NHL playoffs 2015: First-round watchability rankings

Jimmy Hascup | USA TODAY Sports

The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are here, and they are must-watch television for even the most casual sports fans.

Here's a ranking of the first-round series in terms of their watchability. (The playoffs begin Wednesday.)

1. Canadiens vs. Senators (Season series: 3-1 Senators)

Whenever you have two big Canadian rivals battling in the playoffs, it becomes a can't-miss event. Despite their history, the Senators and Canadiens have only been involved in one playoff series, in 2013 when Ottawa defeated the higher-seeded Canadiens 4-1. The Senators can thank this playoff berth to a 23-4-4 stretch. These teams hate each other. This series will be nasty and physical. Other story lines to watch: Vezina and Hart trophy front-runner Carey Price against Andrew Hammond, who has become part of a fairy tale in Ottawa. Also, P.K. Subban and Erik Karlsson are two of the most dynamic defensemen in the game. Can Ottawa continue its improbable run and knock off one of the favorites?

2. Predators vs. Blackhawks (Season series: 2-1 Blackhawks)

Like offense? You are in for a treat. Not only did they finish neck-and-neck in the Central Division standings, these are two of the three strongest possession teams in the West. Chicago finished first in the league in shots, while Nashville finished third. Patrick Kane will make his return to the lineup after suffering a broken clavicle Feb. 24. He leads a roster loaded with star power: Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, to name a few. The Predators' big names are on the back end in Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne. Don't discount the game-breaking ability of rookie Filip Forsberg, who led the team in goals (26) and points (63).

3. Capitals vs. Islanders (Season series: 2-2)

If watching two Hart Trophy candidates and the second- and fourth- place players in the scoring race is your thing, then this is the series for you. Alex Ovechkin carried the Capitals to the playoffs, with a league-leading 53 goals. John Tavares (86 points) lost out on the Art Ross trophy by one point. Both are unstoppable forces, so the series will come down to their respective supporting casts. Can the Islanders' poor penalty kill defend against the league's best power play? The Braden Holtby-Jaroslav Halak matchup in net could also be a pretty good one as both have stepped up their game in big moments. The Capitals play a more physical style, which will be important in slowing down the Islanders. We could be witnessing the last bit of hockey in Nassau Coliseum.

4. Blues vs. Wild (Season series: 2-2)

Don't look at the Wild's wlid-card seed and think they'll be an easy out for the Central Division-winning Blues. Devan Dubnyk's acquisition in January has transformed Minnesota into a team with deep playoff aspirations. He went 27-9-2 with a 1.78 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in 39 games with Minnesota. His unbelievable streak alone makes this series worth watching. While the Blues sputtered into the playoffs last season, they are peaking at the right time this year. St. Louis can play a variety of ways: with skill (Vladimir Tarasenko), by wearing you down (David Backes) and from the back end (Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk). While Minnesota is a balanced, four-line team, their offense funnels through Zach Parise, who had 33 goals during the regular season.

5. Lightning vs. Red Wings (Season series: 3-1 Lightning)

The Red Wings are a low-event team that will suffocate you defensively and play a more calculated game on offense. The Lightning are almost as strong at suppressing shots, though they operate in a run-and-gun matter with the puck. It makes for an interesting case study. Aside from that, this series is littered with story lines: from Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman facing the team with which he built his Hall of Fame resume to the coaches (Mike Babcock, Jon Cooper) to the past (Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk) and future (Steven Stamkos) at center in the NHL. Both teams are well constructed and roll four lines, though the Lightning's "second line" of Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov gives them a ferocious top-six. The difference might end up being in the goaltending -- Ben Bishop has yet to appear in the postseason, while the Red Wings' netminders have been shaky of late.

6. Rangers vs. Penguins (Season series: 3-0-1 Rangers)

Another series between teams with a lot of history -- the Rangers came back from a 3-1 series deficit last year in the conference semifinals -- this one falls a notch because the Penguins have wobbled into the postseason, mostly due to injuries on defense (Kris Letang, Christian Ehrhoff). New York ran away with the Presidents' Trophy, so this year the Penguins will be trying to play spoiler. If you like big names, this one won't disappoint. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the reasons you can't count out Pittsburgh. But the Rangers are dangerous in their own right: Rick Nash had 42 goals and was one of 10 Rangers with double-digit goals. Plus, there's rested Henrik Lundqvist in net. Marc-Andre Fleury in the playoffs is always a compelling story line (.905 save percentage).

7. Ducks vs. Jets (Season series: 3-0 Ducks)

The Jets franchise made the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and the MTS Centre will be rocking. Is this the year Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau finally wins the Cup? He has always been a very good regular-season coach, but his teams have come up short in the postseason. Ryan Kesler was acquired for this time of year, providing the Ducks with a bone-rattling one-two punch with Ryan Getzlaf at center. But the Jets are no slouches, led by Dustin Byfuglien, their engine on defense. Several of the most underappreciated players in the game -- Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little and Mathieu Perreault -- will also be on display for a national audience. Goalie Ondrej Pavelec has played some of his best hockey this year, while the Ducks have gotten inconsistency from theirs. This won't be a cakewalk for the West leader.

8. Canucks vs. Flames (Season series: 2-2)

The Canucks and Flames are two of the weaker teams in the playoffs. Calgary clinched its first playoff berth since 2009, despite being one of the worst possession teams in the league and losing its best player Mark Giordano at the end of February. The Canucks are a top-heavy team with its top line featuring its top three scorers; the drop afterward is stark. The Sedins are always worth watching, but the Flames' youth -- especially Calder Trophy contender Johnny Gaudreau and second-year center Sean Monahan -- and their unflappable mentality make them a fun group to follow.