Stanley Cup Playoff bracket nearly complete and here are the matchups
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 leagueās 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 Crosbyās career. Meanwhile, the Lightning and Canadiens will meet in a rematch of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
Thereās 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 two of four first-round matchups have been determined, highlighting just how tight the standings are.
The first matchup to be known will see two heavy hitters in the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild go head-to-head. The other will see the Pacific Division winning Vegas Golden Knights take on the Utah Mammoth.
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.Ā 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 three 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.
Edmonton could also fall as far as the second wild-card spot, where they’d play Colorado.
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