The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is still heating up, but hockey fans won't have to wait long for more action. The NHL has announced that the second round will kick off earlier than expected, with one game already locked in for Saturday, May 2.

Mark your calendars: the Carolina Hurricanes will host the Philadelphia Flyers at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The Hurricanes earned their spot by sweeping the Ottawa Senators, while the Flyers battled through a six-game series against the Pittsburgh Penguins to advance.

In another confirmed matchup, the Colorado Avalanche will open their second-round series at home against the Minnesota Wild, though the NHL has yet to set a start date. The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings, and the Wild took down the Dallas Stars in six games.

While the playoffs are in full swing, the league is also recognizing individual excellence. The finalists for major awards, including the Hart Trophy, have been announced. Here's a look at the contenders for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid. Additionally, Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ville Husso has been nominated for the Masterton Trophy, which honors perseverance and dedication to hockey.

As for the rest of the second-round picture, the Buffalo Sabres punched their ticket with a decisive 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins. However, they'll have to wait until Sunday's Game 7 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens to find out their opponent. The Lightning kept their hopes alive with a thrilling 1-0 overtime victory on Friday.

Stay tuned—the race for the Stanley Cup is only getting more intense, and we'll keep you updated on all the schedules and matchups as they're announced.