PHOTO COLLECTION: Ovechkin chasing down Gretzky

The puck drops on the first round of the NHL playoffs Saturday when Winnipeg hosts St. Louis followed by the must-see matchup of Colorado and Dallas. 

Little pregame rituals can be sleep- or food-related. Or revolve around how they get dressed for a game. Or the way they warm up.

The Florida Panthers are two wins away from being the fifth Stanley Cup champion in the past six years to based in a U.S. state with no income tax.

Alex Ovechkin remains reticent about his future. He spoke with reporters at the Washington Capitals' media day on Thursday, a day after his 40th birthday.