Spherical 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is hitting the nitty-gritty stage, as elimination video games shall be coming from all corners of North America this week.
The storylines are many, from goaltenders being pulled and making an attempt to regain their type to heavy hits stirring feelings much more than they already have been.
ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski recognized their high takeaways as all 16 groups stay alive — not less than in the meanwhile.
Learn extra:
Full schedule
Intel on all 16 teams
Top 50 players
Wyshynski’s bracket
Contender flaws
Are Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets in bother … once more?
Even with their Sport 4 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Blues, the Winnipeg Jets are tied of their sequence as they appear to get out of the primary spherical for the primary time in three seasons. However issues aren’t trending nicely for Winnipeg as two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck once more received an early exit.
In Sport 3, Hellebuyck allowed six objectives on 25 photographs earlier than being pulled, then gave up 5 objectives on 18 photographs Sunday. Watching how Hellebuyck would reply to being pulled in Sport 3 was clearly a focal point.
Each Western Convention sequence has seen one goalie have an early departure. This began with Stuart Skinner being eliminated in Sport 2 within the Oilers’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, whereas Thursday noticed each Hellebuyck and Vegas’ Adin Hill get yanked of their workforce’s defeats. It occurred once more Saturday with the Stars relieving Jake Oettinger to start out the third interval of their 4-0 loss to the Avalanche.
Hellebuyck’s current historical past with making an attempt to bounce again from consecutive playoff defeats has been a difficulty. After he received the opening sport in final yr’s first-round sequence, he and the Jets misplaced 4 straight. The identical factor occurred in 2023 after they confronted the Golden Knights. In 2021, Hellebuyck misplaced all 4 of his begins towards the Montreal Canadiens.
The final time Hellebuyck snapped a two-game shedding streak within the playoffs got here in 2019, when he guided the Jets to wins in Video games 3 and 4 towards, you guessed it, the Blues, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup that season. Hellebuyck wants to point out he can flip issues round — in a rush. — Clark
There’s been no higher “salt within the wound” second within the 2025 postseason than Blues followers chanting “WE WANT CONNOR!” after Hellebuyck was pulled from Sport 4 within the third interval, having given up 5 objectives on 18 photographs.
Superior trolling. Winnipeg followers could be proud.
Why would not they need Hellebuyck again within the crease? He is simply the seventh goalie in NHL historical past to permit 4 or extra objectives in six straight street playoff video games, a streak that features sequence losses to Vegas and Colorado. He grew to become the second reigning Vezina Trophy winner ever to be pulled in consecutive playoff video games, becoming a member of the Flyers’ Ron Hextall within the 1988 divisional sequence.
Hellebuyck has a .817 save share and a 4.24 goals-against common in 4 playoff video games. Over his final three postseasons, Hellebuyck has a 4-10 file with an .866 save share and a 4.27 goals-against common.
Over his final three NHL common seasons, Hellebuyck has 121 wins in 187 video games with a .922 save share and a 2.29 goals-against common. That man hasn’t even come near exhibiting up within the playoffs statistically.
But anybody that is watched the Blues’ 16-goal parade towards the Jets is aware of not all of that is Hellebuyck’s fault. “You watch the replays of the objectives that went in and there are deflections, screens, pucks bouncing off us and in,” defenseman Luke Schenn stated.
Screening Hellebuyck has been the trail to success for groups within the playoffs. Round half of the Blues objectives have include visitors in entrance of him.
“If there’s individuals attending to the online, we have to get them out of there earlier than they get their screens. We have gotta field out earlier. There’s quite a lot of protection stuff,” Jets coach Scott Arniel stated.
Hellebuyck is a sufferer of his personal domination. We anticipate the man thought-about to be the very best goalie on this planet to have the ability to battle by way of screens and canopy for defensive breakdowns.
Arniel was clear that he is “100% assured” in Hellebuyck within the playoffs. “There are issues that we’ve to do to assist him and he is aware of he has to do issues to assist us,” he stated.
However Arniel additionally stated that if Winnipeg goes to win two out of the following three video games, “our greatest gamers need to be higher than their finest gamers.” And there is not any query that Jordan Binnington has been the higher goalie on this sequence than Hellebuyck.
On Monday, the NHL will announce the finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy, which Hellebuyck has received twice and can most likely win once more in June. It is the award given yearly to the very best goalie within the common season. Connor Hellebuyck is in actual hazard of getting his profession outlined by what he is did not do after these preliminary 82 video games. — Wyshynski
Ottawa has life — till Toronto proves it could possibly shut
1-12.
That is the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ file in playoff elimination video games going again to 2017.
It is an unflattering determine, similar to the Leafs’ 0-1 file on this sequence in trying to shut out the Ottawa Senators.
