The 82-game preliminary is over, and 16 teams are left to compete for the NHL's biggest prize. The Stanley Cup playoffs get underway Wednesday with three games, and the other five series will begin Thursday.
The playoffs are a two-month grind that combines hitting, nastiness and spectacular team play that often results in best-of-7 series that go to the limit.
Teams like the Presidents' Trophy-winnning Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins would appear to have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cups since they were the four most successful teams in the regular season.