NHL fans are finally beginning to get a clearer picture of what the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will look like.
With the postseason set to begin on Saturday, the league’s tightly packed standings were difficult to project matchups until now. With just two days remaining in the regular season, the picture is starting to come into focus.
Five of the eight first-round series have already been confirmed, including the entire Eastern Conference Playoff bracket.
Eastern Conference
The Eastern Conference is loaded with compelling storylines.
The Battle of Pennsylvania returns to the postseason, as the Penguins and Flyers renew a rivalry that was especially heated early in Sidney Crosby’s career. Meanwhile, the Lightning and Canadiens will meet in a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
There’s also plenty of intrigue in Buffalo, where the Sabres are set to make their first playoff appearance since 2011.
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres (1) vs. Boston Bruins (WC1)
Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (3)
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes (1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC2)
Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (3)
Western Conference
The Western Conference remains far less settled.
Despite the regular season wrapping up Thursday, just one of four first-round matchups has been determined, highlighting just how tight the standings are—particularly in the Pacific Division.
Just one series is confirmed, with the Dallas Stars (2) taking on the Minnesota Wild (3) in the Central Division.
Beyond that, several scenarios remain in play.
NHL.com
The Colorado Avalanche have locked up first place in the Western Conference, but don’t yet know their opponent. If the season ended today, they would face the Los Angeles Kings, though the Kings still have a path to climb as high as second in the Pacific Division.
The Edmonton Oilers, meanwhile, will play one of four teams. They would draw the Anaheim Ducks if the standings hold, but there’s also a scenario where they’d play the Kings in the first round for a fifth straight year.
However, the Oilers still have a chance to win the Pacific Division and play the Utah Mammoth, who are locked into the first wild-card spot. Edmonton could also fall as far as the second wild-card spot, where they’d play Colorado.
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