The Bruins began Friday knowing the date and times of the first two games of their upcoming first-round date with the Panthers, beginning with Monday’s Game 1 at TD Garden.

But with the regular season slate behind everyone, the Bruins and Panthers are now free to build their plans out for the next two weeks thanks to the NHL’s release of the complete schedule.

• Game 1: Monday, Apr. 17 at TD Garden (7:30 p.m.)

  

  May 12, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins fans Haley Mossa and Julia Wholey wave a flag before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

• The Bruins will kick things off on Boston’s holiday, really, as Game 1 will fall on Marathon Monday.

  It’s hard to think of a better start date for what the Bruins hope will be a magical run to Lord Stanley.

  The Bruins will take to the ice with wins in eight of their last 11 Game 1 contests dating back to the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and are 5-0 in Game 1 contests on home ice over that span.

  Jim Montgomery’s squad won 34 of their 41 games at TD Garden during the regular season, and went 2-0-0 against the Panthers on home ice this season.

• Game 2: Wednesday, Apr. 19 at TD Garden (7:30 p.m.)

  

  Dec 19, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrate after a goal by Bergeron during the third period at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)

• The Bruins will take to the ice looking to snap out of what’s been a mini funk of sorts when it comes to Game 2 contests, as the Bruins have lost six of their last eight Game 2 contests dating back to the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their two wins over that span: Game 2 against the Capitals in their first-round series back in 2021, and Game 2 against the Hurricanes in their third-round series back in 2019.

• Game 3: Friday, Apr. 21 at FLA Live Arena (7:30 p.m.)

  

  SUNRISE, FL – JANUARY 28: Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers defends against Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins in front of the net during second period action at the FLA Live Arena on January 28, 2023. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

• The series will shift down to Sunrise for a Friday night Game 3.

  What’s interesting is that this series essentially follows the same schedule as last year’s first-round series between the B’s and Hurricanes, with a Monday-Wednesday-Friday start (as well as a Sunday afternoon Game 4).

  The Panthers went 23-13-5 on home ice during the regular season. Worth noting that both of Florida’s wins over the Black and Gold this season came at FLA Live Arena, too.

• Game 4: Sunday, Apr. 23 at FLA Live Arena (3:30 p.m.)

  

  Dec 19, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27) looks to pass during the first period against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)

• Once an undeniable rarity, playing on Sunday is nothin’ new to the Bruins, especially in the second half of the season. Hell, it became a staple of their weekends down the stretch, in fact. They treated them well, too, as the Bruins held an 8-2-0 record on Sundays during the regular season, while the Panthers were 2-4-0.

• Game 5: Wednesday, Apr. 26 at TD Garden (TBD)

  

  Dec 19, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Bruins celebrates after a goal during the first period against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

• There will be an extra day of rest between Games 4 and 5 in this series, and it could either be the most agonizing wait of your life in the best way or the most agonizing wait of your life in the worst way. The reason behind this one is pretty simple, too. Had the Bruins and Panthers continued on any every other day pace, TD Garden would’ve been double-booked for a potential Game 5 between the B’s and Panthers and a potential Game 5 between the Celtics and Hawks in the NBA. It was either an extra day of rest or a back-to-back. The NHL (wisely) picked the former.

• Game 6: Friday, Apr. 28 at FLA Live Arena (TBD)

  

  Nov 23, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins center David Krejci (46) and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) face-off during the first period at FLA Live Arena. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports)

• Should this series go six games, the Bruins will head back down to Sunrise for another go on Florida ice. The Bruins lost their last road Game 6 (2021 against the Islanders), which ended their run, but they did have road Game 6 victories in 2019 against St. Louis, Columbus, and Toronto. The Game 6 victory in Columbus put an end to that series, while their Game 6 victories over Toronto and St. Louis forced a Game 7 winner-take-all contest in Boston.

• Game 7: Sunday, Apr. 30 at TD Garden (TBD)

  

  Oct 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) reacts after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period at the TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)

• If this bad boy goes seven games, the Bruins will look to their experience to lead the way, as Brad Marchand, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron have all been part of six different Game 7 victories in their career, which is tied for the seventh-most Game 7 victories among active players.

  The Bruins have not had a Game 7 on home ice since the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers, meanwhile, have played in a Game 7 just two times in their franchise history, and hold a 1-1 record in those games, though they have not played in one since their 2012 first-round series loss against the Devils.

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