Can the Bruins begin their Stanley Cup title defense on the right foot against Washington on Thursday night?

The 2012 NHL Playoffs are upon us, and the matchups this year should provide just as much thrilling action as in years past.

They're back and hungrier than ever. Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins will face Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begins Thursday night in Boston.

One year removed from their historic run to the Stanley Cup Finals, Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins will try to defy the odds and bring home the city's second straight Stanley Cup. First up, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

The Bruins hope to finish their final away game of the season off right before heading back home, but they will have to do it without some key players in the lineup.

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs rapidly approaching, the playoff picture is beginning to get a lot clearer for the Boston Bruins, who locked up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by way of winning the Northeast Division.