Playoffs Today: 8 Matchups Unpacked

With the regular season crunching down, we break down what the NHL playoffs look like if the puck dropped right now across all eight first-round battles. Front offices sweat every shift as wild cards like the Bruins and Senators cling to spots while powerhouses such as the Sabres and Hurricanes eye deep runs. These projections reveal the X-factors that could flip the bracket before the final horn.