Now that we've cleared the NHL trade deadline and the playoff picture is starting to take shape, it's never too soon to start thinking about potential playoff matchups.
Unless something crazy happens, the postseason will begin with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators as the top seeds and the clear-cut favorites to represent their conferences in the Stanley Cup Final.
While the Lightning and Predators are well stacked, in years past it hasn't paid to be the No. 1 seed. In fact, the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks are the last team to win their conference and reach the Cup Final.
There are a few possible explanations for the struggles of top seeds. There is a high degree of luck involved in a seven-game series. Sometimes injuries play a role. Teams can also be better than their overall record indicates, especially following deadline deals. But most often, it's matchups that dictate whether a team moves on.
So will we see the Predators and Lightning buck the trend? Which teams could give them the toughest time? Let's have a look.
The Predators' case for making the Cup Final
Last year's Western Conference representatives have come back even stronger than they were 12 months ago. Not only did they add forwards Kyle Turris and Nick Bonino to improve the team's forward depth, the Preds have seen young scorer Kevin Fiala make a big jump from his rookie to sophomore campaign.
Nashville's defense corps is arguably the best in the NHL, led by superstar P.K. Subban (who leads the Predators in scoring) and goaltender Pekka Rinne is having his best season since 2010-11, when he finished second in the Vezina Trophy voting.
The Predators are a complete team with a Cup-winning coach and they pass every statistical test, ranking third in the West in Corsi for percentage and No. 1 in goals for percentage.
Toughest challengers
Winnipeg Jets
Head-to-head: Predators won two of three, outscoring the Jets 15-14.
Why they're a tough matchup: Scary top-six forwards.
Nashville certainly has some top-notch skill forwards in Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen, but Winnipeg has more elite players up front than nearly every team in the NHL, and they are all playing at a high level.
Blake Wheeler is making a Hart Trophy case with 74 points in 65 games, 19-year-old Patrik Laine has potted 35 goals, and star center Mark Scheifele has 51 points in 49 games. Winnipeg is No. 1 in the West in even-strength scoring rate and has solid goaltending, with Connor Hellebuyck sporting a .922 save percentage. And if that wasn't enough, the Jets added veteran center Paul Stastny at the deadline.
Even with a tremendous blue line, the Predators won't have an easy time slowing down the outstanding top-six forward group from Winnipeg.
Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-head: Golden Knights won two of three, outscoring the Predators 7-4.
Why they're a tough matchup: Scoring depth.
You could aptly describe Vegas as having four lines of second-liners. The historically good expansion club may not have a perennial All-Star on its roster, but it sure does have a lot of quality players who come in waves. The Golden Knights have five 20-goal scorers and six players with more than 40 points. Vegas is only a shade behind Winnipeg in goal scoring rate -- and they added a dynamic offensive player in Tomas Tatar, who is looking for his fourth straight 20-goal season, at the deadline.
While there are still questions about the Golden Knights' defense, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is performing like an elite netminder, going 22-8-3 with a .928 save percentage, and has his name on the Stanley Cup multiple times.
Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-head: Predators won two and lost one in overtime, outscoring the Kings 13-6.
Why they're a tough matchup: A trio of greatness.
In terms of overall offensive production and puck possession, Nashville is a better team than Los Angeles. But the Kings have superstar power that should make any team nervous in the postseason. Dominating two-way center Anze Kopitar is playing some of the best hockey of his career, with 71 points in 66 games, including 22 even-strength goals. Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Drew Doughty has 44 points while controlling the game at both ends.
And the most frightening star player of all, netminder Jonathan Quick, is having his best season since 2011-12. The Kings have the second-best even-strength save percentage in the NHL. The last thing any great team wants to face in the postseason is a hot goalie. And few goalies have shattered as many dreams in the playoffs as Quick.
Minnesota Wild
Head-to-head: Wild won two of three, outscoring the Preds 10-9.
Why they're a tough matchup: Home-ice dominance.
Yes, the Predators would have home-ice advantage in a seven-game series, but the games in downtown St. Paul wouldn't be easy. The Wild have surpassed the Golden Knights as the toughest team to face at home in the NHL, with a 24-5-6 record.
Bruce Boudreau has his team heating up at the right time, going 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. Center Eric Staal has turned back the clock, pushing his way up to the top of the NHL's scoring leaders, with 36 goals. The Wild also have a top-notch goalie in Devan Dubnyk and a strong top four on the blue line with Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin. The Wild's blazing-fast transition game might be able to match that of the Predators, especially when playing in Minnesota
Sleeper: Colorado Avalanche
The Avs are still a team on the rise, but center Nathan MacKinnon is performing at an other-worldly level, with 77 points in 57 games. Teams currently in playoff position should be rooting for Colorado to miss the postseason -- they're currently tied in points with the Kings, but behind on tiebreakers -- because nobody wants to face MacKinnon for seven games. However, the Predators have defeated the Avs in all three games the teams have played this season.
