The 8-seed Calgary Flames will take on the ninth-seeded Winnipeg Jets in a Western Conference matchup that features a strong cast of talents on each side.

After having their blue line ravaged in the offseason, the Jets look to advance to the round of 16 for the third straight year, while the Flames seek to avenge their subpar campaign. There will be little room for error in a series that's too close to call.

Schedule

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Jets and Flames met just once in 2019-20, and never indoors. The sides faced off at the Heritage Classic on a snowy October night in Regina, Saskatchewan, with Winnipeg storming back to win in overtime on a goal by Bryan Little. Nearly 10 months later, weighing the significance of that outcome to this best-of-five series feels like a lost cause.

Key players to watch

Johnny Gaudreau

After being held to one assist in the club's disappointing first-round loss against the Colorado Avalanche, Johnny Gaudreau was not himself this season. He was on pace for 68 points over 82 games, which would have represented a 31-point drop-off from 2018-19, and his expected goals for percentage of 49.02 at five-on-five was the lowest mark since his rookie campaign.

Gaudreau's game-breaking ability also seemed lacking throughout most of the campaign. The electric winger mustered just 14 multi-point efforts after recording 26 such outings last season.

If the Flames' perennial producer can recapture his form this summer, Calgary has an excellent chance of advancing to the round of 16 for the third time in four seasons.

Kyle Connor

While Mark Scheifele is arguably the Jets' most complete player, Connor has quietly developed into one of the game's premier goal-scorers. The 23-year-old sniper hit the 30-goal plateau for the third straight campaign with a career-best, team-leading 38 tallies this season while sharing the club lead with 73 points.

Connor doesn't rely on power-play time to make an impact, either, as his 28 even-strength goals are tied for fourth in the league. He's also got a knack for making timely contributions - he's tied for fifth with 12 game-winning goals since the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Connor's dominance could afford linemate Patrik Laine more space to operate, bolstering the Jets' attack.

Jets can win if ...

They stay out of the penalty box. Winnipeg has an excellent team save percentage at five-on-five, but its penalty kill is in the bottom third of the league. Calgary's star-studded power play, meanwhile, converted on 21.2% of its opportunities this season, but the Flames finished 20th in even-strength scoring.

Flames can win if ...

They get strong goaltending from either David Rittich or Cam Talbot. Calgary should be able to keep up offensively, but the Flames' duo in goal is going up against one of the world's best in Connor Hellebuyck. It will be awfully hard for Calgary to stay afloat if the team makes a habit of giving up weak goals - especially early in games.

X-factors

Connor Hellebuyck

Hellebuyck has been the Jets' X-factor all year, and they'll need the Vezina Trophy candidate to maintain his level of play despite the lengthy layoff. The club finds itself in the postseason despite ranking last in expected goals for percentage (43.57) and share of high-danger scoring chances (40.38) at five-on-five.

The 6-foot-4 puck-stopper faced more shots than any netminder while ranking second in minutes played. He also led the league with six shutouts and his goals saved above average (22.40) trailed only Tuukka Rask. Simply put, the Jets' season would likely be over if it wasn't for Hellebuyck's heroics.

Matthew Tkachuk

Whether it be through a big goal, hit, or even a fight, Tkachuk can swing the momentum of a game in multiple ways and takes pride in getting under opponents' skin. The 22-year-old winger was one of only three players to record over 60 points and 120 hits this season.

Tkachuk uses his bulky frame to win pucks in the dirty areas of the ice and is often rewarded for his tenacity. He ranked fifth in the league in penalties drawn this season and will play an important role in putting the Jets' subpar penalty kill to work. He also drives possession for the Flames, leading the team with a Corsi For rating of 54.3 at even strength.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice believes eliminating travel during the 2019-20 postseason will result in high-quality action on the ice.

"If you look just at the opportunity to be great, for your team to feel good, to be healthy, and to drive at a very high level - which is playoff hockey on steroids - there's a chance that this is as good of hockey as I've ever seen," Maurice said of a postseason without travel, according to TSN.

The 24 teams involved in the league's restart arrived in their respective hub cities Sunday; the Eastern Conference's participants congregated in Toronto, while the Western Conference contingent gathered in Edmonton. The first slate of exhibition games is scheduled for Tuesday.

Maurice believes playing the majority of the postseason in one location will particularly benefit Western Conference clubs such as the Jets, who typically log more travel miles than Eastern Conference teams throughout the regular season.

"For a team like ours, that travel's a factor. You get off the plane at 2 or 3 in the morning enough times, it starts to set you back," Maurice said. "So these guys are going to be really well-rested, really well taken care of, (and) very very focused."

