The journey to find the next champion of the Stanley Cup is about to commence. The playoffs kick off this weekend, showcasing 16 teams vying for one of the most prestigious trophies in sports. Now, with the matchup lines drawn, here’s a glance at what’s set to unfold.

In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals are positioned as the top seed and will face the Montreal Canadiens, who secured their place with a compelling 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Furthermore, both the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues have solidified their playoff spots earlier this week. Notably, the Winnipeg Jets, after clinching the Presidents’ Trophy, will initiate their playoff journey against the Blues. The Stanley Cup Playoffs officially commence on Saturday.

Key Details:

• **Eastern Conference:

  • Top Seed:** Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
  • Matchup Overview: The Capitals boast their top status, facing the Canadiens, who battled through to secure a wild card berth.

• Western Conference:

  • Top Seed: Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
  • Matchup Overview: The Jets will pursue their inaugural triumph in franchise history.

Playoff Structure Reminder:

• Each division’s top three teams automatically advance.
• Two wild card spots are available in each conference.
• The leading division champion faces the second wild card team. The remaining champions face each other based on placement.
• The two and three team positions within each division will face off initially.

Regulation wins act as the prime tiebreaker, followed by regulation plus overtime wins, although shootout wins are not factored.