The Vancouver Canucks will have a third straight playoff meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks, a result of Sunday's final NHL regular season games.

Vancouver enters the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners, earning a league-best 117 points.

The Canucks, led by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, scored more goals than any other team, and they also led the league in goals-against average with Roberto Luongo in the crease.

Vancouver has fought through adversity, with nearly every member of the blue-line missing significant games due to injury. As well, top face-off man Manny Malhotra suffered a serious eye injury and will not play again this season.

Historically, Chicago has beaten the Canucks in the last three playoff battles, including second-round wins in each of the last two years. Vancouver defeated the Blackhawks during their surprising 1982 run to the Stanley Cup final.

Game 1 will take place on Wednesday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Hockey Night in Canada (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. PT).

The Blackhawks took the first two games of the season series — including one in overtime — with Vancouver taking the next two.

Chicago backed into the playoffs, losing their final regular season game at home to Detroit on Sunday afternoon. Dallas could have taken the No. 8 spot against the Canucks with a regulation or overtime victory against Minnesota on Sunday evening, but were defeated 5-3.

For the first time ever, all three California clubs have gained entry into the same playoff tournament.

No. 2 Sharks vs. No. 7 Kings

San Jose earned two shutouts and eight points in six games against Los Angeles this season, and they blasted the Kings 6-1 in the final days of the season.

The Sharks won the Pacific for the fourth time in a row, and after shaking off a reputation for playoff underachieving last year with a conference final berth, will look to take the final step.

What's different this season for the Sharks is the goaltending tandem of Antti Niemi and Antero Niittymaki, both in their first year with the club. Niemi won the Stanley Cup last season with Chicago.

The Kings have reached the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since before the lockout. Los Angeles historically is just 11-23 in playoff series, and hasn't prevailed in a series since 2001.

The challenge is great, as Los Angeles is missing top player Anze Kopitar, as well as forward Justin Williams, due to serious injuries.

No. 3 Red Wings vs. No. 6 Coyotes

The Coyotes have lost twice to the Red Wings historically in the playoffs, including a seven-game defeat in the first round of last year's playoffs.

The season series was extremely competitive. Detroit won two overtime games against Phoenix, while the Coyotes earned a regulation win and a shootout victory.

The Red Wings are gunning for a 12th Stanley Cup and fifth in the last 14 years.

Detroit is fresh off their ninth Central Division title in 10 seasons. The Wings have engaged in 10 series over the last three playoffs, tied with Pittsburgh for the most during that span.

Phoenix has earned a playoff berth for the second straight year, with the veteran-laden team blocking out the distractions of the franchise's uncertain future as the NHL struggles to find an owner for the Coyotes.

Phoenix has come up short in all six post-season series since arriving in the desert. As a franchise there have been 12 consecutive playoff series defeats, dating back to 1987 when the team was located in Winnipeg.

No. 4 Ducks vs. No. 5 Predators

Nashville won three of the four season meetings — all of which ended in regulation — scoring 17 goals on Anaheim.

The Ducks and Predators have never met in the post-season.

Paced by Corey Perry, the league's lone 50-goal scorer, the Ducks had a terrific second half and overcame the vertigo-like illness of goalie Jonas Hiller.

Ray Emery and Dan Ellis, neither with the team at the beginning of the season, filled in admirably for Hiller. Emery did not play the team's last two regular season games due to a lower body injury, and his status for the beginning of the playoffs is not yet known.

The Predators made the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons due a talented group of young players, with the team averaging just over 26 years of age.

Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne has led the way, earning consideration for NHL awards with this outstanding play.