Winnipeg finished the regular season with a 37-28-6 record and will face the Calgary Flames in a best-of-five play-in series. Game 1 is set for Aug. 1.

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson and defenseman Timothy Liljegren have been selected as part of the club's 31-man roster for Phase 4 of the NHL's return, the team announced Sunday.

Liljegren, 21, appeared in 11 games with the Maple Leafs this season. His status for the play-in round was uncertain after he was deemed unfit to play earlier this month and replaced on the Phase 3 roster by Mac Hollowell.

The 18-year-old Robertson was selected by Toronto with the 53rd overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. The dynamic winger led the Ontario Hockey League this season with 55 goals in 46 games for the Peterborough Petes.

The Maple Leafs are set to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in their best-of-five play-in series, with Game 1 scheduled for Aug. 2 in Toronto.

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The Arizona Coyotes and general manager John Chayka appear to be heading in different directions.

At some point during the NHL's hiatus, the Coyotes were asked about Chayka's availability, and the team granted him permission to explore another opportunity, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The potential opening is apparently not with another team and is a different professional opportunity, according to The Athletic's Craig Morgan.

"It was not a lateral move," said one of Friedman's sources. "He was not going to be the GM of another NHL team."

Owner Alex Merulo signed Chayka to a long-term deal in November and said he was "fully confident" that the general manager was the right person to lead the club moving forward.

However, while recently discussing a possible "transition period" where Chayka would remain as the Coyotes GM through the remainder of the season, talks fell apart, according to Friedman.

Chayka was reportedly not invited to a recent meeting between the team and pending unrestricted free-agent forward Taylor Hall, according to The Arizona Republic's Kent Somers.

The 31-year-old has three years remaining on his current deal, per Friedman.

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak confirmed Friday he tested positive for COVID-19 in early July but has since recovered.

"I was a little bit shocked ... you just don't know how it will affect you and how symptoms kind of develop and increase," Kulak said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "Some guys shake it off in a day or two and sometimes it can linger on and it can get, obviously, really severe."

Kulak, 26, joined the Canadiens at training camp for the first time Thursday after completing his 14-day quarantine. The 6-foot-2 rearguard said he experienced symptoms that impacted his ability to train.

"I think the first couple of days were the worst," he said. "Waking up I just had pressure in my head, a little kind of dull headache all day.

"I was trying - because I had my first negative test - I was just trying to do exercise in my hotel room, some (bodyweight) stuff, and I could tell I just didn't have the energy for it that I should have for kind of the difficulty of stuff I was doing."

Kulak recorded seven assists while averaging 17:08 of ice time over 56 contests this season, his second with Montreal.

Canadiens defenseman Xavier Ouellet also said Thursday he tested positive but didn't feel any symptoms. The 26-year-old joined the team at training camp for the first time Wednesday.

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The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers play totally opposite styles, and with veteran head coaches behind each bench, this Eastern Conference matchup could turn into somewhat of a chess match.

Florida has made the postseason just twice during the last two decades, while the Islanders look to crack the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons. Can the Panthers' run-and-gun style overwhelm the Islanders, or will New York's pesky approach knock Florida off its game?

Schedule

*If necessary

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Islanders implemented their game plan to its fullest against Florida in 2019-20, sweeping the season series 3-0 and holding the Panthers to just four goals across those contests. Netminder Thomas Greiss stood tall in all three games for New York while Panthers stars Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov combined for only one even-strength point.

It's hard to weigh the significance of those results, however, as the two clubs haven't faced off in nearly eight months; all three meetings came prior to Dec. 13, and each side has made key changes since. The deadline addition of Jean-Gabriel Pageau will help the Islanders match up at center, and Panthers newcomers Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark round out Florida's offensive depth.

Key players to watch

Aleksander Barkov

A premier two-way talent, Barkov will be tasked with catalyzing the Panthers' offense and keeping the Islanders' top scorers in check. The Finnish star slightly regressed offensively this season following his career-best 96-point campaign in 2018-19, but he remains the team's most important player and is counted upon in all situations.

One of the key matchups in this series will likely feature Barkov's line going against the defensive pairing of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock. Only four blue-liners spent more time on the ice against Barkov than the Islanders' shutdown duo this season. Though Barkov struggled to find the net, the Panthers' captain posted a dominant Corsi For rating (71.05) and expected goals-for percentage (67.77) while on the ice against Pulock and Pelech.

Mathew Barzal

Barzal's tremendous vision and elite skating ability have helped him become one of the game's most dangerous playmakers. The 23-year-old tallied seven points in eight playoff games last spring and led the Islanders in scoring with 60 points in 68 contests this season while pacing the club's forwards in average ice time (20:03).

