The Stanley Cup may have a brand new residence this yr after the back-to-back champion Florida Panthers had their season derailed by accidents.

They’re not the one perennial contender to overlook the playoffs, both, with the Buffalo Sabres among the many roughly half dozen newcomers within the 16-team subject. The Pittsburgh Penguins are again within the dance, too.

The Colorado Avalanche have been dominant since October and go in as the favourite after clinching the most effective regular-season file within the NHL. That has hardly ever been an indicator of who hoists the Cup on the finish of 4 rounds, and it’s anybody’s guess who comes out of the Japanese Convention, in addition to the West.

“Each crew within the playoffs can win,” Dallas Stars defenseman Tyler Myers mentioned. “Each collection is a tricky collection. That’s what’s so wonderful in regards to the NHL playoffs: It brings out the most effective in everyone, in each crew, and it creates an unbelievable battle irrespective of who’s enjoying.”

Buffalo ended the longest postseason drought in league historical past at 14 seasons and did so after shedding 18 of its first 29 video games.

“It’s one thing that we strived for from Day One,” mentioned Lindy Ruff, who’s among the many favorites to be coach of the yr. “You’ve acquired to be ok with getting there. It’s onerous. We’re in a division that’s been extraordinarily onerous to get there. You’ve acquired to look again and say that we did a number of good issues to get up to now.”

The Sabres additionally look as if they’ll do some injury within the wide-open East with out Florida. They have been the most effective crew for the reason that Olympic break.

Additionally sizzling down the stretch was Pittsburgh, which certified for the primary time since 2022 in new coach Dan Muse’s first season. The Penguins had been 6-1 lengthy photographs on BetMGM Sportsbook in October to make it, however now the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will get one other probability.

“Lots of people doubted us and I suppose counted us out, and it simply put gasoline on the hearth for us,” mentioned defenseman Ryan Shea, who’s set to make his NHL playoff debut at 29. “I’ve been within the playoffs within the AHL, which was enjoyable, however that is the most effective league on this planet.”

The Utah Mammoth made it within the franchise’s second season in Salt Lake Metropolis. The Anaheim Geese are additionally again with a younger core coached by three-time Cup-champion Joel Quenneville.

Colorado is justifiably the most effective guess to win all of it. Nathan MacKinnon might be the MVP, Cale Makar the highest defenseman, and the reacquisition of Nazem Kadri on the commerce deadline offers the Avalanche the depth to ascertain one other parade in Denver this summer time, 4 years for the reason that earlier one.

To take action, they’re going to must undergo both Dallas or the Minnesota Wild within the second spherical simply to succeed in the West last.

“Assured for positive: Consider on this group. I do know we now have what it takes,” captain Gabriel Landeskog mentioned. “It’s going to be an extended, robust highway and mentally, bodily grinding. I believe we’re prepared for it.”

Stars versus Wild opens the playoffs with a bang, pitting two of the highest seven groups within the league in a best-of-seven collection that ensures considered one of them will likely be {golfing} by mid-Could. It is the results of a division-focused format that Commissioner Gary Bettman has mentioned results in the most effective first spherical in sports activities.

“That makes for nice matchups,” Bettman mentioned. “For those who’re a fan of the sport and also you’re in search of pleasure, you’re seeking to be entertained, you’re in search of intriguing tales, this format does it.”

A number of gamers who gained gold with the U.S. on the Olympics have the possibility so as to add a Stanley Cup ring to their trophy case for the yr.

Colorado’s Brock Nelson scored 30 targets after being a difference-maker in Milan. Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin, Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel, Minnesota’s Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson are all within the working, as are two goaltenders: Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and Dallas’ Jake Oettinger.

The identical goes for some Canadian stars who see their silver medals as an emblem of shedding and get a possibility to make up for it. That features Edmonton’s Connor McDavid following two consecutive losses within the last, and Crosby after an harm saved him from enjoying within the gold medal recreation and is chasing a fourth NHL title.

“That’s the most effective time of yr,” Crosby mentioned. “That’s why you play.”

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AP Sports activities Author Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl