Welcome to the very best time of year to be a hockey fan. The regular season has its moments and the Stanley Cup Final is what it's all about. But the first round of the playoffs is pure adrenaline, hooked directly into a hockey fan's veins. Sixteen teams enter, and we get two weeks of mayhem until eight are left.
But which eight? Let's see if we can figure it out with a look at all of the first-round matchups.
Central Division
#1 Nashville Predators vs. #WC Colorado Avalanche
In this corner: The Predators (53-18-11, 117 points, +57*), coming off the first Presidents' Trophy in team history.