2025 NHL Postseason: 1st Round Review & 2nd Round Preview

1st Round Review

Toronto defeats Ottawa, 4-2

Series Recap: The Maple Leafs nearly did the most Maple Leaf-thing ever and almost blew this series despite taking a 3-0 lead. A dominant effort in Game 1 and two overtime victories in the next two games had Toronto on the verge of an easy advancement in the Battle of Ontario. Instead, Ottawa fought back and won Game 4 in overtime. Then, Linus Ullmark, who was otherwise disappointing, shut them out in Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena to send the series back to Ottawa. In Game 6, Toronto took a 2-0 lead, but Brady Tkachuk and David Perron tied things up, pushing Game 6 toward a third overtime affair. Instead, Max Pacioretty broke the deadlock less than two minutes later to restore Toronto's lead for good. The Leafs survived, making them the only team in the Eastern Conference to require six games to advance. The Core 4 were solid, combining for nine goals and 29 points. 

One Stat: Pacioretty's last postseason goal: June 22, 2021 (1,409 days)

The postseason is all about unlikely heroes stepping up and making big plays in big situations. Max Pacioretty has always been a great player, but injuries have sidelined him for the better part of the last three seasons. On Thursday night, Pacioretty scored the game-winning and series-clinching goal late in the third period to send the Leafs to the second round. His last postseason goal came almost four years ago as a member of the Golden Knights in a series against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Turning Point: In the storied history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, there might not be a more surprising overtime hero than Simon Benoit. Just over a minute into the overtime of Game 3, Benoit's shot from the point beat Linus Ullmark, giving Toronto a 3-0 series lead. I know that Toronto almost blew it, and both Jake Sanderson's overtime winner in Game 4, Ullmark's shutout in Game 5, and Perron's wacky tying goal in Game 6 could've also been here, but none of it matters since they lost.

Series Houdini: Drake Batherson (1 goal, 1 assist in 6 games)

After a third straight 60+-point season, Drake Batherson disappeared in the Battle of Ontario. He scored Ottawa's first goal in Game 1, a 6-2 loss, and only had one assist in the next five games. His defensive effort on Max Domi's overtime winner in Game 2 is noted. He finished a series-worst -4 and only had nine shots across the six games. 

Series MVP: William Nylander (3 goals, 6 assists in 6 games)

It was a close call between William Nylander and Mitch Marner, but the closing game decided it for me. Nylander scored twice in the clincher and added an assist to finish with a series-high nine points. He scored a point in five of the six games, with the lone scoreless effort being Ottawa's 4-0 win in Game 5. The Core 4 all showed out during the series, though Nylander stood out above the rest.

Florida defeats Tampa Bay, 4-1

Series Recap: There were a few series I expected to end quickly in the first round. This wasn't one of them. The Panthers won the Battle of Florida for the second straight season in five games. This season's series wasn't as close. The Panthers started the series on the road with a pair of victories, settled for a split in Sunrise, and finished the job in Tampa for their third road victory in Game 5. They bookended the series with a pair of six-goal performances, with Eetu Luostarinen notching four points in the series-clinching victory. There was no love lost. Every game felt like it featured a player laying a dirty hit and creating a lot of discussion. Aaron Ekblad still has a game left on a two-game suspension for a high hit on Brandon Hagel. The defending champions looked dangerous, but that's nothing new. 

One Stat: Combined Score of the 3 Games in Tampa Bay: 14-5 Florida

The Lightning were one of the best home teams in the league this season, winning 29 games and earning 62 points. The Panthers didn't seem to care during the three games in Tampa during this series. Florida dominated the Bolts in their barn, proving they don't care about not having home ice.

The Turning Point: Leading Game 4, 2-1, late in the third period, the Lightning appeared poised to knot the series after scoring two goals 11 seconds apart during the second period. Instead, a defensive breakdown allowed Aaron Ekblad to pounce on a rebound in front of the net to tie it before Seth Jones' shot got a funky bounce to take the lead 11 seconds later. The Cats added the empty-net goal to win 4-2, giving them a 3-1 series lead and a chance to close the series in Tampa in Game 5, which they did.

Series Houdini: Andrei Vasilevskiy (.872 SV%, 3.27 GAA in 5 games)

There's something about award finalists struggling in the playoffs this season. Andrei Vasilevskiy hasn't been great over the last few postseason runs, but there was reason to believe he'd be good to go for this run. Instead, he was lit up three times. He's far from the only player who can be called out for lackluster play. Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov didn't look great either.

