\u270f\ufe0f The details<\/h3>\n
The Stanley Cup Playoffs feature 16 of the league\u2019s 32 teams <\/strong>\u2014 eight from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference. Within each conference, the top three teams in each division (Atlantic and Metropolitan in the East, Central and Pacific in the West) as well as the two next-best teams in each conference (the wild cards) make the playoffs.<\/p>\n Each of the four playoff rounds<\/strong> is a best-of-seven-game series<\/strong>. In each conference\u2019s first round, the second wild card team (with the worst record) takes on the division winner with the best-record, while the first wild card team (with the better record) faces the conference\u2019s other<\/em> division winner. The remaining two series pair the No. 2 and No. 3 teams from the same divisions.<\/p>\n And all teams are playing for one thing: the chance to hoist the Stanley Cup<\/strong>, the hardest trophy to win in sports<\/a>. No guts, no glory.<\/p>\n SOURCE: DAVID KIROUAC\/ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Boston Bruins (Atlantic): <\/strong>The big bad Bruins are the big bad team to beat after their historic regular season. Boston set the all-time record for most wins in a season and<\/em> most points, and now their power play \u2014 their greatest weakness \u2014 is finally clicking at exactly the right time. Beware these bears.<\/p>\n Colorado Avalanche (Central): <\/strong>Overcoming their slow start and early season injuries, the Avs stormed from behind to repeat as division champs. And, with the exception of captain Gabriel Landeskog<\/a>, they\u2019re finally healthy, as a handful of injured standouts return in hopes to win the Stanley Cup yet again.<\/p>\n Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic): <\/strong>The Leafs\u2019 past glory days may<\/em> sound like folklore *cue the \u201967 jokes<\/em><\/a>,* but this might be the year the Buds survive the first round<\/a>. Their youthful core has matured<\/a>, and with the addition of defensive veteran Ryan O\u2019Reilly, their depth has never been greater. Needless to say, Toronto fans are ready to (hopefully not) get hurt again<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: DUSTIN BRADFORD\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Edmonton Oilers (Pacific):<\/strong> It\u2019s been almost 35 years since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier\u2019s \u201980s dynasty squad<\/a> won the Cup for Edmonton, and now a different dynamic duo \u2014 Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl \u2014 will look to get the job done again. They\u2019re slick, more playoff-savvy than ever, and hungry to hoist the Cup.<\/p>\n Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific): <\/strong>They already topped the Western Conference standings and now they\u2019ll be donning their postseason armor alongside captain Mark Stone, who\u2019s returning from back surgery<\/a> just in time for the squad\u2019s main quest. Now go, cat, go<\/a>.<\/p>\n Carolina Hurricanes (Metropolitan):<\/strong> This bunch of jerks<\/a> back-to-back division champs have blown away the competition all season. With the offensive prowess of Sebastian Aho (who\u2019s especially strong<\/a> against their first-round opponent NY Islanders), they may just surge their way<\/a> to a second franchise Cup.<\/p>\n Dallas Stars (Central): <\/strong>The Stars shone bright in the competitive Central Division, led by the sparkling play of two standouts: 100-point-scoring left winger Jason Robertson, and <\/strong>lockdown \u2019tendy Jake \u201cthe otter<\/a>\u201d Oettinger. Time will tell if they can turn their regular season success into a deep playoff run, though.<\/p>\n SOURCE: JOSH LAVALLEE\/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic):<\/strong> After a Cup-less two years, the back-to-back 2020\u201321 champs<\/a> are ready to strike again. The Bolts may have finished sixth in the Eastern Conference, but the benefit of their postseason experience can\u2019t be understated.<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets (Central): <\/strong>Despite just sneaking into the playoffs, they\u2019re entering the postseason with new momentum after winning three of their last four games, largely on the back of former Vezina Trophy<\/a>\u2013winning \u2018tendy Connor Hellebuyck. But are they really <\/em>ready to whiteout<\/a> the competition again?<\/p>\n Seattle Kraken (Pacific): <\/strong>They might be the new kids on the block, but the Kraken are playing like vets, making their playoff debut in just their second NHL season<\/a>. As you might expect from a team of young guns, they\u2019re all about the offense, netting an average of 3.52 goals per game, good for fifth in the league. Time to unleash.<\/p>\n NY Rangers (Metropolitan): <\/strong>After last year\u2019s run to the Eastern Conference finals, this storied squad looks quietly poised for a repeat. Left winger Artermi Panarin and center Mika Zibanejad put up big point totals this season, but the Rangers really shine in the crease thanks to reigning Vezina Trophy\u2013winning goaltender Igor Shesterkin.<\/p>\n SOURCE: KEVIN SOUSA\/NHLI VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Auston Matthews, center, Maple Leafs:<\/strong> The reigning Hart Trophy<\/a> winner has been the heart of the Leafs\u2019 rebuild since the 2016\u201317 season, but has yet to lead his squad past the first round in his six playoff appearances. That said, with 24 points in his last 19 games, this former No. 1 draft pick is in peak form to finally complete the mission.<\/p>\n Connor McDavid, center, Oilers:<\/strong> McDavid secured his first 50-goal season<\/a> (the fastest active player to do so), became the fifth fastest player in NHL history to score 800 goals<\/a>, and<\/em> handily led the league<\/a> in points and goals this season. Now to nab the only trophy to fail to grace his mantle \u2014 the coveted Cup.<\/p>\n David Pastr\u0148\u00e1k, right winger, Bruins: <\/strong>The man known as \u201cPasta\u201d brought plenty <\/em>of sauce this season, becoming just the 23rd player in NHL history to notch a 60-goal season. Pastr\u0148\u00e1k\u2019s netted 49 career game-winners \u2014 plus, his moves are just as cool as his lewks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ilya Sorokin, goaltender, Islanders:<\/strong> The Isles just <\/em>snuck into the playoffs, largely thanks to Sorokin\u2019s lockdown play. The \u2019tendy boasts a .924 save percentage<\/a> (third best in the league), not to mention a league-leading six shutouts on the year. He\u2019s a brick\u2026wall.<\/p>\n Nathan MacKinnon, center, Avalanche: <\/strong>This franchise star is thirsty for the two-peat. He broke the 100-point mark<\/a> for the first time in his career this season and, despite recovering from an upper-body injury, MacKinnon\u2019s leading the league in even-strength minutes<\/a>, during which his Avs significantly outscored<\/a> their opponents. Watch out.<\/p>\n SOURCE: ANDY CROSS\/MEDIANEWS GROUP\/THE DENVER POST VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n There\u2019ll be near-daily playoff hockey over the next month and a half,<\/strong> leading to the start of the Stanley Cup Final in early June. The journey begins <\/strong>with the puck dropping on four series tonight before the other four get underway tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n
\ud83c\udfc6 The top teams<\/h3>\n
\ud83d\udcaa The contenders<\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udfc7 The dark horses<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udc40 Players to watch<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udcfa How to tune in<\/h3>\n
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