Surprise teams try to add to runs in NHL postseason
After a qualifying round full of overtime thrills, unlikely comebacks and surprise upsets, the traditional NHL playoffs start on Tuesday with 16 teams destined to provide more excitement and unpredictability.
The Chicago Blackhawks, ranked 23rd out of 31 teams at the end of the regular season, are still alive along with the Montreal Canadiens, who were 24th and not given much hope of pushing past Pittsburgh and into the first round.
The Boston Bruins, winners of this year's Presidents' Trophy, went winless in the round-robin games and fell to the No. 4 seed. They will face a Carolina Hurricanes squad that swept pass the New York Rangers in three games.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Vegas Golden Knights won all three of their round-robin games, earning them the top seed in their respective conferences. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning could be without superstar forward Steven Stamkos and former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman for at least the start of their series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Each series will be a best-of-seven, not a bestof-five seen in the qualifying rounds.
In other hockey news:
• The New York Rangers won the second phase of the NHL draft lottery, giving them a shot at selecting winger Alexis Lafreniere. The Rangers, who ave the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 1965, were among eight teams that lost in the qualifying round of the playoffs with a chance to claim quite a consolation prize Monday night.
The league’s bottom seven teams had their seasons concluded March
12. Those teams also ended up not winning the lottery in June. The Los Angeles Kings landed the No. 2 selection.