Series MVP: Sam Bennett (3 goals, 2 assists in 5 games)

It's hard to single out an individual on the Panthers because this victory was by committee. A lot of guys finished with similar game-to-game statlines. I'm picking Sam Bennett because he finished tied for the team lead in goals and was tied for second in points behind Sam Reinhart while scoring a point in four of the five games. You could genuinely stick some names in a hat and pick one, and I wouldn't be upset with whoever is picked.

Washington defeats Montreal, 4-1

Series Recap: The Canadiens gave it everything they could, but they didn't have much of an answer for the East's top team. The Capitals were clearly the better team and showed why in this quick series. Alex Ovechkin scored twice in the series opener, including the overtime winner, to get the Capitals off on the right track. After another tight win at home, Washington dropped Game 3 in Montreal behind an offensive explosion by the Canadiens before earning a close win on the road to put the series in a stranglehold. By Game 5, the Canadiens ran out of gas. Ovechkin scored four goals in the series to lead all skaters. There was a little goalie trouble for both teams after Logan Thompson and Samuel Montembeault left Game 3 early. Montembeault was knocked out of the series, while Thompson was good to go for the final two. I don't think the series ends differently if Montreal's netminder was healthy, but it makes you wonder.

One Stat: 6 Washington Skaters Shot 20+%

No team shot the puck better than the Capitals during the regular season, edging the Lightning for the best shooting percentage. In the first round, six Capitals shot better than 20%. All six players scored multiple goals and had at least 8 shots. Brandon Duhaime led the way at 37.5% (3 goals on 8 shots).

The Turning Point: Game 4 in Montreal was a tight one. In a 2-2 game late in the third period, the game was barreling toward another overtime. Instead, Andrew Mangiapane picked his spot against Jakub Dobes, breaking the tie with 3:37 left to push the Capitals ahead. An empty-net goal would seal it, giving Washington a 3-1 series lead with the road victory.

Series Houdini: Nick Suzuki (2 goals, 0 assists, -5 in 5 games)

To his credit, Nick Suzuki scored the game-tying goal in Game 1 to force overtime in an eventual Washington win. Outside of that, the Montreal captain was held in check by the Capitals. There weren't a ton of standouts for the Canadiens, but I expected a little more from Suzuki, even if his group was fighting a tough battle against the Capitals.

Series MVP: Dylan Strome (2 goals, 7 assists in 5 games)

After a career year during the regular season, Dylan Strome continued his hot run into the playoffs. He led all skaters with seven assists and nine points in the five-game series, including a trio of multi-point efforts. He started the series by assisting on all three Washington goals in Game 1, capped by Alex Ovechkin's first-career postseason OT winner. His nine points were four more than any other player.

Carolina defeats New Jersey, 4-1

Series Recap: New Jersey's defensive depletion came to a head during their five games against Carolina. Playing most of the series without Luke Hughes and Brendan Dillon, and losing Jonathan Kovacevic midway through, the Devils faced an uphill climb. Add timely scoring from the Hurricanes and stellar goaltending from Frederik Andersen, and it was going to be a tough hill to climb. Carolina won both games on home ice to start the series before earning a split in Newark. The series finished with a wild 2OT affair in Raleigh on Tuesday night, seeing the Canes come back from 3-0 in the second period before Sebastian Aho ended the series on the power play to help the Canes advance. 

One Stat: Special Teams Goals: 7-0 Carolina

While the Hurricanes controlled the series in a few ways, they dominated on special teams. Their power play, which was downright abysmal in 2025, turned it on at the right time, going 6-for-19 in the series. Their power play was a perfect 15-for-15, scoring a short-handed goal in Game 2.

The Turning Point: The Canes always felt in control of the series, so it's hard to pinpoint one moment. I could go with Frederik Andersen's injury, but that didn't change the outcome. I'll go with Jordan Martinook's short-handed goal in Game 2. It was 1-1 early in the second period, and the Devils had played a solid game. All of a sudden, the Canes shot ahead and went on to win Game 2, with the short-handed goal serving as the game-winner to take a 2-0 series lead.

Series Houdini: Dougie Hamilton (0 goals, 2 assists, -3 in 5 games)

There were a lot of former Hurricanes in this series for the Devils, so it was hard to watch them succeed on the other team as a Hurricanes fan. Their defensive injuries forced some of their core to step up. Brian Dumoulin and Brett Pesce did exactly that. I can't say the same for Dougie Hamilton. He was on the ice a lot, yet it never felt like Hamilton was a difference maker. 

