This season, the National Hockey League’s Central Division features the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the runner-up Dallas Stars among its eight teams.
The new-look Central also includes Detroit, Chicago, Carolina, Columbus, Florida and Nashville. They will all get to know one another very well because each of the 56 games in the regular season that starts on Wednesday night and ends in early May will be within the division.
The defending Central champion St. Louis Blues and Colorado were sent to the West Division this year. Tampa Bay is shooting to be the fourth team in three decades to repeat.
