16 storylines for 1st round of Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The 16-team field is set, the matchups and schedules are official, the rinks are ready and the fun is about to begin.The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday with two Game 1s; the New York Islanders visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena (5 p.m. ET; TBS, truTV, MAX, SNE, SNW, SNP, SN360, TVAS, MSGSN, BSSO), and the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (8 p.m. ET; TBS, truTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS).
There are four Game 1s on Sunday.
It starts with an Eastern Conference afternoon doubleheader; the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers play at Amerant Bank Arena (12:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, BSSUN, BSFL), followed by the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden (3 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, MNMT, MSG).
The Western Conference gets underway with the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre (7 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, TVAS) followed by the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, SN360, TVAS).
The remaining two Game 1s are Monday, with the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN360, FX-CA, TVAS) and the Los Angeles Kings against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place (10 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, CBC, TVAS).
The best time of the hockey season is here, and the first round is sure to be frantic.
Redemption round
The first round features three rematches from the playoffs last season, including two that took place in the first round.The Oilers knocked out the Kings in six games and the Hurricanes needed six games to get past the Islanders in the first round.
The Oilers and Kings finished the same this season as they did last season, with Edmonton second in the Pacific Division and Los Angeles third. The main difference is who is behind the bench; Kris Knoblauch for the Oilers and Jim Hiller for the Kings.
Knoblauch was coaching in Hartford of the American Hockey League last season and this season until taking over for Jay Woodcroft on Nov. 12. Hiller was an assistant in L.A. under Todd McLellan last season and this season until he was named the interim coach on Feb. 2.
The Golden Knights defeated the Stars in the Western Conference Final last year, needing six games to get past them and into the Stanley Cup Final, where they won in five against the Panthers.
Golden Knights begin repeat bid, likely without Stone
Mark Stone's availability will be a daily question for the Golden Knights in their first-round series against the Stars.The forward and Vegas' captain, hasn't played since Feb. 20 because of a lacerated spleen. He returned to practice April 12 in a noncontact jersey but there remains no timetable for his return.
With or without Stone, the Golden Knights championship defense begins with a first-round series against a team they eliminated on their path to winning the Stanley Cup last season.
Red-hot riding into the playoffs
The Jets have the NHL's longest active winning streak at eight in a row, which helped them secure second in the Central Division.The Stars won eight of their last 10 regular season games and 17 of their last 21 to lock up first in the Central.
The Islanders went 8-0-1 to close the season and get into the playoffs as the third-place finisher in the Metropolitan Division.
The Panthers, last season's Eastern Conference champion, have won four in a row, good enough to leap the Bruins and finish first in the Atlantic Division.
Do the hot finishes make the Jets, Stars, Islanders and Panthers primed for first-round success?
It doesn't always work that way, but it's worth watching to see if how they finished the regular season will translate to how they start the playoffs.
Leafs looking for different result against Boston
Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs can't hide from their recent history with the Bruins in the playoffs as much as they might want to.They came back from down 3-1 in the first round in 2018; lost in seven.
They had a 3-2 lead after five games in the first round in 2019; lost in seven.
It's grim and it's a story in Toronto because the same core five players from 2019 are still the Maple Leafs' core five now. It's on Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares and Rielly to change the narrative when they play the Bruins this time around.
They did it last year against the Lightning, defeating them in six games one year after losing to them in seven. But the Bruins have been the Maple Leafs biggest playoff nemesis in the past six years, which only adds fuel to this first-round matchup.
Sunshine State rivalry, Part 3
To win the Stanley Cup, the Panthers and Lightning will first have to win their own state.The Lightning did that in 2021. They nearly did it again in 2022.
The NHL's Florida-based teams are meeting in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. They didn't play against each other in the playoffs in the first 26 seasons that both were NHL teams, starting in 1993-94, the Panthers' inaugural season.
Tampa Bay defeated Florida in six games in the first round in 2021, the start of its run at a repeat Stanley Cup championship. The Lightning swept the Panthers in the second round in 2022 before losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Panthers went to the Stanley Cup Final last season, but avoided facing the Lightning, who were eliminated in the first round by Toronto.
For years, the Sunshine State Rivalry was just an idea. It's real now, and we're about to get the third iteration of it.
Laviolette to face former team
Peter Laviolette will do something for the first time in the NHL, no small feat for the Rangers coach who has been coaching in the League every season since 2001-02.Laviolette will face one of his former teams in a playoff series, and it just so happens to be the most recent team he coached, the Capitals.
The Rangers are the fifth Metropolitan Division team that Laviolette has coached after the Islanders (2001-03), Hurricanes (2003-09), Philadelphia Flyers (2009-14) and Capitals (2020-23).
He led the Islanders to the playoffs in both of his seasons with them, but it was his first NHL coaching gig so there were no former teams on his resume to face.
The Hurricanes reached the playoffs in just one of his four full seasons. It was 2006, when they won the Stanley Cup, but they did not play the Islanders in that run.
The Flyers went to the playoffs three times under Laviolette, including going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, but didn't at any point face the Islanders or Hurricanes.
The Capitals reached the playoffs twice, but lost in the first round both times, to the Boston Bruins in 2021 and the Florida Panthers in 2022.
Roy's return to playoffs
Patrick Roy will get his chance to make a mark in the playoffs again, his 19th time competing in the NHL's postseason but first in a decade.Roy replaced Lane Lambert as the Islanders coach on Jan. 20 with the intent of turning their season around and getting them into the playoffs. It wasn't a build for next season move; it was a move to save this season.