Series MVP: Andrei Svechnikov (5 goals, 1 assist in 5 games)

No one gave Jacob Markstrom, easily New Jersey's best player in the series, more of a fit than Andrei Svechnikov. In Games 1 and 2, Svechnikov got under his skin. In Games 3 through 5, he put pucks past him. Svechnikov led all skaters with five goals on 22 shots in the series, including a Game 4 hat trick to help the Canes win a game on the road. It was an equal parts physical and finesse series for the former #2 pick.

Winnipeg defeats St. Louis, 4-3

Series Recap: The series that got the postseason rolling was the one that ended the round, too. Few expected this series to make it seven games, but the St. Louis Blues gave the President's Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets all they could handle. The home won all seven games in the series, but the Blues were 2.2 seconds away from pulling off the upset. The Blues led 3-1 with less than two minutes to go before the Jets pulled Connor Hellebuyck. Vladislav Namestnikov got a friendly bounce to cut the deficit to one before Cole Perfetti tied it with 2.2 seconds left in regulation and forced overtime. Deep into the second overtime, Adam Lowry redirected Neal Pionk's shot from the point, beating Jordan Binnington to send the Jets to the second round. In what some online are calling "The Manitoba Miracle," the Jets avoided the "President's Trophy Curse." The Blues outscored the Jets 27-21 and recorded more points (74-61), but the league's top team prevailed  

One Stat: Latest GTG in Game 7 History: 2.2 Seconds

The Jets were on the verge of joining a sad group if not for the well-placed stick of Cole Perfetti to redirect Kyle Connor's pass. Perfetti's goal is the latest game-tying goal in Game 7 history and tied for the second latest game-tying goal in postseason history (19:57). 

The Turning Point: 

Namestnikov's goal cuts into St. Louis' lead in Game 7

Series Houdini: Connor Hellebuyck (4-3, .830 SV%, 3.85 GAA, pulled 3 times in 7 games)

Yes, the Jets won this series, and, yes, Connor Hellebuyck shook off his tough start to Game 7 to help get Winnipeg to the second round. That doesn't excuse the disappearing act he pulled throughout this series. If not for Lowry's goal, all three Vezina nominees would've been eliminated. Game 2 was the only time Hellebuyck didn't allow at least three goals. He was abysmal on the road, getting pulled in all three road games after allowing 16 goals on 50 shots.

Series MVP: Kyle Connor (4 goals, 8 assists in 7 games)

After nearly hitting 100 points during the regular season, Kyle Connor was the everything guy for the Jets in the series. Connor scored a goal in four of the first five games and compiled three three-point performances in the series, including a trio of assists in Game 7. He assisted on both of Perfetti's goals and the game-winner to help the Jets eliminate the Blues. He didn't have his usual center for the final two games either. Connor finished the round tied with Mikko Rantanen for the most points in the NHL (12).

Dallas defeats Colorado, 4-3

Series Recap: The Mikko Rantanen Bowl lived up to every bit of the hype around it. It ended in the most Hollywood fashion imaginable, but the series' titular character wasn't anywhere to be found for four games. Colorado opened the series with a road victory, but Dallas responded with a pair of overtime victories to draw ahead. Mackenzie Blackwood picked up a massive 4-0 shutout victory in Game 4 to even the series, but Dallas lit him up in Game 5 to push Colorado to the brink. The Avalanche kept their hopes alive with a 7-4 victory in Game 6 before things got wild in Game 7. Colorado had a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes before Rantanen took over in the third period. The former Avalanche star scored twice to tie the game, set up the go-ahead power-play goal with the secondary assist, and scored into the empty net in the final seconds to secure the hat trick and the series win. Without two of their biggest stars, Dallas survived the best series of the first round and sent Colorado home for an early vacation.

One Stat: Number of 4-Point Periods in NHL Playoff History: 24

The number of times a player scored four points in a period is incredibly small in the grand scheme of postseason history. In this series, we saw it happen three times. Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz four points each in the second period of Game 6 before Rantanen did it again in the third period of Game 7.

