An overview of the eight first-round matchups to kick off the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs

With the NHL playoffs set to begin tomorrow, The Canadian Press takes a look at all eight first-round series. METROPOLITAN DIVISION (1) Washington Capitals versus (4) Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus had the fourthbest regular- season record in 2016-17. Their reward? A firstround matchup with the No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blue Jackets bowed out in five games, victims of the NHL’S divisional playoff format. This year’s test against Washington won’t be any easier after Columbus grabbed the East’s first wild-card spot. Alex Ovechkin’s 49 goals led the league for the seventh time. The Capitals have not made it out of the second round in 20 years. Will Washington finally takes that next step in the Ovechkin era? The Capitals will have to get past the Blue Jackets first.

Head-to-head season series: Capitals 3-1-0; Blue Jackets 1-3-0

Pick: Capitals in 7

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(2) Pittsburgh Penguins versus (3) Philadelphia Flyers

The Penguins and Flyers combined for 56 goals, including scores of 10-3, 8-5 and 8-4, the last time they met in the playoffs back in 2012. While it’s unlikely there will be that type of offensive deluge this time around, the series features four of the league’s top-10 scorers – Claude Giroux ( 102 points) for Philadelphia, and Evgeni Malkin (98 points), Phil Kessel (92 points) and Sidney Crosby (89 points) for Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania rivals flat out don’t like each other. Can the Flyers knock off the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins after consecutive gruelling springs? Or does Pittsburgh have enough gas in the tank to push forward on its quest for a three-peat?

Head-to-head season series: Penguins 4-0-0; Flyers 0-2-2

Pick: Penguins in six

■■■ (2) Winnipeg Jets versus (3)

Minnesota Wild

The Jets will be making their second trip to the playoffs in their second incarnation after going out with a whimper to the Anaheim Ducks in four games back in 2015. Led by captain Blake Wheeler, sniper Patrik Laine, a tough blue line and Vezina candidate Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg looks ready to give the city its first series win since the old Jets advanced to the second round in 1987. Paced by Eric Staal, Minnesota had a great start to the second half of the season, but has slowed a bit in recent weeks. A broken ankle suffered by star defenceman Ryan Suter will also be tough to overcome. This series could light the fuse for a heated geographic rivalry moving forward.

Season series: Jets win 3-1-0; Wild 1-3-0

Pick: Jets in six

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PACIFIC DIVISION

(1) Vegas Golden Knights versus (4) Los Angeles Kings The Knights have exceeded expectations time and again. The first modern expansion team in North America’s four major professional sports leagues to finish first in its division in its inaugural season, Vegas faces a tough challenge in the battled-tested Kings. The speedy Knights, accented by William Karlsson’s 43 goals, were an offensive juggernaut, while the stingy Kings did it with league’s best defence featuring 2016 Norris winner Drew Doughty. Another regional rivalry in the making, this one could go the distance.

Head-to-head this season: Knights 2-1-1; Kings 2-1-1

Pick: Kings in seven