The fate of 16 teams battling for one of the world’s most prestigious and famous trophies will be decided starting April 19. In the West, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues have dashed the Calgary Flames’ faint playoff hopes. In the East, the Montreal Canadiens locked up the final playoff spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
The ‘Battle of Ontario’ is among the most anticipated clashes of this round. While Toronto has the better playoff record head-to-head, the Senators swept the Leafs in the regular season.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
These two faced off against each other in the same round last season when the Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup. But the Bolts are looking in much better shape this time around, while the Panthers are dealing with injury concerns for some of their star players, such as Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens were able to get the win against Carolina in their last game of their season to lock in the final playoff spot in the East. Now, they will face off against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in the first round.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
This one’s already locked in, based on the league standings. The Canes looked like strong contenders halfway through the season, but losing star forward Mikko Rantanen and a dip in form slowed them down. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe will be chasing redemption after being fired by the Maple Leafs following last season’s first-round loss.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
This is the fourth consecutive season the two teams have met in round one of the playoffs. The Oilers’ injury concerns and Monday’s 5-0 loss to the Kings leave the series much more evenly poised than usual.
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
All eyes will be on former Avalanche player Mikko Rantanen. After contract talks broke down, he was involved in a months-long, complicated trade saga that now sees him wearing the Stars’ colors. Another talking point is the potential return of Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has not played in the NHL since he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
The Jets have won the President’s Trophy for the first time in franchise history and have been the team to beat all season. Fans and analysts wonder whether the Blues’ recent run of form will be enough for a massive upset.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
Vegas has clinched their fourth division title in eight years. The Wild will look to star Kirill Kaprizov and veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who will be playing in his final playoffs before retirement.
