The second round begins Thursday with one game from each conference.
The Bruins host the Blue Jackets in the first game of the second round in Boston. The Bruins are coming off a first-round series win over the Maple Leafs in Game 7 (again) on Tuesday. Columbus, however, has plenty of rest after sweeping the Lightning on April 16. The Blue Jackets and Bruins have never met in the playoffs.
Blue Jackets: Ryan Dzingel (Wheaton), Adam Clendening, Artemi Panarin
Bruins: Joakim Nordstrom
The nightcap has a Central Division showdown between the Stars and Blues in St. Louis. The Stars eliminated the first-place Predators in six games while the Blues defeated the second-place Jets in six. The Blues are 2-2 against the Stars in playoff series, including winning the most recent one in 2016.
Thursday’s schedule
Game 1: Blue Jackets at Bruins, 6 p.m. (NBCSN)
Game 1: Stars at Blues, 8:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
*All times Central