New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League has set start dates for the Stanley Cup Final.
If both conference finals end in sweeps, the Cup Finals will begin Thursday, May 28. If either series is extended past four games, the Cup Finals will start Friday, June 5.
Entering Friday's action, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins both own 2-0 leads in their respective series.
In one instance under the league's time frame, there could be a gap of more than a week between the end of the conference finals and the start of the Cup Finals.
Should the Penguins complete a sweep of the Eastern Conference finals against Carolina on May 26 and the Red Wings need five games to finish off the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference the following the night, there would be a nine-day wait until the Cup Finals begin.