For all their offensive flash, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been bounced from the playoffs in the first round in each of the past two seasons, victimized by Atlantic Division rival Boston both times. The top-heavy Atlantic could be the biggest obstacle for the high-powered Maple Leafs, who kick off the season at home Wednesday night against the rebuilding Ottawa Senators.

The two most recent Stanley Cup champions will take the ice on Wednesday as the St. Louis Blues hoist the championship banner prior to their game against the visiting Washington Capitals. The Blues will look for a fast start to the season in 2019-20 after slumping their way to the NHL's basement in January, only to complete a whirlwind six-month dash from worst to first by defeating Boston in seven games to capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup title.

Despite the presence of the world's best player in the lineup, the Edmonton Oilers finished well out of playoff contention in each of the past two seasons, leading to a housecleaning by team management. Dave Tippett will make his debut behind the bench when captain Connor McDavid and the Oilers open the season versus the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night.

The Vegas Golden Knights' postseason ended in horrific fashion in the spring, courtesy of a controversial major penalty that resulted in four power-play goals as the San Jose Sharks rallied to an epic win in Game 7 of the teams' first-round series. Five-plus months removed from that overtime contest, the Pacific Division rivals renew acquaintances on Wednesday when they begin a home-and-home series with the season opener at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.