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Canadiens-Rangers, Blue Jackets-Penguins set for 1st round

Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Carey Price versus Henrik Lundqvist. Sidney Crosby against Brandon Dubinsky.

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference is taking shape, with two matchups confirmed after the Washington Capitals won their second straight Presidents' Trophy on Wednesday.

The Montreal Canadiens - your Atlantic Division champions - will face the New York Rangers when the postseason begins, with the Blueshirts locked in as the East's first wild card. Game 1 will be in Montreal.

Montreal won the season series 3-0.

The beastly Metropolitan Division's No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, and they'll meet in the opening round for the second time in four years.

Pittsburgh won in six games in 2014.

Home ice between Pittsburgh and Columbus has yet to be determined. The Penguins have 109 points to the Blue Jackets' 106, and both teams have three games to play.

Pittsburgh will close out its season on the road in New Jersey, Toronto, and Manhattan. Columbus is home to Winnipeg, in Philadelphia, and in Toronto on Sunday.

The clubs split the season series.

Date Result
Dec. 22 PIT 1 - CBJ 7
Feb. 3 CBJ 3 - PIT 4 (OT)
Feb. 17 PIT 1 - CBJ 2 (OT)
April 4 CBJ 1 - PIT 4

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