There are 8 great matchups to kick off the first round of the 2012 NHL playoffs.

First the Los Angeles Kings along with Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick will be trying to upset the NHL’s best team, the Vancouver Canucks.

The St Louis Blues, who were also one of the NHL’s very best will be facing the San Jose Sharks, who have gotten a reputation out of knocking out top seeded teams early i.e. the Detroit Red Wings.

Patrick Kane and the battle tested Blackhawks will face a Phoenix team that is all but out of Phoenix, however not discouraged to make a serious run for the cup.

The always dangerous Detroit Red Wings face a tough Nashville Predators squad that is looking to make a serious run at the cup.

The New York Rangers will be looking to continue their regular season success when they face the Ottawa Senators and superstar Erik Karlsson.

The Defending Stanley Cup champion Bosto Bruins face the Washington Capitals with a new coach and a new outlook. This will be a great series.

The Florida Panthers face the New Jerssey devils and superstar Ilya Kovalchuck.

In perhaps the most exciting series of the first round, Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, two of the very best in the NHL, will face the Philadelhpia Flyers and young guns Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter and gritty forward Scott Hartnell. It should be intresting to see what happens in this highly offensive series.

The 2012 NHL playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most exciting we’ve seen in a while. With Sydney Crosby returning from being sidelined practically all season, and players like the Sedin brothers, Pavel Datsyuk, Erik Karlsson, Patrick Kane and more, everyone will be watching. Remember the NHL playoffs stream will be available to anyone trying to watch these games on PC or MAC. Get full coverage and watch NHL Playoffs 2012 online to see the action from anywhere in the world!

Below are the two teams as drafted by the captains:

This game will be filled with talent and will be an absolute treat for all the fans. Watch the 2012 NHL All Star game online and enjoy the excitement of the best stars in hockey on the ice at the same time!

This year the NHL has implemented some new rules which will make the game faster and more entertaining. Teams all over the NHL are speedier than ever and the pace of the games have increased. With so many teams to watch, it can be difficult to see all the games on TV, especially with local cable and dish subscriptions. Thankfully, using the new HockeyTV live streams, anyone can watch Hockey online from anywhere in the world. The NHL live stream is the best on the internet and you can be sure that you will always be able to see your favorite teams play.

I don’t need to tell you how being able to watch every NHL game online can be helpful to a hockey fan. Just remember that all you need is access to an internet connection and computer and you will be able to watch NHL Hockey Games online from the comfort of your own home or on the go!