He's a possession monster whose ability to control the play gave the Panthers nightmares this season. New York owned 60.11% of expected goals for against Florida with Barzal on the ice at five-on-five and 64% of high-danger scoring chances. He also found the scoresheet in all three meetings, netting two goals and four points.

Florida will need to be particularly aware of Barzal in transition. The crafty pivot ranked second in the league with 66 takeaways at five-on-five and will make the Panthers pay for any mistakes in the neutral zone.

Panthers can win if ...

They score early. The Islanders have no problem gaining leads and sitting back in a neutral-zone trap to suffocate their opponent. With a league-best .963 winning percentage when leading after two periods, it will be paramount for the Panthers to implement their style and dictate the tempo of each contest early on.

Islanders can win if ...

Their numbing forecheck disarms the Panthers' potent offense. New York led the NHL this season in hits per 60 minutes (27.71) and Florida ranked fifth in turnovers per 60 (11.11). The Panthers rely on speed and skill through the neutral zone, and the Islanders will do all they can to keep their opponents in their own end while grinding down their defense.

X-Factors

Anders Lee

The Islanders' captain has been the club's most consistent scoring threat over the last several seasons and will hope to rebound after regressing slightly in 2019-20. Lee hit the 20-goal mark for the fourth straight campaign and embodied the club's gritty style of play with 102 hits and 50 blocked shots this season.

It's not only the frequency of Lee's scoring but the timing of it that makes him such an important player. The 30-year-old owns a team-best 28 game-winning goals, including six this season. At 6-foot-3, Lee also has the ability to cause chaos in front of the Panthers' goal, and his 31 deflected shots ranked second in the league this season.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The Panthers will hope Bobrovsky has saved his best for this final stretch. The Russian netminder has had a debut season to forget, and his play against New York will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the series.

If Bobrovsky isn't sharp, Florida's offense may not be able to bail him out against the defensively sound Islanders. In what could be a low-scoring series, the 6-foot-2 puck-stopper simply can't afford to be outplayed in goal. Bobrovsky was phenomenal for the Columbus Blue Jackets during their stunning first-round sweep over the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 and will hope to recapture that form.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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Montreal Canadiens defenseman Xavier Ouellet and Winnipeg Jets blue-liner Anthony Bitetto each confirmed Thursday they tested positive for the coronavirus.

Ouellet says he initially tested negative upon arriving to training camp, but subsequently had a positive result despite not feeling any symptoms.

"I had zero symptoms, there was not one point where I felt sick or anything," Ouellet said, according to Sportsnet.

"I don’t really know if I actually had it or not. But the protocols with the league and the governments are pretty strict and they’re there to keep it safe for everyone. So I had to isolate myself and wait a little bit before I could come back which is what I did. But since that positive test I’ve tested negative every day and felt healthy, zero symptoms."

The 26-year-old joined the Canadiens at training camp for the first time Wednesday.

Bitetto tested positive positive for the virus June 24 and recently completed a 29-day quarantine, according to Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe. The 30-year-old says he feels fortunate that his case wasn't too serious.

"I feel very lucky to have had minor symptoms," Bitetto said, per Wiebe. "I didn't have it bad by any means. There were days I woke up and I was completely fine and I'm like 'I have this virus? How?' It didn't make any sense. It was nothing like I've ever had."

Ouellet and Bitetto join Edmonton Oilers defenseman Caleb Jones and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews as the only four players to make their positive tests public.

The NHL has seen a decline in COVID-19 cases since Phase 3 began July 13. Two out of 2,618 tests administered to more than 800 NHL players over the first five days of training camp returned positive.

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Montreal Canadiens forward Max Domi is relishing at the opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup this summer after joining the club at training camp for the first time Monday.

Domi, who has Type 1 diabetes, was given an extended period to decide whether or not it would be safe for him to participate in the NHL's return this summer.

"We’re learning more and more day by day, and I think to have that little buffer there to make sure that when I got here it was super safe - not that it wasn’t at the start - worked out great," Domi said, per Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "Now that I’m here, it’s awesome, and I’m just worried about Game 1 against Pittsburgh and super excited to be part of the group now.

"I think we’re all here for the same reason, we all have the same dream of winning," Domi said. "I want to be a part of winning culture, and we’ve got a special group in there."

The 25-year-old pivot expressed his gratitude for the training staff for helping him make an informed decision on returning.

Domi also feels extremely fortunate to have technology available that makes it possible for him to track his health while playing to help ensure his safety.

"I’m super lucky to be living in this era with all the technology we have," Domi said. "I wear a Dexcom (monitoring device) which allows me to see my blood sugar in real time every five minutes. That alone is something that five years ago, 10 years ago wasn’t where it is now. In that time, it would be a different discussion. But I’m lucky to be in this position I’m in now."

