Eastern Conference teams had four of the top five regular-season records in 2018-19, but only the Boston Bruins went far in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Tampa Bay, which tied an NHL record by winning 62 games, made a shockingly meek exit by losing four straight to Columbus in the first round. The third-ranked Bruins reached the Cup Final, in which they lost to St. Louis in seven games. But fourth-ranked and defending champion Washington was upset by Carolina in seven games in the first round, and the No. 5 New York Islanders were swept out of the second round by Carolina.
The East also was home to five of the six worst teams last season. The New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils ranked Nos. 26 through 29, and _ after the No. 30 Los Angeles Kings _ Ottawa ranked last at 31st. The Devils, relying on No. 1 overall draft pick Jack Hughes, and the Rangers, banking on the immense skill of No. 2 overall pick Kaapo Kakko and a wave of young forwards, are most likely to escape the bottom this season.
Here are the big questions in the Eastern Conference leading into the season:
