playoffs as they get set to begin. The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes open their series on Monday at 8 p.m., as do the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, at 10 p.m. Last season, the N.H.L. opened the doors of its playoffs to 24 teams, but this season it is returning to a 16-team format. The top four teams from each of the league’s four divisions will qualify, with the top seed playing the fourth seed and number two playing number three in the first round.

Source: New York Times May 14, 2021 16:07 UTC