The Winnipeg native tallied 17 goals and 44 points through 71 games this season, his second with Montreal.

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Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid endorsed teammate Leon Draisaitl for the Hart Trophy on Tuesday.

"I don't have a lot of faith in the media voting so I don't know who's going to win, but it should be Leon," McDavid said, according to TSN. "I think the players will get it right and vote Leon (for the Ted Lindsay Award), but you never know about the media."

Draisaitl, 24, captured the Art Ross Trophy after pacing the league in scoring with a career-best 110 points through 71 games. His 43 goals led the Oilers and ranked fourth in the NHL. The 6-foot-2 pivot was playing at a 127-point pace over 82 games, which would have marked the highest single-season franchise total since Mark Messier's 129 in 1989-90.

"He's been a good player for a long time. Obviously he was great this year, huge for us in all situations and it's a super big accomplishment for him," McDavid said. "I'm definitely happy to see him be recognized like that."

McDavid, who captured the Hart Trophy in 2017, went on to praise Draisaitl's complete game.

"Any guy that leads the league in scoring and puts up those type of numbers and plays penalty kill and does all that type of stuff, that's a sign of consistency and that's a sign of bringing it each and every night," he said.

Draisaitl was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is given annually to the player deemed to be the most outstanding in the NHL, as voted on by his peers.

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin were nominated alongside Draisaitl for both the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award.

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Vegas Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer confirmed Wednesday that the team will name its first captain in franchise history ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

The Golden Knights have rotated four alternate captains since the club's inception in 2017-18 and will have no shortage of options when deciding which player will be first to don the "C."

Here are five candidates who could be tabbed for the prestigious role.

Mark Stone

Stone has arguably been the Golden Knights' most valuable player since they landed him at the 2018-19 trade deadline. The 28-year-old then cemented himself in the club's long-term plans when he inked an eight-year, $76-million deal shortly after his arrival.

As gifted as Stone is offensively, it's his elite play away from the puck that truly bolsters his candidacy for the captaincy. He led all Golden Knights forwards in blocked shots (51) this season and finished second league-wide with 78 takeaways. Vegas also owned a sizzling 61.47% share of expected goals for when Stone patrolled the ice at five-on-five.

Stone has experience wearing a letter, too. The Winnipeg native served as an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators for two seasons and also donned the "A" for Team Canada at the 2019 world championships.

Max Pacioretty

Pacioretty is the only player on the Golden Knights' roster with experience wearing the "C" at the NHL level. The electric winger served as Montreal Canadiens captain for three seasons from 2015 to 2018 and was an alternate in Vegas during the 2018-19 campaign.

The 30-year-old is one of the more senior players on the team, as his 763 career games rank third behind fellow veterans Paul Stastny and Marc-Andre Fleury. However, Pacioretty hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. He hit the 30-goal plateau for the sixth time and was on pace for a career-best 76 points before the season was cut short in March.

Shea Theodore

Theodore hasn't been part of the leadership group in Vegas, but it would be silly to exclude him from the discussion. The 24-year-old has quietly blossomed into one of the most steady two-way defensemen in the league and is a bright part of the club's future with his contract running through the 2024-25 campaign.

He's the backbone of the Golden Knights' blue line, leading the club in average ice time (22:14) while quarterbacking one of the league's better power plays. The 6-foot-2 rearguard potted a career-best 13 goals and 46 points this season and ranked third among all NHL defensemen with 55 takeaways.

Theodore has never worn a letter in the NHL but served as both captain and an alternate for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.

Jonathan Marchessault

Marchessault is the franchise leader in both points (181) and assists (107), and he ranks second in goals with 74 over 225 contests. A spark plug both on and off the ice, the 29-year-old is beloved by teammates for his boundless energy and contagious positive attitude.

The undrafted winger was rewarded for his development as a player and leader with a six-year, $30-million deal prior to the 2018-19 campaign. Marchessault's body of work speaks for itself, and with the pesky forward in Vegas' plans for years to come, he can't be overlooked as a possible captain.

Reilly Smith

One of the club's original leaders, Smith has served as an alternate captain since the Golden Knights' debut campaign. The skilled winger is one of the team's most reliable and clutch scorers. Smith netted 27 goals this season with 23 coming at even strength and a team-best six holding up as game-winners.

Like Stone, Smith is a terrific two-way winger who contributes in all situations. He averaged nearly two minutes of ice time on both the power play and penalty kill and isn't afraid to throw his weight around, evidenced by his 55 hits this season. Only Marchessault and William Karlsson have recorded more points for the franchise than Smith's 167.

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