The Turning Point: It's hard to point to a specific moment when this series was incredibly close, and neither side had too much momentum, so I'm going with Jack Drury's holding penalty in the third period of Game 7. Colorado had already blown a 2-0 lead in the period, but giving the Stars a chance to take the lead ultimately cost the Avalanche the series. Wyatt Johnston scored the series-clinching goal late in the frame, completing the comeback and allowing the Stars to advance.

Series Houdini: Jonathan Drouin (0 goals, 3 assists in 7 games)

In a series full of superstars, some players step up when given big opportunities. Jonathan Drouin's three assists all came on the power play, and he was a team-worst -6. He was especially absent during the back half of the series, going scoreless in the final three games and posting a -4. He contributed next to nothing for the team.

Series MVP: Mikko Rantanen (5 goals, 7 assists in 7 games)

I won't pretend that Mikko Rantanen was present at the beginning of the series, but he was the difference maker once things got rolling for him in Games 5, 6, and 7. Over the final three games, Rantanen scored five goals and six assists, accounting for 11 of the team's 14 goals. His 12 points led all skaters in the series, and his five goals trailed only Nathan MacKinnon's 7 for the most. He lived up to the top billing late in the series, pushing the Stars to the second round.

Vegas defeats Minnesota, 4-2

Series Recap: For a split second, it looked like we were getting our first big upset of the first round. The Wild took a 2-1 series lead after a pair of 5-2 victories in Games 2 and 3. Vegas retaliated with two overtime wins to retake the lead before closing the series in six games with a tight 3-2 win in Game 6. The series had a little of everything. Minnesota might've been the better team for a good chunk of the series. Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov were exciting to watch, each finishing with five goals. Vegas proved to be the more balanced side, using its entire depth to push its way into the second round. The series marked the end of the line for Marc-Andre Fleury. The retiring netminder got some action in Game 5, playing the third period and overtime. He nearly got the victory, too. It marked the 18th postseason Fleury had participated in, setting a new NHL goalie record.

One Stat: Vegas' Team +/-: -20

I, like many, believe that +/- is a grossly overused and misrepresentative statistic of a team's success. Case in point, the Golden Knights were -20 as a team. Pavel Dorofeyev was a series-worst -5, while Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev were both -4. 

The Turning Point: With the series knotted at 2-2, the Wild appeared on the verge of taking a 3-2 lead with a road victory. Ryan Hartman crashed the net, and while his chance was stopped, the rebound hit his knee and popped past Adin Hill. After the league reviewed it for a kicking motion, Vegas challenged it for offside. Gustav Nyquist was barely over the line before the bouncing puck entered the zone, wiping the goal off the board. Brett Howden won it in overtime, giving Vegas a 3-2 series lead.

Series Houdini: Joel Eriksson Ek (0 goals, 3 assists in 6 games)

I don't think there's a player who really deserves to be in this spot, though Brock Faber going scoreless for his second straight postseason made him an interesting candidate. I settled on Joel Eriksson Ek for his inability to finish. Eriksson Ek had 19 shots in the series, yet failed to get a shot into the net. Two of his three assists were secondary helpers. 

Series MVP: Kirill Kaprizov (5 goals, 4 assists in 6 games)

There were plenty of Golden Knights that stepped up for Vegas in this series, but I saw this as a two-horse race between Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. I gave the edge to Kaprizov for having two more points, tying Boldy for the lead in goals with two multi-goal games, and scoring all three of Minnesota's goals on the power play. He didn't appear to be impacted by the injury that kept him out of the lineup for the final weeks of the regular season. 

Edmonton defeats Los Angeles, 4-2

Series Recap: This series should cost Jim Hiller his job. The Kings defended home ice in Games 1 and 2, despite nearly blowing a comfortable lead in the series opener. Once Edmonton made a change in the net from Stuart Skinner to Calvin Pickard, the Oilers found life, though Hiller's penchant for sitting back with the lead made a comeback a lot easier for Edmonton's high-powered offense. The Oilers rattled off four straight wins, combining to beat the Kings 20-10 in Games 3 through 6. It was unbelievable to watch. I was very certain the Kings were winning this series after the way they started, but things quickly went south when they hit the road. Once they lost on home ice, all hope was (pretty much) lost for Los Angeles. I give the Oilers their props. They came into this series with plenty of doubters, me included. The voices got even louder after Game 2, but they stuck through it to get it done.

One Stat: Consecutive years LA has been eliminated by Edmonton: 4

There comes a point when enough is enough. The Kings should've won this series, but they didn't. Yes, Edmonton has two of the five best players in the league, but they lost to a team led by Calvin Pickard in the net. This one is going to sting a lot and could have serious repercussions moving ahead. 

