The NHL playoffs will start this week and the first round schedule has the NY Rangers taking on the Penguins as the top team in the standings in the east, while the western conference has the Ducks and Blues as the best teams heading into the postseason and they will take on the Wild and the Jets in their opening matchups.
The first games on Wednesday will be the NY Islanders and Washington Capitals in the first round, while the Senators and Montreal Canadiens will battle. The Penguins snuck into the final spot in the east, while the Boston Bruins have missed the playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators play in the west, while the Flames and Canucks will be the late game on Wednesday.
The Rangers will face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second straight season and that series will get started on Thursday. The Rangers are the top team in the NHL and one of the favorites in the east. The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning will play in the first round, while the Minnesota Wild and Blues play at 9:30 pm ET for Game 1. The Jets will visits the Anaheim Ducks for the first round and that is the late game on Thursday.
The Rangers are the top team in the east over the Canadiens and the Lightning and they are in ahead of the Capitals and the Islanders. The Rangers are the favorites coming into things after making a run to the finals last year and there will be a new champion, as the Kings did not make the playoffs. The west has the Ducks, Blues, Predators and the Blackhawks as the top teams over the Canucks and Wild.
