Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, left, celebrates with Corey Perry after Game 4 against the Calgary Flames in a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL postseason is down to eight teams with the St. Louis Blues hosting the Nashville Predators and the Anaheim Ducks hosting the Edmonton Oilers to start the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday night.
After the two Western Conference series get going, the Ottawa Senators host the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals host the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. Washington versus Pittsburgh is a showdown of the top two teams in the league during the regular season.
The Atlantic Division champion Montreal Canadiens and Central champion Chicago Blackhawks were eliminated in a first round that set a record for the most overtime games with 18.
It was the first time a first round didn't feature a Game 7 in any series since 2001.
San Jose Sharks left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) battles for the puck against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Matthew Benning (83) during the first period in Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Saturday, April 22, 2017, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Associated Press
St. Louis Blues' Magnus Paajarvi (56) is swarmed from teammates Vladimir Sobotka (71), Joel Edmundson (6), and Colton Parayko (55) after scoring the game-winning shot during overtime in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, April 22, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. St. Louis won 4-3. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
The Associated Press
FILE- In this April 20, 2017, file photo, Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, of Finland, gloves a Chicago Blackhawks shot during the third period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Nashville, Tenn. The St. Louis Blues will face the Predators in semifinal round of the NHL hockey play off series. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
The Associated Press