NHL Playoffs Round 1, Opening Night: Rooting for meteors [Open Thread]

If you live for this time of year, then you and I have lots to talk about and can be friends but cannot live together. My nerves won't allow that much anxiety under one roof.

...and that's even before getting to nights where the Islanders play.

The first night of the 2016 NHL playoffs is a triple header, though sadly they are not completely staggered back-to-back for nine hours of glorious playoff hockey and sleep deprivation.

This is the land of agonizing sudden death OT and no damn shootouts. Overtime is not a three-on-three drill; all hands are on deck, baby.

Enjoy the games listed below and chat away in comments.

Need some Islanders audio to drown out the play-by-play? Check out the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, where Dan and Mike welcome Arthur Staple of Newsday.

Game 1: Detroit at Tampa, 7 p.m.

Things begin in Florida. Will the Lightning survive their injuries? Will the Red Wings do more than just continue their playoff streak and go home? Will anyone watch?

7 p.m. | Game 1, Eastern Conference Round 1
Amalie Arena | Tampa Bay, Florida
Local: FS-F, FS-D | Nat'l: NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
SBN Preview | Team coverage: Red Wings blog | Lightning Blog

Game 1: Smurfs at Pitts, 8 p.m.

Things continue with the "I'm rooting for a meteor" game, when whiny (fans) and hated Pittsburgh Penguins host the hated and whiny (coach) New York Rangers.

8 p.m. | Game 1, Eastern Conference Round 1
Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, Penn.
Local: MSG, Root Sports | Nat'l: USA, CBC, TVA
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
SBN preview | Team coverage: Penguins blog | Rangers blog

Game 1: Hawks at Blues, 9:30 p.m.

For the first time in this millennium, the Blues are fully healthy heading into the playoffs. I expect that to change in the first period, when someone important will go down with a catastrophic injury, Jonathan Toews will score and act like it's routine (because it is), and my phone will be put on silent for the rest of April.

Is this the year the Hawks' cap casualties catch up with them? Will the Blues ever be as good as the music genre after which they're named? Will I survive this week?

9:30 p.m. | Game 1, Western Conference Round 1
Scottrade Center | St. Louis, Mo.
Local: CSN Chicago, FS MW | Nat'l: NBCSN, TVAS, SN360
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
SBN preview | Team coverage: Blackhawks blog | Blues blog