The Chicago Blackhawks weren't supposed to reach the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Vegas Golden Knights weren't expected to be the top-seeded team in the Western Conference.
Both teams pulled off upsets in the qualifying series and round-robin format, respectively, setting the stage for their unlikely first-round matchup beginning Tuesday afternoon in Edmonton.
"The real fun begins," said Chicago forward Jonathan Toews, who won Stanley Cup titles with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
The Blackhawks were last in the Central Division and 12th in the Western Conference when play was halted because of the coronavirus outbreak on March 11, leaving them seven points back of the final playoff spot with 12 games left.