In this age of parity, you really could make a legitimate case for most teams in these Stanley Cup Playoffs to end up as the champion at the end of it.
We have previewed each of the first-round series, showing key stats, an X-Factor and just what the general outlook is for all teams. You can check them all out below.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
The best team of the salary cap era against the all-in, no regrets team that threw caution to the wind at the trade deadline. The Columbus Blue Jackets will likely lose at least their two best UFAs this summer and maybe even the two UFA forwards they acquired at the deadline. But after a strong finish to the season, can they unseat the Lightning, who tied the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings for the most wins in a single NHL season at 62?
G1 Wed., April 10, Columbus @ Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET, SN360
G2 Fri., April 12, Columbus @ Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. ET, SN360
G3 Sun., April 14, Tampa Bay @ Columbus, 7 p.m. ET, SN360
G4 Tues., April 16, Tampa Bay @ Columbus, 7 p.m. ET, SN360
G5* Fri., April 19, Columbus @ Tampa Bay, TBD, TBD
G6* Sun., April 21, Tampa Bay @ Columbus, TBD, TBD
G7* Tues., April 23, Columbus @ Tampa Bay, TBD, TBD
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS vs. BOSTON BRUINS
For the second year in a row the Leafs and Bruins will meet up in Round 1. Given that both are Stanley Cup contenders and finished the season with the third-best (Boston) and seventh-best (Toronto) records in the league, someone will head into the summer with hard questions to answer. Can the Leafs finally overcome their chief post-season rival?
G1 Thurs., April 11, Toronto @ Boston, 7 p.m. ET, SN/CBC
G2 Sat., April 13, Toronto @ Boston, 8 p.m. ET, CBC
G3 Mon., April 15, Boston @ Toronto, 7 p.m. ET, CBC
G4 Wed., April 17, Boston @ Toronto, 7 p.m. ET, CBC
G5* Fri., April 19, Toronto @ Boston, TBD, TBD
G6* Sun., April 21, Boston @ Toronto, TBD, TBD
G7* Tues., April 23, Toronto @ Boston, TBD, TBD
• Play-by-play: Jim Hughson; Game Analyst: Craig Simpson; Reporter: Kyle Bukauskas
Select games will air live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN and 680 NEWS
WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. CAROLINA HURRICANES
The defending Stanley Cup champions against one of the best feel-good stories of the season. The Washington Capitals come into these playoffs a more polished unit than they looked like last year as Alex Ovechkin looks for an encore. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, return to the playoffs for the first time in a decade with a little Storm Surge magic in their corner (although they claim to be done with the post-win celebration).
G1 Thurs., April 11, Carolina @ Washington, 7:30 p.m. ET, SN360
G2 Sat., April 13, Carolina @ Washington, 3 p.m. ET, SN
G3 Mon., April 15, Washington @ Carolina, 7 p.m. ET, SN
G4 Thurs., April 18, Washington @ Carolina, 7 p.m. ET, SN360
G5* Sat., April 20, Carolina @ Washington, TBD, TBD
G6* Mon., April 22, Washington @ Carolina, TBD, TBD
G7* Wed., April 24, Carolina @ Washington, TBD TBD
NY ISLANDERS vs. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
The Islanders went from an atrocious defensive team to the William Jennings winners in one season, becoming the first team to accomplish that significant of a turnaround. Their reward? Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 1.
G1 Wed., April 10, Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET, CBC
G2 Fri., April 12, Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET, CBC
G3 Sun., April 14, NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, Noon ET, CBC/SN
G4 Tues., April 16, NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET, CBC
G5* Thurs., April 18, Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders, TBD, TBD
G6* Sat., April 20, NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh, TBD TBD
G7* Mon., April 22, Pittsburgh @ NY Islanders, TBD, TBD
• Play-by-play: John Bartlett; Game Analyst: Garry Galley; Reporter: Christine Simpson
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
CALGARY FLAMES vs. COLORADO AVALANCHE
The Calgary Flames return to the post-season with the best record in the Western Conference and home-ice throughout the first three rounds at least. Colorado, who looked finished when Gabriel Landeskog went down to injury, made a late charge as goalie Philipp Grubauer stepped up, alongside some excellent play down the stretch by Nathan MacKinnon.
