When the Blues host the Wild for Game 1 of their first round series, rookie Jake Allen gets the call in net. That’s not the only surprise starter in Round 1.
AP Photo by Jeff Roberson/Getty Images

The countdown is on. In a few hours, there’ll be playoff hockey. Finally, the 16-team NHL tournament starts for the Stanley Cup. Tonight, half the eight series get underway.

Two in the East will begin at 7 PM. As we previewed, the Islanders are in the nation’s capital to face the Capitals for Game 1. The other match-up features Canadian rivals the Senators and Canadiens meeting at Bell Centre in Montreal. What’s better than that?!?!?! Too bad both start around the same time. There’ll be plenty of channel flipping unless you’re at a sports bar.

Out West, the Blackhawks and Predators do battle in Music City at 8:30 PM. Is this the year Nashville figures out Chicago? Patrick Kane is back for Game 1. The final game of the night features another thrilling all-Canadian match-up. Indeed, the Flames are in Vancouver to renew acquaintances with the Canucks. It’s been 11 years since they did battle in a wild seven-game series that went to Calgary on current assistant Martin Gelinas’ overtime winner. Gone are Jarome Iginla and Markus Naslund. The Sedins are still around. But it’s mostly fresh faces we’ll get including Johnny Gaudreau, Jiri Hudler and Sean Monahan on the Alberta side.

It should be exciting. The playoffs always are as well as unpredictable. Already, two participants will be sitting starters in favor of hot backups. When the Red Wings visit the Lightning tomorrow night, it’ll be Petr Mrazek in net over Jimmy Howard. He won 16 games and posted a 2.38 goals-against-average with a .918 save percentage and three shutouts including a 2-0 blanking at Carolina on the final day of the regular season.

When the Blues host the Wild in St. Louis, they’ll go with rookie Jake Allen over veteran Brian Elliott. Coach Ken Hitchcock changed his mind deciding to ride the hot hand. Allen finished the season strong going 5-1-1 with a 1.32 GAA and .950 save percentage over his last eight appearances. The 24-year old won 22 games posting a 2.28 GAA, .913 save percentage with four shutouts. He allowed two goals-or-less in his last eight. Elliott was 26-14-3 with a 2.26 GAA, ,917 save percentage and five shutouts. He started just twice in the Blues’ last six.

Both Hitchcock and potential top coaching free agent Mike Babcock are gambling that their younger netminders can carry them through Round 1 and go on a run. While I’m not sure how the Red Wings will respond facing a lethal offense like Tampa’s, the Blues should be ready to go against the Wild, who feature Devan Dubnyk. After coming over from Arizona, Dubnyk went 27-9-2 with a 1.78 GAA, .936 save percentage and five shutouts in 39 starts. An amazing run that lifted Minnesota into the first wildcard. They should give St. Louis all they can handle.

Both series get underway tomorrow as do the Penguins versus Rangers and Jets versus Ducks. For more on the first round, see our Playoff Preview.