There’s that previous cliché that the ultimate win of a sequence is the hardest to get. The Leafs have spent virtually a decade proving that is true. And Toronto definitely had its probabilities to comb the Senators into summer season mode in Sport 4 on Saturday evening. The Leafs had a four-minute energy play in additional time, albeit with out John Tavares out there after he exited earlier to be assessed for a potential damage.
Nonetheless.
Toronto was 5-for-9 with the additional man within the first three video games of the sequence; the Leafs have been 0-for-4 on the facility play in Sport 4. They gave up a shorthanded aim to Shane Pinto within the first interval as well. Not supreme.
1:07
Jake Sanderson sends Ottawa followers right into a frenzy with Sport 4 OT winner
Jake Sanderson celebrates together with his teammates after netting the game-winning aim in additional time for the Senators vs. the Maple Leafs.
Now, Ottawa is due ample credit score for the way it persevered to earn an additional time victory. The Senators went up 2-0 within the first interval, solely to see that lead evaporate by the second. David Perron put Ottawa up once more and the Leafs tied it to pressure the additional body. The Senators might have shrunk within the face of that daunting four-minute energy play (with or with out Tavares) and as an alternative they stood tall. And Jake Sanderson‘s aim gave Ottawa the possibility to play on.
Have the scales tipped in Ottawa’s favor? The Senators don’t have anything to lose right here; they’ve the luxurious of enjoying free. Toronto is saddled with expectations born of too many prior postseason disappointments. However this Leafs workforce is constructed otherwise, proper? And so Toronto cannot — or will not — let one demoralizing defeat flip into two, will it? — Shilton
Possibly do not problem, coaches?
Within the common season, coaches who challenged scoring performs for interference received greater than they misplaced, with a 56% success fee on 126 challenges. Which suggests the chance — getting a delay of sport penalty in the event that they’re improper — was price it.
That is an appropriate danger in an 82-game season. However in a seven-game playoff sequence, you have to make sure — and to this point within the 2025 postseason, coaches would have been higher off not difficult.
The primary problem was a considerably determined one from Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch in Sport 1 towards the Kings. Defenseman Jake Walman was dominated to have shot the puck over the glass for a delay of sport penalty. He was satisfied that wasn’t the case, and the Oilers — trailing 5-3 at that time within the third interval — backed up Walman by difficult the decision. It was dominated there was “no conclusive proof” that the puck went off the glass “after a radical examination of all out there replays.”
So Edmonton acquired a delay of sport on high of a delay of sport, though Los Angeles could not convert on the following 5-on-3 energy play.
The opposite coaches weren’t as fortunate. Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper unsuccessfully challenged goalie interference on Nate Schmidt‘s aim that gave Florida a 3-1 lead in Sport 1. The league dominated Eetu Luostarinen was making a play on the free puck within the crease earlier than Schmidt’s aim, which by rule is not interference. The Lightning got a delay of sport penalty. Matthew Tkachuk scored 14 seconds into the following energy play to make it 4-1 and put the sport out of attain.
However essentially the most ill-conceived problem of the playoffs was from Kings coach Jim Hiller in Sport 3 towards Edmonton, searching for to overturn an Evander Kane aim that made it 4-4 at 13:18 of the third interval. I am nonetheless making an attempt to determine what they noticed that impressed the problem, and why the Kings would gamble with giving Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl an opportunity to interrupt the tie by handing them an influence play — which they did, when Draisaitl assisted on Evan Bouchard‘s eventual sport winner.
“We acquired a very good have a look at it. We took loads of time. We felt it was goalie interference, so we challenged it. Typically you win and generally you lose on these. Tonight we misplaced, and it value us large time. No different manner round it,” Hiller stated, stating the apparent.
To this point within the playoffs, the associated fee has outweighed the profit. — Wyshynski
Are the Golden Knights about to show the nook?
Being a franchise in a championship window that already has produced a title is of course going to spark a dialog about what may be carried out to win a second. For the Vegas Golden Knights? The entire has been better than the sum of their elements, not that the elements themselves are to be taken flippantly.
The Golden Knights received a Stanley Cup in 2023 by receiving contributions all through their lineup. That is precisely what occurred Saturday of their 4-3 additional time win that was the distinction between them being tied at 2-2 versus dealing with a consecutive first-round exit with an elimination sport on dwelling ice.
Have a look at how Vegas was in a position to win. Shea Theodore scored the opener on the facility play with Nicolas Roy additionally scoring a power-play aim that tied it at 2-2. Adin Hill made the required saves that allowed the Golden Knights to navigate additional time earlier than Ivan Barbashev scored the profitable aim. All three objectives have been from gamers who hadn’t scored within the first three video games of the sequence, whereas Hill rebounded from permitting 4 objectives on 21 photographs in Sport 4.
