New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates at the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sunday, April 9, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Rangers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
The Associated Press
A look at the NHL playoffs that begin Wednesday:
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WHO'S PLAYING
EAST: The NHL-leading Washington Capitals face the Toronto Maple Leafs and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins have home-ice advantage against the rival Columbus Blue Jackets on the Metropolitan Division side. On the Atlantic side, the division champion Montreal Canadiens face the wild-card New York Rangers, and the Ottawa Senators have home ice against the Boston Bruins.
West: The Central Division champion Chicago Blackhawks open against the wild-card Nashville Predators, and the Minnesota Wild have home-ice advantage against former coach Mike Yeo and the St. Louis Blues. On the Pacific side, the division champion Anaheim Ducks face the wild-card Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers have home ice against the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks.
WHAT TO WATCH
- The playoffs start in Ottawa and Montreal on Wednesday with the Canadiens back in the playoffs against the Rangers and the Senators hosting the Bruins. Expect tension for Montreal and New York after the teams met in a contentious 2014 Eastern Conference final.
- Also Wednesday, the Penguins host the Blue Jackets, Wild host the Blues and Oilers host the Sharks.
- The Capitals and Maple Leafs start Thursday in Washington, the Blackhawks host the Predators and Ducks host the Flames.
LOOSE PUCKS
Nine of the 16 playoff teams have a different coach than the one they began last season with: the Canadiens (Claude Julien), Senators (Guy Boucher), Penguins (Mike Sullivan), Blue Jackets (John Tortorella), Bruins (Bruce Cassidy), Wild (Bruce Boudreau), Blues (Mike Yeo), Ducks (Randy Carlyle) and Flames (Glen Gulutzan). Four of the past 11 Cup champions made an in-season coaching change. Montreal, Boston and St. Louis are the three teams this year to do that. ... Connor McDavid reached 100 points in the Oilers' regular-season finale, the 28th 100-point season by a player since 2005-06. ... The Capitals and Maple Leafs have never met in a playoff series. ... Boston rookie defenseman Brandon Carlo's status is uncertain after he was injured on a hit by Alex Ovechkin on Saturday.
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Anaheim Ducks' Ondrej Kase, center, of the Czech Republic, and Los Angeles Kings' Nic Dowd, right, look at the puck in the air during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo, right, makes a save on Toronto Maple Leafs' James van Riemsdyk, center, as Columbus Blue Jackets' Scott Harrington defends during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto, on Sunday, April 9, 2017. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid skates with the puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 8, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Toronto Maple Leafs salute fans following the team's NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Toronto on Saturday, April 8, 2017. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Ottawa Senators' Derick Brassard (19) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers with teammates Alexandre Burrows (14) and Mark Borowiecki (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Ottawa on Saturday April 8, 2017. (Fred Chartrand/The Canadian Press via AP)
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Washington Capitals' Justin Williams, center, and his teammates watch a replay of his goal which was eventually disallowed during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Saturday, April 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
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Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy talks to his players during the third period of their 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in an NHL hockey game in Boston, Saturday, April 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
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A trainer tends to injured Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo after he was hit by Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston on Saturday, April 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) is unable to swing his stick as it is pinned between the arm of Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (3) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Washington, Sunday, April 9, 2017. The Panthers won 2-0. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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