TORONTO, April 6 (UPI) -- The National Hockey League playoffs open Wednesday in Detroit, Boston, Vancouver and Denver.
Other first-round series begin Thursday with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Toronto and San Jose as the host teams.
Each series is a best-of-seven.
In the Western Conference, Detroit, considered by many to be the favorite in the race for the Stanley Cup, goes against Nashville; San Jose meets St. Louis; Vancouver takes on Calgary and Colorado plays Dallas.
In the Eastern Conference, it's Tampa Bay vs. the New York Islanders, Boston vs. Montreal, Philadelphia vs. defending champion New Jersey and Toronto vs. Ottawa.
Detroit finished the regular season with the most points, 109, giving the Red Wings home ice advantage in the playoffs. Detroit won the cup in 2002 but was eliminated in the playoffs last year by Anaheim.
Tampa Bay enters the playoffs with the league's leading scorer, Martin St. Louis, who had 38 goals and 56 assists during the regular season.
New Jersey's Martin Brodeur is the leading goalie in wins and shutouts. Colorado, which had been the pre-season favorite, enters the playoffs with forward Paul Karilya out indefinitely with an ankle sprain.
