The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs begin August 1 in scenic Edmonton (and also Toronto). While we don’t yet have a broadcast schedule – it’s coming, the NHL swears – we do have times for the first five days of games.

In case you missed it, here’s a rundown of when the Flames play and how to maximize your hockey-watching days.

(All times Mountain.)

First up, on Tue., July 28 at 8:30 p.m., the Flames play the beloved Edmonton Oilers in the only exhibition game for both clubs. It’s the only game of the day at Rogers Place, so the ice should be good. This game comes after rivalry (exhibition) games featuring Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (2 p.m.) and Montreal and Toronto (6 p.m.). You may be hockey-starved after four months, so it is possible to watch these games back-to-back-to-back.

If you’re interested in pre-scouting, Winnipeg plays Vancouver on Wed., July 29 at 8:30 p.m. in exhibition action. There are six exhibition games that day, with the earliest game going at 10 a.m.

Game 1 of the qualifying series between Calgary and Winnipeg goes Sat., Aug. 1 at 8:30 p.m. It’s the late game and the last of five games scheduled that day, but only the second in Edmonton so the ice should be decent. If you want to marathon everything, the first game (the Rangers and Carolina) starts at 10 a.m. and games run through until around 11:30 p.m. Chicago/Edmonton (1 p.m.) and Florida/Islanders (2 p.m.) will overlap, so you’ll have to choose.

Game 2 of the qualifying series goes Mon., Aug. 3 at 12:30 p.m. and is the first of three games that day from Edmonton. Vegas/Dallas goes at 4:30 p.m. and Chicago/Edmonton is at 8:30 p.m. There are six games on the Monday, a holiday in much of the country, and they’re nicely staggered out between 10 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Remember to hydrate, and perhaps start out with a big breakfast during the first game and has some pizza or barbecue delivered before the Oilers play.

Game 3 of the qualifying series is scheduled for Tue., Aug. 4 at 4:45 p.m. It’s the second game at Rogers Place that day, following Arizona/Nashville. If you’re working from home, just start early, work through lunch, or stop working in time for the game. (We won’t tell anybody.) If you’re back at the office, may we recommend sneaking out early? This will be the first real workday featuring games and it may be the longest day of the round: the first game starts at 10 a.m. (Florida/Islanders) and the final one is a weird 10:45 p.m. start (Vancouver/Minnesota).

The schedule hasn’t been nailed down for the Aug. 6-9 period yet. Aside from Game 3 of Vancouver/Minnesota in the West and Toronto/Columbus in the East, the remainder of the games aren’t yet necessary and so they haven’t had a need to lock down the schedule.

If the Flames play past Game 3, hopefully there’s a bit of consistency in their times and their games don’t keep bouncing around.