Stanley Cup chase begins

Opening round matchups for the Stanley Cup playoffs were set on Sunday after the Colorado Avalanche clinched the West's Central Division and the Tampa Bay Lightning tied up second spot in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with a win over Washington.

The postseason gets underway on Wednesday with the Lightning hosting the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets traveling to face the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Anaheim Ducks hosting the Dallas Stars.

The Avalanche entered Sunday tied with St. Louis at 111 points but clinched the division when the slumping Blues posted their sixth straight defeat, falling 3-0 to the Detroit Red Wings.