These are the feelings I can best liken to my recent anticipation of the 2009 NHL Playoffs on their first day. Tonight the first round match-ups commence, and I couldn't be more excited.

In this two-article series, I take a look at teams that could make a run and slip into the playoffs, suddenly surprise everyone, and go to the conference finals, or fall off down the stretch.

Montreal (8) vs. Boston (1): The NHL should declare this Original Six playoff series an annual event, which it practically is (the two rivals have met 31 times, ...

Columbus Coach Ken Hitchcock, meantime, led the undermanned Blue Jackets to their first playoff berth in the franchise's eight-season existence. And that may have to suffice for now, despite a 3-3 ...

The win came exactly 10 years after the Hurricanes clinched their most recent playoff berth on April 4, 2009, when they beat Pittsburgh.

They may not — and will not, if history tells us anything — provide any additional candidates for the Top NHL Fight of the 2009-10 season, because we all know the playoffs are a bastion of ...

Veteran NHL defenseman Tyson Barrie is hanging up his skates, announcing his retirement from the NHL after 14 seasons.  The ...

Earlier this year, the NHL revealed Quarter-Century Teams (First Team and Second Team) of six players -- three forwards, two ...

Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason, making a save against the Red Wings last month, had an outstanding NHL rookie season, and his team is in the playoffs for the first time in its history.