G1 Thurs., April 11, Colorado @ Calgary, 10 p.m. ET, SN/CBC
G2 Sat., April 13, Colorado @ Calgary, 10:30 p.m. ET, SN/CBC
G3 Mon., April 15, Calgary @ Colorado, 10 p.m. ET, CBC
G4 Wed., April 17, Calgary @ Colorado, 10 p.m. ET, CBC
G5* Fri., April 19, Colorado @ Calgary, TBD, TBD
G6* Sun., April 21, Calgary @ Colorado, TBD, TBD
G7* Tues., April 23, Colorado @ Calgary, TBD, TBD
• Play-by-play: Rick Ball; Game Analyst: Cassie Campbell-Pascall; Reporter: Ryan Leslie
All games will be available on Sportsnet 960 The FAN
SAN JOSE SHARKS vs. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS
In a rematch of last year’s second-round series, the Sharks will be looking to avenge a six-game defeat. With goaltending a concern for the Sharks, Vegas also comes in to the playoffs a little cold, though backup Malcolm Subban started most of the games down the stretch. Vegas went big at the deadline bringing in Mark Stone, but can they capture the same magic from 2018?
G1 Wed., April 10, Vegas @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m. ET, SN
G2 Fri., April 12, Vegas @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m. ET, SN360
G3 Sun., April 14, San Jose @ Vegas, 10 p.m. ET, SN/SN360
G4 Tues., April 16, San Jose @ Vegas, 10 p.m. ET, SN360
G5* Thurs., April 18, Vegas @ San Jose, TBD, TBD
G6* Sun, April 21, San Jose @ Vegas, TBD, TBD
G7* Tues, April 23, Vegas @ San Jose, TBD, TBD
NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs. DALLAS STARS
Though the Predators finished with the league’s worst power play, the good news is that hasn’t been a predictor of post-season success in a while. Still, goal scoring is a concern for the team and lining up against a defensively stout team in Dallas, with Vezina hopeful Ben Bishop in net, may be a tall task for the Central Division champs.
G1 Wed., April 10, Dallas @ Nashville, 9:30 p.m. ET, SN1
G2 Sat., April 13, Dallas @ Nashville, 6 p.m. ET, SN
G3 Mon., April 15, Nashville @ Dallas, 9:30 p.m. ET, SN
G4 Wed., April 17, Nashville @ Dallas, 8 p.m. ET, SN
G5* Sat., April 20, Dallas @ Nashville, TBD, TBD
G6* Mon., April 22, Nashville @ Dallas, TBD, TBD
G7* Wed., April 24, Dallas @ Nashville, TBD, TBD
WINNIPEG JETS vs. ST. LOUIS BLUES
A tale of two seasons. While the Blues surged in the second half, turning a disaster of a season into a near-division title and entering the playoffs as the West’s best team since Jan. 1, the Winnipeg Jets have been much more average since the same date. The Jets barely finished the season with home-ice advantage, but how much of a difference will that make?
G1 Wed., April 10, St. Louis @ Winnipeg, 8 p.m. ET, SN
G2 Fri., April 12, St. Louis @ Winnipeg, 9:30 p.m. ET, SN
G3 Sun., April 14, Winnipeg @ St. Louis, 7:30 p.m. ET, SN/CBC
G4 Tues., April 16, Winnipeg @ St. Louis, 9:30 p.m. ET, SN
G5* Thurs., April 18, St. Louis @ Winnipeg, TBD, TBD
G6* Sat., April 20, Winnipeg @ St. Louis, TBD, TBD
G7* Mon., April 22, St. Louis @ Winnipeg, TBD, TBD
• Play-by-play: Dave Randorf; Game Analyst: Louie DeBrusk; Reporter: Scott Oake
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