Top NHL Storylines to Follow in 1st Round of 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The opening round of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs begins Wednesday. For first-round opponents such as the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, there will be compelling storylines to follow.

A number of factors could affect the outcome of each series. Individual and team performances, injuries, roster depth, divisional rivalry and much more will come into play.

Here's a look at the top storylines to follow in the first round of the 2016 NHL playoffs. 

Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders

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The big story for the Florida Panthers: The future has finally arrived for the Panthers. Powered by a young core featuring 20-year-old defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forwards Aleksander Barkov (20), Jonathan Huberdeau (22), Vincent Trocheck (22) and Reilly Smith (25), the Panthers clinched their second division title in franchise history. They also set a team record for wins (47) and points (103), as they enter the playoffs with plenty of momentum.

The big story for the New York Islanders: Over the final weeks of the regular season, several key players (goaltender Jaroslav Halak, defensemen Travis Hamonic and forward Anders Lee) lost time due to injuries. Coping with their absence in this series will be a big test of the Islanders' mettle. 

A storyline worth watching: Islanders captain John Tavares ended the regular season with nine points in his final four games, earning NHL star of the week honors. With his team hobbled by injury, Tavares will face considerable pressure to continue his hot play and lead New York to victory against the hungry Panthers. 

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild

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The big story for the Dallas Stars: The Stars clinched the top seed in the Western Conference with top-line center Tyler Seguin sidelined by a cut to his right Achilles tendon. However, Seguin is back at practice and may play in the series opener Thursday. "I thought today he was better," Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday, per Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. "He looked markedly better to me, which is an improvement." The longer Seguin remains sidelined, the more his absence could become a factor in his series. 

The big story for the Minnesota Wild: After 15 victories in 22 games from Feb. 15 to March 29, the Wild dropped their final five contests of the regular season. They can't afford a listless performance against the Stars, though their efforts could be hampered by the absence of leading goal scorer Zach Parise. On Tuesday, the Star Tribune's Michael Russo reported Parise remains day to day with a back injury. 

A storyline worth watching: Shaky goaltending bounced the Stars from the opening round of the 2014 playoffs. Of the 16 teams in this year's postseason, Dallas' veteran tandem of Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen had the worst goals-against per game (2.78). Their performance in this series could become the determining factor. 

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

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The big story for the Washington Capitals: Left wing and team captain Alex Ovechkin and goaltender Braden Holtby played major roles in the Capitals' dominating performance this season. Ovechkin reached the 50-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career, while Holtby tied the NHL single-season wins record (48) for goaltenders. Their respective performances will affect the outcome of this series. 

The big story for the Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers' clawing their way into the playoffs was a team effort, but defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was a standout. With 46 points in 64 games, the 22-year-old was the highest-scoring defenseman among this year's rookie class. The Ghost Bear now faces the challenge of his first NHL postseason. 

A storyline worth watching: The Capitals wobbled a bit down the stretch. Since March 1, they won 11 of their last 21 games. Having dominated most of the regular season, they seemed to have difficulty maintaining their intensity over the schedule's final weeks. They must regain their focus or risk getting bitten by the underdog Flyers. 

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

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The big story for the Pittsburgh Penguins: They're entering this series as one of the NHL's hottest teams. After replacing Mike Johnston as head coach with Mike Sullivan on Dec. 12, the Penguins surged in the Eastern Conference standings to finish second overall with 104 points. After a poor start, captain Sidney Crosby regained his touch and finished third in the scoring race with 85 points. 

The big story for the New York Rangers: The declining production of left wing Rick Nash and center Eric Staal is a significant concern. Since Nash's return on March 12 from a midseason leg injury, he managed only three points in 15 games. Acquired on Feb. 28 from the Carolina Hurricanes, Staal had only six points in 20 games. Without a return to form by the pair, the Rangers could be in trouble in this series.

