Stanley Cup Playoffs Set to Begin This Weekend as 16 Teams Battle for Glory
The most exciting time of the hockey season is almost here. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin this weekend, with 16 teams ready to compete for one of the most prestigious trophies in sport.
All the first-round matchups have now been confirmed.
Eastern Conference
Washington Capitals finished as the top team in the East and will face Montreal Canadiens, who grabbed the final Wild Card spot after a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
In the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed first place and will take on Ottawa Senators, who qualified as the first Wild Card team.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will face Florida Panthers in another exciting all-Florida matchup.
In the Metropolitan Division, the second-placed Carolina Hurricanes will play against the New Jersey Devils.
Eastern Conference First-Round Matchups:
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Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens
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Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators
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Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers
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Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
The Winnipeg Jets made history by winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time. They finished as the top seed in the West and will meet the St. Louis Blues in the first round.
The Dallas Stars, who came second in the Central Division, will face the Colorado Avalanche.
Over in the Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights topped the table and will take on the Minnesota Wild, while the Los Angeles Kings will face off against the Edmonton Oilers.
Western Conference First-Round Matchups:
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Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues
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Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
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Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild
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Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers
Playoff Format Reminder:
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The top three teams in each division qualify automatically.
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Each conference has two Wild Card spots.
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The top division winner in each conference plays the second Wild Card team.
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The other division winner plays the first Wild Card team.
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Second and third-placed teams in each division face each other in the first round.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs officially began on Saturday, with thrilling matches from the start. Fans across the world will be watching closely as teams chase their dream of lifting the famous silver cup.