The Turning Point: Edmonton sat in a 2-0 series hole and a 4-3 deficit late in the third period of Game 3. With 6:42 left in the period, Evander Kane won a battle in front of the net with Darcy Kuemper down. He poked a chance past Kuemper, tying the game. The Kings challenged for goalie interference without much of a case. To no one's surprise, they lost the challenge, giving the Oilers a power play. Ten seconds later, Evan Bouchard scored to push the Oilers ahead. This challenge gave Edmonton life, allowing them to win the first of four straight to win the series.

Series Houdini: Stuart Skinner (0-2, .810 SV%, 6.11 GAA in 2 games)

By no means did Stuart Skinner have a good regular season, but he was good in his last two starts before the playoffs began. Games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles were atrocious. Skinner conceded 11 goals in just under two full games, getting yanked late in Game 2 after the Kings scored their fifth goal. Calvin Pickard took over from there and never relinquished the net.

Series MVP: Leon Draisaitl (3 goals, 7 assists in 6 games)

There were a lot of goals scored in the series, with 51 combined between the two sides. Leon Draisaitl trailed only Connor McDavid in points (11) and Evan Bouchard in goals (4) for the Oilers. While he was held scoreless in the finale, Draisaitl had multiple points in three of the first five, including a four-point effort in Game 4. In that victory, he factored into all four Edmonton goals in Game 4, including the overtime-winner.

2nd Round Preview

Toronto vs. Florida

Season Series- The Panthers won three of four against the Maple Leafs this season, including both games in Sunrise. Sergei Bobrovsky started all four games, allowing seven goals while posting a .925 save percentage and a 1.77 GAA. Anthony Stolarz was in the net for three of the four, including the lone Toronto victory. His numbers aren't that great, but most of Florida's damage against him came on special teams. Of the nine goals Stolarz allowed to the Panthers this season, five were on the power play and one was short-handed. Sam Bennett (3-2-5 in 3 games), Sam Reinhart (2-3-5 in 4 games), and Mackie Samoskevich (1-3-4 in 4 games) each scored three points on the power play. 

Postseason History- This is the second meeting between the two sides. The first came in 2023 when they met in the second round. The Maple Leafs had home ice for that series as well, but the Panthers won both games in Toronto and the first at home in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Toronto extended the series with a 2-1 win in Game 4 before the Panthers ended the series in Game 5 on Nick Cousins' overtime winner.  

What I'm Watching- Two years ago, the Core 4 finally won a series, only to be ousted by the Panthers. With a second chance at the Eastern Conference Finals, what will they take from that experience to help them this time around? The quartet was held to nine points in the five-game loss to Florida in 2023. They're a few years wiser and playing from a favorable position. Also, with a few former Panthers on their roster, things could get very interesting.

Prediction- Last season's Stanley Cup goaltending duo will square off in this series. Anthony Stolarz was good in the first round, as was Sergei Bobrovsky. This Florida team is physically tougher than they were two seasons ago, aided by the deadline addition of Brad Marchand. Marchand against the Leafs is another big story to watch. With how well Florida played against the Lightning in the first round, it's hard not to pick the defending champions. Toronto is deeper than they have been in years past, but so are the Panthers. I think experience will trump skill. Florida in 6

Washington vs. Carolina

Season Series- The two division rivals met four times during the regular season. The home team won each meeting, with the Hurricanes edging the Capitals 5-4 in points with a shootout loss in D.C., during their final meeting on April 10th. The teams met twice in April, the first, a 5-1 in Raleigh for the Canes, was particularly brutal in the third period. Eight players were handed game misconducts in the final few minutes, and Jalen Chatfield drew the ire of many for his takedown of Connor McMichael during a fight. It led to Chatfield throwing hands with Brandon Duhaime eight days later. Alex Ovechkin scored twice and added an assist in four meetings, while Jackson Blake produced the same output in the final two meetings. 

Postseason History- The only other postseason encounter came in 2019. The Capitals were coming off their Stanley Cup victory, and the Hurricanes were back in the postseason for the first time since 2009. The home team won the first six games of the series before Carolina completed the stunning upset in double overtime of Game 7. Justin Williams' aerial pass found Brock McGinn on the doorstep for the series-clinching goal. 

