Islanders vs. Panthers 2016 Playoff Schedule: Round 1 series begins with back-to-back

The New York Islanders have their opponent and they have their dates for their Eastern Conference Round 1 playoff series with the Florida Panthers, and it starts with an oddity thanks to scheduling conflicts at both teams' arenas: A back-to-back opening for Games 1 and 2 Thursday and Friday in Sunrise, Florida.

That information came from George Richards of the Miami Herald, a reporter you'll want to follow for Panthers news over the next couple of weeks. The official schedule was later released here.

After finishing the season with five games in seven nights, including Sunday's loss to the Flyers, the Islanders will have three days to prepare before their playoffs start with three games in four nights, followed by just two over the following six days.

• Game 1: Thursday, April 14, 8 p.m., at the arena named after a bank or linens store of some sort (National TV: CNBC, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
  
• Game 2: Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m., at the same arena, probably still with the same name unless it changes (National TV: NHL Network, SN360, TVA Sports)
  
• Game 3: Sunday, April 17, 8 p.m., at the arena in Brooklyn built for basketball and named after an English soccer league (National TV: NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
  
• Game 4: Wednesday, April 20, 8 p.m., at the arena in Brooklyn...wait maybe it's named after a bank too? (National TV: USA, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)
  
• Game 5: Friday, April 22, TBD, back in Sunrise (if necessary)
• Game 6: Sunday, April 24, TBD, Brooklyn (if necessary)
• Game 7: Tuesday, April 26, TBD, back in Sunrise (if necessary)

Further details are trickling out, so we'll update here accordingly.. As always, game times are either TBD or subject to change thanks to TV, which rules our world almost as much as banks.