The 2018-19 NHL season begins Wednesday night, and it does so with four different matchups, but not a single one might have more Stanley Cup Playoff power than the cro s-division showdown between the and . More NHL The Capitals, of course, are hockey's Karl Altenburg Jersey defending champions, so already this divisional affair has plenty of juice. Is Washington due for a hangover? Can the Caps fire up their crowd with an opening-night continuation of their summer title run? On paper, the Capitals are remarkably similar to their 2017-18 selves, and that's because they prioritized keeping their core intact. Between , and the rest of the gang, this is just about the same crew that got it done in June. Except Barry Trotz is no longer behind the bench, and it remains to be seen just how much, if any, drop-off might come under Todd Reirden's guidance. The Bruins, meanwhile, enter 2018-19 overshadowed by the top-heavy powers of the Eastern Conference, from the Capitals and Presidents' Trophy favorite to the John Tavares-fueled . Yet there's no reason not to consider them a top-10 contender. Boston might have the best first line in all of hockey with , and , and their defense has some of the NHL's hottest up-and-comers, too. is the source of constant debate among Bruins fans, it seems, but the reality is this: Boston has way more than a fighting chance to unseat the Capitals this year. The two sides will meet Wednesday night. Here's how to catch them in action: How to watch Date: Wednesday, Oct. 3 Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Location: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.) TV: NBCSN Stream: (try for free) Thomas Robinson Jersey