All the things Barbashev, Hill, Roy and Theodore did speaks to how the Golden Knights can faucet into their depth. May Sport 5 result in related outcomes for star Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone? Each gamers, who have been held to no factors coming into Sport 3, have been additionally pointless in Sport 4 however confirmed indicators of promise contemplating they mixed for 10 photographs on aim. That is the identical variety of photographs they’d within the first three video games mixed. — Clark
No love misplaced within the Battle of Florida
After all all of it begins with Matthew Tkachuk.
Florida’s feistiest ahead already was giving Tampa Bay suits of their first-round sequence with three objectives within the first three video games. Then got here one other crushing blow — actually — when Tkachuk smacked Bolts ahead Jake Guentzel at heart ice and earned a sport misconduct as Florida fell 5-1 in Sport 3.
0:59
Fracas ensues after Tkachuk’s late hit, Cirelli’s empty-netter
Matthew Tkachuk will get a five-minute main for a late hit previous to Anthony Cirelli’s empty-net aim.
Naturally, debate ensued over whether or not Tkachuk deserved supplemental self-discipline for the hit — Guentzel was within the strategy of passing the puck and had launched it when Tkachuk made contact. There shall be no suspension for Tkachuk — and the way that call will sit with the Lightning, nicely, we are going to discover out in Sport 4 on Monday evening.
Gamers on either side exchanged pleasantries following Tkachuk’s hit on Guentzel, and it was clear the bodily ante was upped in additional methods than one. The Lightning performed a press release sport Saturday, scoring 5 unanswered objectives to get themselves again within the sequence. Now we are able to solely marvel how the unhealthy blood will seep into the remainder of it.
Self-discipline is vital in a protracted playoff run; it is much more crucial for Tampa Bay given the Panthers’ robust energy play (30%) to this point within the postseason. The Lightning getting that win and now being additional bonded by the best way Tkachuk leveled their main playoff aim scorer provides new layers of intrigue to what lies forward on this bout of Atlantic Division rivals. — Shilton
Everybody loves Tom Wilson (besides those who hate him)
After their Sport 4 win, Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was requested how vital teammate Tom Wilson was to the workforce’s success. Wilson was seated subsequent to Thompson, who turned and grinned extensively on the hulking ahead.
“No must make his head any greater,” stated Thompson, who then proceeded to additional inflate it.
“He is been enormous for us. The center and soul of this group, proper? When he is making performs, large hits, we feed off that. Particularly in our dwelling rink, I feel the entire constructing feeds off it. He is an enormous a part of this workforce. We love him,” the goalie stated, earlier than increasing his arms to imitate Wilson’s head filling with reward.
Wilson deadpanned: “That is it?”
Like Logan Thompson, there are various who love Tom Wilson. There are additionally legions of followers and opponents who detest him for a historical past of injurious hits and different unsportsmanlike conduct. Montreal followers and gamers weren’t enamored with Wilson in Sport 3 when he fought Josh Anderson in a brawl that spilled into the Capitals’ bench after which pretended to sob whereas calling out an unidentified Habs participant as a whiner.
“Issues escalated,” stated Anderson after the sport.
1:45
Canadiens-Caps brawl spills into the bench at finish of 2nd interval
The Canadiens and Capitals shut the second interval with a large brawl by which Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson spar into the bench.
Wilson was extra managed in Sport 4 — by his personal admission, he needed to remain out of the field to make a distinction on the ice and did not take a penalty within the sport. Within the third interval, his influence was felt fairly actually: Wilson demolished Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier with a center-ice test moments earlier than the Capitals managed the puck and Brandon Duhaime scored to tie the sport at 2-2 with 13:21 left in regulation.
“It has been a bodily sequence each methods. Getting hit. Giving hits,” stated Wilson, who added an empty-netter within the 5-2 win. “It was an enormous hit. The boys have been in a position to rating proper after. That is the best way that hockey goes.”
Wilson has performed within the postseason for the Capitals since 2012-13. He is skilled the excessive of the Stanley Cup championship in 2018 and the lows of postseason collapses. It is to Washington’s credit score that they have not given oxygen to a Montreal upset bid, due to their Sport 1 OT win on an Alex Ovechkin aim and their third-period comeback in Sport 4 that gave them a 3-1 sequence lead.
“It is a group that is had completely different guys step up all year long. I do not suppose there’s any panic once we’re down a aim. We imagine in ourselves,” Wilson stated. “We acquired it carried out. It is actually enjoyable to come back to the rink.”
Nobody’s scarier when he is having enjoyable than Tom Wilson. — Wyshynski
Extra to Landeskog’s Sport 4 efficiency than simply his aim
Any questions on how Gabriel Landeskog would match right into a Colorado Avalanche lineup that has dramatically modified since he final performed practically three years in the past have been answered at numerous instances this postseason. However in a 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars in Sport 4 on Saturday, he offered a transparent reminder of what the Avs had been lacking.
