 on May 10 in Los Angeles and Game 7 on May 13 in St. Louis.

And, in the Ducks-Red Wings series, if necessary, Game 5 would be on May 8 at Anaheim, Game 6 on May 10 in Detroit and Game 7 on May 12 in Anaheim.

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