Sam Montembeault had a breakout season, continuing the Canadiens' Quebec goalie tradition.
Montembeault won 31 games, with a 2.82 GAA.
Despite struggling down the stretch, the Hurricanes are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
If the Devils were fully healthy, this would be a coin-flip series.
However, no Jack Hughes means the Devils have no chance.
The pattern in Toronto is a big regular season followed by a big postseason letdown.
They have only advanced the first round once in the last 20 years.
The Senators are a young, hungry team that will be giving the Leafs all they can handle.
This one will be a long, hard-fought series.
Tkachuk could play in Game 1, while Ekblad will return in Game 3.
This series will be tight and low-scoring, with the Jets slipping by in seven games.
This could be one of the best matchups in the entire postseason, let alone the first round.
Either team is capable of making a run and winning the Stanley Cup.
However, the Stars have some firepower, as Matt Duchene and Jason Robertson provide a significant 1-2 punch.
For the fourth straight season, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings face off in the first round.
The previous three series were all won by the Oilers.
This time around, the Kings feel they have the upper hand with home ice in Game 7.
The Oilers have had their ups and downs after losing the Stanley Cup Final in seven games last year.