A storyline worth watching: Injuries to key players on both rosters could have a considerable effect on this matchup. Center Evgeni Malkin, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Olli Maatta could be absent for the Penguins. Rangers defenseman and captain Ryan McDonagh will miss the start of this series with an upper-body injury. 

Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators

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The big story for the Anaheim Ducks: On April 11, NHL.com's Katie Brown reported the Ducks were the first team since the 1984-85 New York Islanders "to finish with the NHL's best power play (23.2 percent) and penalty kill (87.2 percent)". Their special teams were a contributing factor in clinching their fourth straight Pacific Division title. Expect their power play and penalty kill to take a big role in this series. 

The big story for the Nashville Predators: Since joining the NHL in 1998-99, the Predators have won only two playoff series. Though they possess a talented roster led by stars such as Shea Weber, Pekka Rinne and Filip Forsberg, their history of postseason shortcomings is a significant mental hurdle. It's an unwanted burden they'll be keen to shed, starting with this series against the Ducks. 

A storyline worth watching: On Jan. 6, the Predators addressed their need for a first-line center by acquiring Ryan Johansen from the Columbus Blue Jackets. With 34 points in 42 games, he proved to be a worthwhile addition over the remainder of the regular season. His presence could tip the scales in the Predators' favor. 

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

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The big story for the Tampa Bay Lightning: Injuries and surgeries have decimated the Lightning, potentially crippling their championship hopes. Center Steven Stamkos (blood clot surgery) and defenseman Anton Stralman (fractured fibula) are likely out for the duration. Forwards Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Ryan Callahan and blueliner Victor Hedman are also banged up. 

The big story for the Detroit Red Wings: The Wings barely qualified for the playoffs, winning only nine of 19 games since March 1. Their offense struggled this season, and their goaltending was inconsistent. They'll need a better effort to advance beyond this series. Perhaps the chance to avenge last spring's first-round elimination by the Lightning will provide sufficient motivation. 

A storyline worth watching: On Monday, NHL.com's Paul Harris cited multiple reports claiming center Pavel Datsyuk remains undecided if he'll return to Russia after this season. Datsyuk, the last link to the Wings' star-studded 2002 championship roster, could be skating in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the last time. 

St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks

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The big story for the Chicago Blackhawks: Right wing Patrick Kane's career year saw him reach personal bests for goals (46), assists (60) and points (106). He's the first American-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer. More importantly, Kane and linemates Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov carried the bulk of the Hawks offense this season. A proven playoff performer, Kane is red-hot entering this round. 

The big story for the St. Louis Blues: The Blues must overcome a reputation for being a strong regular-season club that underachieves in the postseason. Over the last four campaigns, they exited in the opening round three times. That includes falling in six games to the Blackhawks in 2014. Another early playoff exit could lead to a roster shake-up this summer. 

A storyline worth watching: This series could be a physical one, so the team with the healthiest roster might have an advantage. On Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Lazerus reported Anisimov, Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw should be ready for Game 1. Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Blues forwards David Backes and Troy Brouwer are day to day. 

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

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The big story for the Los Angeles Kings: After missing the playoffs last season, the Kings are seeking their third Stanley Cup championship in five years. Led by experienced stars such as goaltender Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty and forwards Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Milan Lucic, the Kings could once again be a legitimate Cup contender. 

The big story for the San Jose Sharks: In the opening round of the 2014 playoffs, the Kings eliminated the Sharks in seven games after San Jose blew a 3-0 series lead. That humiliation only added to the Sharks' reputation as postseason choke artists. This is their opportunity to atone for that embarrassing defeat. Beating the Kings in this series could give the Sharks a springboard for a deep playoff run. 

A storyline worth watching: A potential goaltending duel between Quick and Martin Jones of the Sharks could provide an intriguing subplot to this series. Jones was Quick's backup until he was traded last June to the Boston Bruins and then to San Jose. If Jones struggles, backup James Reimer could get an opportunity to burnish his free-agent value. 

Player and team stats via NHL.com. Injury listings via TSN.