The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs commence Saturday, with three Canadian franchises competing for hockey's most coveted trophy. The Ottawa Senators faced the Carolina Hurricanes, marking the first Canadian playoff appearance. The Montreal Canadiens are set to begin their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, followed by the Edmonton Oilers' opening game on Monday.
The Edmonton Oilers, bolstered by a formidable offense featuring star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, are considered Canada's leading contender. Despite recent struggles in the regular season, the team enters the post-season aiming to build on their success from recent deep runs, including two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup final.
Sixteen teams qualify for the playoffs, structured by divisional standings and wild-card selections. The format consists of best-of-seven series, requiring four wins to advance to the next round. Notably, the Toronto Maple Leafs will not be represented this year, having been eliminated from contention.