The Lightning's case for making the Cup Final
As if the Lightning weren't already impressive enough, they made a huge splash at the deadline by adding Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller in a trade with the New York Rangers.
Led by Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay is the No. 1 even-strength scoring team in the NHL. Young goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy has put his name in the Vezina Trophy conversation, with a .926 save percentage.
And now the Lightning blue line ranks among the best in the NHL, with Victor Hedman, McDonagh and young defender Mikhail Sergachev. With star talent all over, Tampa Bay offers an incredibly difficult challenge for anyone in a seven-game series.
Toughest challengers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-head: Lightning have won two of three, outscoring the Pens 14-10.
Why they're a tough matchup: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.
The Penguins' two all-time greats have led the Penguins to two straight Cup victories. Pittsburgh got off to a slow start this season, but they are right back in the mix to win the Metro division. Crosby has 70 points in 67 games and Malkin has a great chance to win the Hart Trophy, with 82 points in 63 games. Phil Kessel has added 76 points and Kris Letang has come around in the second half, now sitting at 40 points in 64 games.
The Penguins are the only team that can match Tampa Bay star for star. The Lightning appear to have an advantage in goal, but Matt Murray has raised the Cup twice by age 23, so he shouldn't be underestimated despite a tough season. By the numbers, Pittsburgh has the No. 1 power play and puts more shots on goal at even strength than any other team in the East. This would be a fantastic series.
Boston Bruins
Head-to-head: The teams have only played once thus far, a 3-2 Bruins win in Boston on Nov. 29. They have three more matchups down the stretch.
Why they're a tough matchup: Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand now have help.
The Bruins were already one of the top teams in the East before adding Rick Nash. They rank No. 1 in the NHL in Corsi for percentage and No. 2 (only behind Tampa Bay) in even-strength goals for percentage. Through several recent lean years, the Bruins' two superstar forwards have continued to play at a high level, but Boston lacked depth up front and on defense.
This season, David Pastrnak has proven he can consistently be a top-notch producer (58 points in 63 games) and youngsters Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk have provided depth scoring that was lacking. Together they have produced 73 points. Young defenseman Charlie McAvoy has helped extend Zdeno Chara's career with his puck carrying ability, though he's out for the next few weeks with an injury, as is Bergeron. In goal, Tuukka Rask is having a bounce-back season.
With these two powerhouses leading the NHL in goal differential, it's hard to find a weakness in either club, although Boston's injuries are certainly worth monitoring.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Head-to-head: The Lightning won once in regulation, once in a shootout and lost once to Toronto. Tampa Bay outscored the Maple Leafs 9-7 in those three games.
Why they're a tough matchup: Auston Matthews and offensive prowess throughout the lineup.
Tampa Bay is the only team in the NHL with more even-strength goals than Toronto. The Leafs' three top scorers are 21 or younger. If they can defeat a veteran team like the Lightning, it will likely be because they have the best two-way center on the ice in Auston Matthews.
The 2016 No. 1 overall pick has been on the ice for 54 goals scored and only 25 allowed at 5-on-5 this season. Only Bergeron has a better goals for percentage in the entire NHL. Toronto does have shortcomings on defense, but goalie Frederik Andersen (.919 save percentage) has allowed his offensive players to remain aggressive.
Philadelphia Flyers
Head-to-head: Tampa Bay won one game in regulation, one in a shootout and lost one. They've outscored Philly 15-12.
Why they're a tough matchup: The top line.
Flyers fans will remember 2017-18 as the season when Sean Couturier officially became one of the elite two-way centers in the NHL. He's been on the right side of the shot counter and scoreboard for years, but this season his line is mauling opponents to the tune of a 54.3 percent Corsi for percentage and 62.6 percent goals for percentage. The young center might have a chance to shut down one of the Lightning's top lines in a playoff series.
Couturier's growth in production has coincided with playing alongside Claude Giroux, who is on pace to top his career high scoring total of 93, set back in 2011-12. The Lightning have a better roster, but the Flyers' top line should worry anyone who matches up with them.
Sleeper: New Jersey Devils
Taylor Hall deserves Hart Trophy consideration, as he has the capability to take over a series. They might not be the deepest team, but New Jersey's additions of Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner give them a little more pop offensively, and as long as Cory Schneider is healthy, he has the talent to shut opponents down. The Lightning have lost both games to the Devils this season (one in a shootout).