The opening round matchups are set:
Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators (WC2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (1A)
Florida Panthers (3A) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2A)
Montreal Canadiens (WC2) vs. Washington Capitals (1M)
New Jersey Devils (3M) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (2M)
Western Conference
St. Louis Blues (WC2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (1C)
Colorado Avalanche (3C) vs. Dallas Stars (2C)
Minnesota Wild (WC1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (1P)
Edmonton Oilers (3P) vs. Los Angeles Kings (2P)
The Caps have got to be shitting bricks right about now.
The Stars have been absolutely terrible lately and they might not win a game against the Avs.
Am I missing something as to why Florida v Tampa Bay has such a late start date? I hate to think conspiracies in wanting Florida and a Trump loving star like Tkachuk to win the Cup?
The arena schedule doesn’t show anything preventing it. But I guess there could be some massive convention planned there this weekend not open for the public.
The playoffs are weird this year. Only having two games on the first Saturday night of the playoffs is not normal. The league wants to let every team have at least a couple of days off between the regular season and the playoffs. They also want to spread the games out so there are games every night. Waiting until Tuesday isn’t ideal for the league or the teams. However, it generally evens out before the end of the playoffs. I don’t think there is any conspiracy.
Probably too late for a bracket challenge but let me know if anyone’s interested. I am a regular listener to Puck Podcast so I joined their challenge along with the general NHL one
I really thought the St Louis Blues just got hot after the 4 Nations pause, I expected the Winnipeg Jets to stomp them.
Jets really need to pull this one out, they’re playing much better in the 3rd. Can’t let the Blues steal one on the road.
Edit: Jets score!!!
That was one hell of a third period the Jets played.
The Sportnet/HNIC broadcast teams have been announced here: https://www.rogerssportsandmedia.com/the-latest/sportsnet-announces-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs-first-round-coverage-details-beginning-april-19/
I’m not a big fan of Chris (I’M EXCITED!!!) Cuthbert and Craig (i’m not) Simpson. Unfortunately they have the lock as the #1 team and will get the nod for the Semi’s and Finals.
The team of Jack Michaels and Louie DeBrusk will make it to post-season for the first time. IMO they are head and shoulders above the other guys. They have called Oiler games for years on the SN regional network but Michaels has always been sidelined for playoffs.
Well, they played well last night, but absolutely no luck went their way. I’m going to hope they get luckier.
Not playoffs, but a bit odd that the Seattle Kraken fired Dan Bylsma.
I assume they want someone who has been let go or will be let go soon.
I haven’t watched hockey in forever, but when I turned on the TV to finish Oddity, the TV was on ESPN and overtime was just starting in Avalanche @ Stars and I got sucked in. Only around 5 minutes left in this first overtime period and it’s been riveting.
I don’t know why, but I find it very jarring that the Stars have green jerseys. It just feels weird seeing a hockey team with green jerseys.
Anyway, it seems like the Stars have the advantage in terms of scoring opportunities and shots, and since they’re the home team down in the series 0-1 I’m kind of rooting for them. However, it seems to me like the Stars are mostly a dump and chase team, while the Avalanche bring or pass the puck into the offensive zone with control, which I vastly prefer.
So at this point my head is rooting for Colorado but my heart is rooting for Dallas. Uh oh, fight almost broke out with 4 minutes left in this first OT.
EDIT: Well there you go. The Stars finally brought the puck into the zone with control and scored the game winner. That’s how you do it!
I guess it’s been so long since you watched that you forgot that Colorado is the Avalanche, not the Red Wings? (Don’t tease my Detroit heart like that.)
lol, doh! In fairness, yes, long enough that it would be measured in decades. I still have time in the edit window; I’m going to go fix that.
(I always kind of liked the Redwings because my buddy is a huge fan, and I never liked the Avalanche for any reason, so I’m even happier that the Stars pulled it out. I guess no joy for my Rangers this year, huh?)
Nah, the Rangers somehow ended up behind the Red Wings in the wildcard race after being kinda dominating in the early season.
As a Stars fan, I’m ecstatic we were able to split the first two home games against the Avalanche. I knew it would be a tough series, so going to Colorado 1-1 isn’t that bad. We were very unlucky in the first game, far more lucky in the second.
Wow, the Caps/Habs game was tight. From that one game, I kind of expect that series to go to seven games.
What a finish in the Oilers game. It looked like they were going to get blown out by the Kings and the Refs, but fight back and pull their goalie to score 2 at the end of the 3rd to tie, only give up another suspect goal with 42 seconds left to lose 6-5.
The Kings led 4-0 at one point, and 5-2 when Perry made it 5-3 at 7:43 of the 3rd. Then Walman for the Oilers got called for Delay of Game when he appeared to shoot the puck over the glass. The Oilers challenged that call, and the video clearly showed the puck clipping the top of the glass but the Refs wouldn’t change the call. The denied challenge meant the Oilers had to kill a 5 on 3 power play for two full minutes, which they did.
They pulled Skinner and scored at 17:56 and 18:32 to tie but L.A. won it at 19:18
Bottom line, you can’t give up 6 goals and expect to win a playoff game. Skinner had a questionable night and wasn’t seeing the puck in a couple of the goals.
Oh, and BTW, McDavid is the greatest player ever to lace up skates. Honestly, just watch the replays of his goal and 3 assists. A shame it was wasted tonight.
After how poorly Dallas played down the stretch, I had this as a Colorado sweep. I assume Landeskog reigns for the next game in Colorado.
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that Landeskog will play in game 3. In all honesty it is an amazing story, the way he has come back. I just wish it wasn’t in the playoffs against the Stars.
Heiskanen has been skating and it is possible that he plays in this series, but I would guess maybe game 5. In the meanwhile, Harley has been excellent.
Wow, the Preds beat up on the Lightning tonight. 6-2. Vsilevskiy had a dismal .625 save percentage. That may not be the worst NHL save percentage I’ve seen, but it’s the worst I remember seeing.
Bwahaha, Panthers, not Preds. Have I mentioned I’m terrible with names?