Montreal’s Bell Centre was rocking at the final buzzer on Wednesday night, as the Canadiens ended a three-year playoff drought and finalized the bracket for this season’s playoffs.

The postseason will begin Saturday in Winnipeg, with Game 1 between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets, the NHL announced.

The opening round is filled with intriguing matchups. The Eastern Conference will feature the first “Battle of Ontario” in 21 years, with the Atlantic Division champion Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Ottawa Senators. In another regional rivalry, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers face off for the second year in a row, while the Carolina Hurricanes will host the New Jersey Devils for Game 1 on Sunday. The last-in Canadiens will face the Washington Capitals, the top team in the East this season, starting on Monday.

The Western Conference is headlined by a heavyweight fight between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. The Stars came out on top of that matchup in the second round last season, and now have Mikko Rantanen on their side.

The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets will host the red-hot Blues — who won 19 of their final 25 games — for Game 1 on Saturday. After winning their fourth Pacific Division in eight years, the Vegas Golden Knights will host the Minnesota Wild for Game 1 on Sunday, while the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings face off in the first round for the fourth consecutive season.

Eastern Conference



Western Conference



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