Landeskog scored 11 objectives and 22 factors in 20 video games when he led Colorado to the third Stanley Cup in franchise historical past in 2022. His aim and help in Sport 4 towards the Stars pushed his profession totals to twenty-eight objectives and 69 factors in 71 postseason contests.
A part of what has allowed Landeskog to persistently discover success throughout the Avs’ setup — whether or not scoring himself or establishing his teammates — is how he positions himself on the ice, from working within the corners to achieve possession to discovering a method to get within the slot. These traits performed a job in his one-timer from the slot, off a feed from Brock Nelson, that gave the Avs a 3-0 lead.
But the sequence that may have finest summed up what Landeskog offers got here on Samuel Girard‘s aim that gave Colorado a 4-0 benefit. Landeskog, who obtained a secondary help, gave the puck to Nelson, who then discovered Girard. As Girard was on the point of shoot, Landeskog went to the online entrance and battled with 6-foot-7 Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel to achieve place and display goalie Casey DeSmith.
Landeskog’s presence not solely helped the Avs knot the sequence because the scene shifts to Dallas, it’s a key ingredient that might push Colorado onward because the playoffs proceed. — Clark
Goalie clinic turned to controversy in Hurricanes-Devils
New Jersey’s run may already be carried out if not for goalie Jacob Markstrom. Carolina might hardly be this commanding if not for netminder Frederik Andersen.
That is been a big storyline within the sequence to this point, how two top-tier goaltenders have held their respective groups in steadiness. In Sport 4 on Sunday issues took a flip, although, when Andersen was shocked in his crease by Timo Meier and needed to exit the sport, being changed by younger Pyotr Kochetkov.
There was no penalty known as on the play that despatched Andersen to the locker room. And so as to add insult to damage, Meier rotated and scored on the incoming Kochetkov to slender the Hurricanes’ result in 3-2. Ouch.
1:30
GK Frederik Andersen exits the sport for the Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen exits the sport after a collision, inflicting backup goalkeeper Pyotr Kochetkov to enter the sport.
It is no secret Andersen has had a tough go along with accidents. He missed 39 video games within the common season following knee surgical procedure and was lastly showing at full power — and well being — for the playoffs. Now his standing is murky, and the Devils can take benefit — thanks largely to the marvelous Markstrom.
New Jersey has had poor luck with its blueline well being, enjoying with out Brenden Dillon or Luke Hughes since Sport 1 and shedding Johnathan Kovacevic in Sport 3, and it is Markstrom who has made up for his membership’s deficiencies. The veteran has stood tall towards Carolina’s assault to present New Jersey each alternative to take a lead — and maintain it — however the Devils’ scoring woes (they’d simply 5 by way of the primary three video games) have not precisely supported Markstrom’s trigger. Irrespective of. The Devils goaltender has nonetheless produced a formidable .929 save share within the postseason, placing him simply behind Andersen in that class atop the playoff leaderboard for beginning goalies.
And Andersen has earned his place on the peak. He is been rock strong for Carolina and closed the door on New Jersey repeatedly. Andersen’s heroics in Sport 3 allowed the Hurricanes an opportunity to come back again and win in double additional time. (His cease on Meier within the second interval was significantly excellent.)
The best way these two have gone toe-to-toe is playoff goaltending at its finest. We ought to be speaking about who can maintain their excellence lengthy sufficient to be the deciding think about a sequence victory. Now it is a query of who shall be out there for the Hurricanes going ahead — Andersen or the upstart Kochetkov? The reply might have long-term implications for Carolina. — Shilton
Can the Oilers beat the curse of the Western Convention?
OK. Possibly “curse” is simply too robust a phrase on this case. Nonetheless, being the workforce representing the Western Convention within the Stanley Cup Remaining has include its fair proportion of points over the previous few postseasons.
It began in 2020 when the Stars received the Western Convention enjoying within the Edmonton bubble. They misplaced to the Tampa Bay Lightning and did not make the playoffs the next season. After all, there was no Western Convention champion in the course of the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic.
Quick-forward to 2022. The Avalanche received the West and the Stanley Cup. However a yr later, they have been eradicated within the first spherical. In 2023, the Golden Knights captured their first title solely to get knocked out within the first spherical in 2024. Coming into the weekend, the Oilers have been trailing 2-1 of their sequence towards the Kings after shedding the primary two video games in Southern California.
The Kings-Oilers sequence has been weird past the very fact that is the fourth straight time they’ve performed within the first spherical. A final-minute aim in a 6-5 thriller in Sport 1 was adopted up by the Oilers giving up six objectives for the second consecutive sport in a 6-2 loss, which was adopted by one other high-scoring contest with the Oilers profitable 7-4 in Sport 3. It is a secure wager one thing else weird might occur, just like the Oilers both falling prey to the curse or breaking it. — Clark