Auston Matthews

A year ago the Columbus Blue Jackets were the surprise team in the NHL regular season, and the Ottawa Senators the surprise team of the Stanley Cup playoffs. This spring, it's conceivable both could be watching the postseason on TV. Ottawa is already out of the running, while the Blue Jackets cling to a wildcard spot in the East, watching the hard-charging Florida Panthers in the rear-view mirror.

One of hockey's oldest and most traditional rivalries is back on the ice again Saturday when the Montreal Canadiens travel to Boston to face the Bruins at TD Garden. Having just dismantled the two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins there on Thursday to the tune of 8-4, now the Bruins get the chance to give the same treatment to the team that's won more Stanley Cups than any other franchise.

All good things come to an end, as do bad things, which the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils were happy to recently discover. Boston ended a six-game losing streak against the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Devils got the better of the New York Islanders for the first time in five games. As these match ups arrive once more on the NHL schedule, will they revert to old form?

The young Leafs are supposed to be building toward something great, but they seemed to be putting the blocks in place much fast than expected. With an 8-2 slate in their last 10 games, the Leafs have moved to within striking distance of top spot in the Atlantic Division, and should take another step forward against a Florida Panthers team at the end of a long road trip.

The road to the Stanley Cup for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals begins with the upstart, rookie-laden Toronto Maple Leafs. Considering Washington's shaky playoff history, this one has trap written all over it.

A team chock full of rookies required to play significant roles, everyone anticipated that the surprising Toronto Maple Leafs would fade as the NHL season got into crunch time. Instead, the young Leafs are playing some of their best hockey.

As Wednesday's 3 p.m. EST NHL trade deadline nears, teams aren't waiting to do last-minute shopping. The Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild already made bold moves. Will that force other contenders to react in kind?

Lots of action in the Atlantic Division. The Battle of Ontario hasn't been this hot for years, as the Leafs and Senators jockey for playoff position, while the Canadiens try to right their ship under new coach Claude Julien.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings have combined to win five Stanley Cups since 2010 but so far the 2016-17 NHL season has not been kind to either team, with both owning middling records barely above .500 as they meet Sunday at the United Center.