The Stanley Cup playoffs get underway Wednesday with three games to kick off the postseason.
The first night of competition includes two Eastern Conference games and one Western Conference matchup that involves the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Detroit Red Wings in the first game of their series between the second- and third-place teams in the Atlantic Division.
The Red Wings clinched their position despite losing their last two regular-season games, but they could have an excellent chance of knocking off the Lightning, who got to the Stanley Cup Final a year ago.
The Lightning are one of the most talented teams in the league, but they won't have high-scoring forward Steven Stamkos (blood clot) or solid defenseman Anton Stralman (fractured leg).
That should give the Red Wings the advantage, but Detroit's goaltending has been shaky. If the Lightning are going to win this series, goaltender Ben Bishop is going to need a big series and outplay Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard.
This is a rematch of last year's opening-round s ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
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