Want the lowdown out West? Read about it here.
After a wild Saturday, the four opening-round playoff series in the Eastern Conference have been set.
The top seed and Metropolitan Division champion New York Rangers, who captured their first Presidents’ Trophy since 1994, will take on Pittsburgh after the Pens clinched the second of two wild card spots with a 2-0 win over Buffalo.
The Atlantic Division-winning Canadiens, who edged out Tampa Bay on the final day, will get an all-Canadian matchup against Ottawa. The Senators clinched the first wild card spot earlier in the day with a 3-1 win over Philadelphia, capping off a remarkable playoff push.
After falling short of the Atlantic crown, the Lightning will take on the Red Wings in Round 1. This series will hold special significance for Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman, who spent his entire Hall of Fame career in Detroit and captained the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups.
The final matchup in the East was decided yesterday -- the Washington Capitals will take on the New York Islanders in the playoffs for the first time since 1993. That series, of course, is best remembered for Dale Hunter’s cheap shot on Pierre Turgeon in the waning moments of Game 6.