Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates his 50th goal of the season with teammate Sidney Crosby in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh Saturday, April 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Gene J. Puskar/The Associated Press
Sidney Crosby's return to the post-season will kick off the NHL playoffs as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers face one another on Wednesday night.
Game 1 of that series goes at 7:30 p.m. ET from Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
It will be the first playoff action in two years for Crosby, who sat out the end of last season with a concussion.
The Vancouver Canucks start their pursuit of the Stanley Cup later Wednesday when they host Los Angeles.
Vancouver captured the Presidents' Trophy for the second straight season and has the best chance to end Canada's championship drought at 19 years.
Ottawa opens its series with the New York Rangers on Thursday night.