(Ed. Note: With its new playoff format, the NHL is seeking to create passion for fans and teams through forced, bracketed relationships. But hey, at first glance, the matchups are pretty sexy. All of this led to one ideal theme for our 2014 Playoff Preview: Tinder, the social media dating app. We hope you swipe right this postseason ...)

Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Columbus Blue Jackets should be rather happy with realignment.

Getting out of the West meant getting into the playoffs for the Jackets, who secured the wild card with 93 points and a plus-15 goal differential.

The Penguins meanwhile amassed 109 points in the Metropolitan, a division in which they were able to build a substantial lead and then coast through injuries. They were 20-8-2 within the division.

Can the upstart Blue Jackets take out the Cup-craving Penguins?

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The conversation about the Penguins begins with Sidney Crosby, continues with Evgeni Malkin and then ends with a series of question marks.

Crosby is a lock to win the Hart this season with 104 points in 80 games, the constant on a team full of injuries. His running mate Chris Kunitz (35 goals) continued to thrive despite the fact that the third component of that line, Pascal Dupuis, was limited to just 39 games before being injured. Lee Stempniak has 11 points in 21 games since being acquired, but appears to have given way to Beau Bennett on the top line.

Evgeni Malkin is battling a foot injury but had 72 points in 60 games this season, anchoring a second line with James Neal (27 goals, much controversy) and Jussi Jokinen, who had 57 points and one of the better all-around seasons amongst Penguins forwards.

And then … some falloff. Brandon Sutter had 13 goals in 81 games, played to a minus-9 and was under 50-percent on draws. Brian Gibbons, Joe Vitale, ageless smarty-pants Craig Adams and others fill out a forward group that lacks offensive punch down the lineup.

For the Jackets, the heartbeat of the offense is Ryan Johansen, who broke out with a 33-goal season that had 26 of them at even strength. They were big goals, too: Eight times he scored the first goal of the game, and five times he scored the game-winner.

The Jackets actually have better offensive balance up front than do the Penguins. Artem Anisimov (22 goals), Cam Atkinson (21), Nick Foligno (18), RJ Umberger (18), Brandon Dubinsky (16), Boone Jenner (16) and former Penguin Mark Letestu (12) all contributed. Foglino and Umberger, however, are banged up and will miss at least Game 1. Don’t sleep on Matt Calvert, who can be clutch.

It’s close overall between the teams, but the Jackets don’t have a Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin on the roster – even if Johansen seems close to stardom.

ADVANTAGE: Penguins

Defense

Getting Paul Martin and Kris Letang back from injury makes this defense infinitely better for the Penguins, especially with the latter: Letang can push the pace, be a factor on special teams and really be a game-breaker offensively. Filling in during those injuries, Matt Niskanen had his best season as a pro and might earn some Norris votes. Brooks Orpik, as usual, contributed 21:11 per game of physical defense; ask Loui Eriksson and Jonathan Toews how he hits. The Piece, Rob Scuderi, Robert Bortuzzo and Deryk Engelland all contributed this season. One name to look out for: Rookie Olli Maata, who had 29 points in 78 games as Letang’s understudy.

Story continues