Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have been here before, one year ago to be exact as one led the other to a Presidents' Trophy to elevate expectations in the nation's capital. After making another short stay in the playoffs last season, Ovechkin and the Capitals hope to take the first step on a longer journey this time around when they host rookie Auston Matthews and the upstart Toronto Maple Leafs in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Thursday.

The Chicago Blackhawks won three Stanley Cup championships in a six-year span and two of those runs to the title started with a first-round playoff win over the Nashville Predators. Chicago, which amassed a Western Conference-leading 106 points, look to duplicate a winning formula when they host Nashville on Thursday in the opening of their first-round set.

The Anaheim Ducks' five-season stranglehold on the Pacific Division title isn't the only pronounced streak on display Thursday when they open their Western Conference first-round series against the visiting Calgary Flames. Anaheim is riding a 25-game home winning streak against Calgary, with a 3-1 victory on April 4 serving as fuel for the fire as Flames captain Mark Giordano's knee-on-knee hit with Cam Fowler rendered the Ducks' All-Star defenseman sidelined for two to six weeks.