What I'm Watching- Game 1 is never a true indicator of how an entire series will transpire, but these two teams have been off since Tuesday (Carolina) and Wednesday (Washington). They've been waiting to play this game for a while. All of that pent-up aggression will come spilling out on Tuesday night. The question will be which team responds to it best? The Canes played a little more aggressively in the first round than I'm used to, and Washington has some bruisers. The first to adjust accordingly will be in good shape.

Prediction- If I'm picking with my heart, the Hurricanes would be my pick in a heartbeat. I would never pick against them in any situation when strictly considering matters of the heart. However, my brain is a little tougher to convince. Washington having home ice feels like a big deal, even if the Canes have overcome that once before. Having watched the Canes a lot, I can confidently say that this team can beat the Capitals in a best-of-seven series. If the Canes can win the special teams battle and get above-average goaltending from Frederik Andersen, they could beat them. Carolina in 7

Vegas vs. Edmonton

Season Series- The four-game season series was split between the two sides, with each team owning a victory in the other's barn. Adin Hill and Stuart Skinner faced off three times, with Hill prevailing twice. However, since Calvin Pickard is likely the starter for Edmonton, it's worth noting that Pickard defeated Hill in their most recent encounter in early April, a 3-2 Edmonton victory in Vegas. Connor McDavid managed just one assist against Vegas this season, while Ivan Barbashev loved facing the Oilers, scoring two goals and adding three assists. Barbashev scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Edmonton in early December.

Postseason History- The Golden Knights defeated the Oilers during the second round in 2023 as the second stepping stone on their way to the Stanley Cup. Vegas won the series in six games despite ten points from Connor McDavid and six goals from Leon Draisaitl. Jack Eichel led Vegas with nine points, while Adin Hill found his footing, posting a .934 save percentage in five appearances. Their series victory included two wins in three games in Edmonton.

What I'm Watching- After coming in and winning four straight games, is Calvin Pickard the guy for the Oilers now? Stuart Skinner did most of the worst during the regular season, but he was done after losing the first two games. Pickard's four victories were by no means clean wins, though it doesn't matter how you get them this time of year. I'd imagine he'll be on a short leash to start the series. At the first sign of trouble, Skinner could be back in the net against Vegas.

Prediction- We're to the point where we expect Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to be impactful in every game. Vegas' survival depends on how much they can absorb without allowing either to take over the series. While Edmonton's stars are going to be great, Vegas' stars have no choice but to match it. While Vegas is the deeper team in every aspect, especially with Mattias Ekholm out for the series, Edmonton's star power might dwarf that. Both teams ooze experience, so I'm going with the more recent conference champion. Edmonton in 7

Winnipeg vs. Dallas

Season Series- The Jets won three of four against the Dallas Stars this season, winning both games in Winnipeg and splitting in Dallas. Connor Hellebuyck (3-1-0/.965/1.01) and Jake Oettinger (1-3-0/.869/3.73) faced off in all four meetings. The Stars managed just five goals in their four meetings, while Kyle Connor scored four on his own for the Jets, notching a pair of two-goal games in their most recent meetings. A big reason for the Jets' success was their ability to keep Dallas' power play quiet. The Jets were a perfect 11-for-11 against Dallas on the man advantage, while going 2-for-9 on the power play. I'd argue this is a different Stars team, but Winnipeg beat Dallas 4-1 in their most recent meeting a little under a month ago.

Postseason History- This will be the first meeting in the postseason between the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars.

What I'm Watching- There's plenty to watch in this series, but Connor Hellebuyck continues to be the biggest story for the Jets. They're about to face a higher-octane offense than they saw in the first round, and Hellebuyck wasn't particularly good at stopping St. Louis. His postseason woes are becoming the stuff of legend. This Stars team doesn't strike me as the most forgiving group. If he doesn't figure it out, Winnipeg will be in for a tough series.

Prediction- The returns of Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen appear imminent, making an already deeper and dangerous team that much better. While both teams went seven games in the first round, their series couldn't have been more different. Dallas went to war with Colorado. Winnipeg survived St. Louis. Winnipeg held a decisive edge in the regular season and holding home ice will be advantageous for them against the Stars. However, Dallas is the deeper and healthier group, so there's no reason to think they won't carry their momentum from the Colorado series. Dallas in 6

Updated Predictions

Conference Finals

Florida over Carolina in 6

Dallas over Edmonton in 7

Stanley Cup Final

Dallas over Florida in 6