NHL Playoff Schedule 2017: TV, Live-Stream Info for Wednesday's Bracket Picture

The most exciting postseason in sports kicks off Wednesday, as the puck is set to drop for the 2017 NHL Playoffs.

There are numerous storylines to watch for involving the teams that will play in Wednesday's five-game slate. Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid makes his playoff debut as he leads the Edmonton Oilers into their first Stanley Cup chase since 2006. The Pittsburgh Penguins also begin their title defense, but they face a difficult path to do so.

Here is a look at the schedule for the playoff's opening night, as well a breakdown of McDavid and the upstart Oilers along with the reigning league champions.

Matchup	Start Time (ET)	Network	Live Stream
Eastern Conference
New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens	7 p.m.	NBCSN	NBC Sports Live
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators	7 p.m.	NHL Network	NBC Sports Live
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins	7:30 p.m.	USA Network	NBC Sports Live
Western Conference
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild	9:30 p.m.	NBCSN	NBC Sports Live
San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers	10 p.m.	USA Network	NBC Sports Live

Can McDavid Lift Edmonton to First Round Win?

In his first full, injury-free season, McDavid looked every bit the part of the game's next generational player.

In addition to leading the league in scoring, McDavid sparked a turnaround that saw Edmonton go from the league's second-worst team a year ago to a playoff team. He was also named as the youngest captain in NHL history prior to the season.

However, the Oilers need some additional offense outside of McDavid. Veteran Mark Letestu recognizes that, per Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal.

"

He's carried a big load. And we rely on him quite a bit. I think it's on some of the older guys to take some of that pressure of leading off him. Not putting so much on his shoulders. Contributing a little bit more, because we're going to need it. Because teams are going to key on him. When they match up with us, they're going to say '97, shut him down, we're going to beat this team.'

So we need to find some other ways to score points. I think there are guys in here capable of doing that.

"

McDavid led Edmonton in every major offensive category, as he and Leon Draisaitl, 77 points, were the only Oilers to eclipse 51 points.

As a result, McDavid is expecting to see plenty of stud San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, per TSN's Darren Dreger:

San Jose is loaded with playoff experience that Edmonton simply does not have, as pretty much every major contributor from the Sharks' Stanley Cup run returns from last season. The Sharks are also a much more physical team, which becomes beneficial in the grind of a playoff series, and they have a slightly more proven goaltender in Martin Jones.

However, the Oilers handled San Jose this season with a 3-1-1 mark, and McDavid notched eight points in those games. 

San Jose should be slightly favored here due to their proven depth and experience, but do not sleep on Edmonton. McDavid has always shined with the lights on him since he emerged as an elite teenage prospect, and the Oilers do have home-ice advantage in the series. Edmonton went 25-12-4 at home this season.

Pittsburgh Looking at Tough Repeat Bid

The Penguins are undoubtedly one of the best teams in hockey, as their young players from last year's run continued to blossom and their team speed stayed elite. Yet injuries and the current playoff format could spurn a title repeat.

Top defenseman Kris Letang is out for the postseason due to neck surgery, leaving a hole on the team's blue line and special teams. Letang had 15 points in 23 playoff games last season, which is a huge asset from the back line.

Evgeni Malkin has been banged up as well, but he is expected back to start the playoffs, via TSN's SportsCentre:

The Russian superstar finished with 72 points in 62 games this season, but he has not played since March 15. His effectiveness could be slightly hampered after nearly a month off.

KDKA in Pittsburgh reported that Carl Hagelin could return at some point in the first round, while veteran Chris Kunitz has yet to return to practice, per PensTV's Josh Getzoff.

Pittsburgh will need plenty of scoring to get past a rugged, but talented Columbus Blue Jackets team that, despite losing eight of their last 11 games, finished with the third-most points in the Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets took the season series 2-1-1 this year, outscoring Pittsburgh 14-9 and outshooting or tying it in shots in all but one game. Sporting the league's second-best goals against mark, Columbus is powered by head coach John Tortorella's focus on shot-blocking and a tight defensive system. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky also happened to top the NHL in GAA, 2.06, and save percentage, .931.

This team can also score, as five players, led by Cam Atkinson's 35 goals and 27 assists, topped the 50-point plateau this season. As a team, Columbus ranked sixth in the NHL in goals per game, making it and the Washington Capitals the only teams to finish in the top six in goals for and against per game this year.

The division-oriented playoff format is certainly working against the Penguins, as evidenced by this tough matchup with Columbus.

As ESPN's Brett Edgerton noted, the bracket is unevenly arranged according to team points in the East:

Even if the Penguins are able to outlast the Blue Jackets, they likely look at a second-round date with the Washington Capitals, the winners of back-to-back President's Trophies. The Capitals are also even better than last season with the addition of star defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.

Again, this is an unfair draw for a team that finished second in its conference, but it is a challenge Pittsburgh must overcome to even reach the league semifinals. As good as the Penguins are, accomplishing this with a less-than-complete lineup could be too tall of a task.

Statistics are courtesy of NHL.com.