Islanders vs. Panthers: TV coverage, game time and live stream for Game 1

The time is near. The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers open their Eastern Conference Round 1 playoff series Thursday night at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

Game time is 8 p.m. EDT. (Note: Game 2 Friday night is 7:30 p.m. During the playoffs, stay on your toes.)

Here's how to catch the action while you follow along and live and die in our game thread:

In the New York market: In addition to national coverage, Round 1 games are still televised by local broadcast rights holders. In the New York metro viewing area you can watch the Isles broadcast with Howie Rose and Butch Goring on MSG+

If you are anywhere else in the United States: tonight's game is on CNBC, which will have a post-game analysis of the political implications of a team where young New Yorkers live is trying to eliminate a team where their parents have retired to. (Okay, maybe not.)

If you are in Canada: Tonight's game is on Sportsnet in English and TVA Sports 2 (twice the TVA!) in French.

How to watch online, NBC's Live Extra app has it as does the NBC Sports website itself. Here's the link for that live stream. These feeds will not be blacked out even in the local markets.

NHL.tv and NHL Center Ice coverage stops after the regular season. Plan accordingly from the options above.

Radio: The radio feeds can be found free via the NHL app or at nhl.com.

Remember that locally the Isles will have a broader radio reach than they did in the regular season: Games are being aired on WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM or WCBS Newsradio 880, beginning with tonight's game 1 on WCBS 880.