It took 1200-odd games and the last day of the NHL regular season to set the playoff match-ups, making this year’s playoffs as intriguing as ever. With the exception of long-suffering Edmonton and Toronto markets, Canadian hockey fans across the country have special reason to be excited. With five teams in the playoffs and at least two guaranteed to make it through to the second round, the odds are favorable for a deep run from either the Canadiens, Canucks, Flames, Jets or Senators. Adding to this year’s intrigue, two past playoff heavyweights in the Los Angeles Kings and Boston Bruins will be sitting out this postseason.
Here are the match-ups for Round 1:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
- St. Louis Blues (1st Central) vs Minnesota Wild (wildcard)
- Anaheim Ducks (1st Pacific) vs Winnipeg Jets (wildcard)
- Nashville Predators (2nd Central) vs Chicago Blackhawks (3rd Central)
- Vancouver Canucks (2nd Pacific) vs Calgary Flames (3rd Pacific)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
- Montreal Canadiens (1st Atlantic) vs Ottawa Senators (wildcard)
- New York Rangers (1st Metropolitan) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (wildcard)
- Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd Atlantic) vs Detroit Red Wings (3rd Atlantic)
- Washington Capitals (2nd Metropolitan) vs New York Islanders (3rd Metropolitan)
For Vancouver hockey fans, the Canucks/Flames series is expected to be another barn-burner installment of a historic playoff rivalry. Both teams defied expectations by making it to the postseason, and on paper are evenly-matched. It’s the fourth time the two franchises have met in the playoffs. Fun fact – each time these two teams have met in the playoffs, the series has gone seven games and the winners each proceeded to play in the Stanley Cup Final. Will history repeat itself?
Who are your picks to win it all in 2015? The President’s Trophy champion New York Rangers? The Carey Price-led Montreal Canadiens? The red-hot Ottawa Senators? Or the hometown Vancouver Canucks? This year’s playoffs promise to be a wide-open affair.
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