One division title came down to literally the last game of the regular season, but we have four division champions and a set playoff slate.
The Nashville Predators captured the Central Division and the President’s Cup. After losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, the Preds are back in the playoffs and hungry for that elusive cup.
The Vegas Golden Knights are your Pacific Division champions (and in their first year as a team!). The Golden Knights set all kinds of records and are out to prove everyone wrong about what expansion teams can do in an inaugural season.
In the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals earned the crown. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin earned his SEVENTH Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer with 49 goals. Will he get his team to the Final this time around?
And thanks to a Boston Bruins loss to the Florida Panthers Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the Atlantic Division Champions, despite not even making the playoffs last year.
Here are the matchups:
1. Nashville Predators vs. WC2. Colorado Avalanche
2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. Minnesota Wild
1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1. Los Angeles Kings
2. Anaheim Ducks vs. 3. San Jose Sharks
1. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC2. New Jersey Devils
2. Boston Bruins vs. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs
1. Washington Capitals vs. WC1. Columbus Blue Jackets
2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 3. Philadelphia Flyers
Let’s get these playoffs started! First puck drop is Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. ET!