The Islanders went 20-12-5 in their last 37 games under Roy after going 19-15-11 under Lambert. They went 8-0-1 to close the regular season, finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and getting the Hurricanes in the first round for a second straight season.
It all means that Roy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion goalie, twice with the Montreal Canadiens (1986, 1993) and twice with the Avalanche (1996, 2001), is back in the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Roy played in the playoffs in 17 of his 18 seasons as an NHL goalie, missing only in 1994-95. He coached the Avalanche to the playoffs in 2013-14, his first season as an NHL coach. They lost in the first round to the Minnesota Wild in seven games.
Panarin's confidence key
Artemi Panarin had a season for the ages, setting personal NHL bests with 49 goals and 120 points, playing in 82 games, getting at least one point in 67 of them, including in each of the last 13 games, to help the Rangers set team records with 55 wins and 114 points, and win the President's Trophy.But that's yesterday's news.
Panarin was excellent last season too, with 92 points (29 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games. He followed it up with a forgettable first-round series against the New Jersey Devils.
He had two assists in Game 1, a 5-1 win, and did not get another point as the Rangers lost four of the last five games to fall in seven.
His performance against the Devils might have been a driving force behind his motivation this season. As good as the Rangers were this season, it was Panarin pushing them every game, and that can't change. He has to produce.
Demko's health key for Canucks
Thatcher Demko is back for the Canucks, and that's huge for the top team in the Pacific Division.Demko returned Tuesday with 39 saves in a 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames, the goalie's first game since sustaining a knee injury March 9, missing 14 straight games. He also made 25 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Jets on Thursday.
Now he has to hold up in the first round against the Predators for the Canucks to have a chance to advance.
Demko should be rested, which is good news for the Canucks. He showed against the Flames that there is no rust on him, another piece of good news. But that was against a non-playoff team, so perspective might be needed.
The Predators, on the other hand, have been the best team in the NHL for two months, going 20-5-3 in 28 games since Feb. 17, good for a League-best .768 points percentage in that time.
Demko and the Canucks will have their hands full.
Goalie carousel in Islanders-Hurricanes series
The goaltending storyline in the Hurricanes-Islanders series will be important because of the potential for at least four goalies to get starts; Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov from the Islanders, and Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov from the Hurricanes.Varlamov may have wrestled the No. 1 job away from Sorokin late in the season with Roy, who coached him in Colorado, leaning on him when the Islanders needed wins to clinch a playoff spot.
He started eight of the Islanders last 13 games, including six of eight from March 28-April 11. He was 7-1-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in his eight starts. Sorokin was 3-1-1 with a 2.39 GAA and .926 save percentage in his five starts.
Andersen and Kochetkov alternated starts for the last six weeks of the regular season when the Hurricanes never started the same goalie two games in a row. Each got 10 starts before Spencer Martin started the regular-season finale Tuesday.
Andersen, who returned March 7 from missing time for a blood clotting issue, may have earned the Game 1 start, going 9-1-0 with a 1.30 GAA, .951 save percentage and three shutouts. Kochetkov was 7-2-1 with a 2.09 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Ovechkin is back
Alex Ovechkin is back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Will this be the last time we see the Washington Capitals star in the postseason?Ovechkin, the Capitals captain, will be participating in his 15th NHL postseason in the past 17 years. He and the Capitals missed in 2014 and 2023. The barely made it this season, finishing with 91 points after being a seller in advance of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
Among active players career stats in the playoffs, Ovechkin is 10th in games played (147), second in goals (72), ninth in assists (69), fourth in points (141), tied for second in power play goals (28), tied for seventh in game-winning goals (10) and first in shots on goal (637).
The Capitals are 71-75 in playoff games with Ovechkin, who is 38 years old. They won the Stanley Cup in 2018.
Swayman, Ullmark or both in Boston
If we're going by the late season indications, Linus Ullmark will be in the Bruins net to start Game 1 against the Maple Leafs on Saturday, but only because his numbers were slightly better than Jeremy Swayman's down the stretch.Ullmark and Swayman alternated starts in Boston's last 26 games of the season. Ullmark started 13, going 6-4-3 with a 2.28 GAA and .919 save percentage. Swayman started 13 and was 8-4-1 with a 2.83 GAA and .902 save percentage.
The Bruins could continue the goalie rotation in the first round against the Maple Leafs too, meaning whoever starts Game 1 becomes the backup for Game 2, regardless of the result.
It is unusual to see that, but it's not without merit for Ullmark and Swayman considering it is something they're used to.
The Bruins rotated Ullmark and Swayman throughout the regular season last year too, but didn't make a goalie change until Game 7 of the first round against the Panthers, when Swayman started for Ullmark. It was too late, and they lost to the Panthers.
That could be the impetus for the Bruins to keep the goalie rotation going early in the series against Toronto.
A divided family
Charlie and Ryan Lindgren are brothers. They're also opponents in the first round series between the Rangers and Capitals, which will create some tense moments for their parents, Bob and Jennifer Lindgren.Charlie Lindgren, 30, is Washington's No. 1 goalie. Ryan Lindgren, 26, is one of the Rangers' top four defensemen.
Ryan has played in 27 playoff games with the Rangers, including 17 in their run to the Eastern Conference Final two years ago.
Charlie will be making his NHL playoff debut in Game 1 on Sunday. Before this season, he had played in only 60 regular season games.
The brothers have agreed not to talk until after the series is over.
Stankoven getting his playoff shot
Logan Stankoven has certainly done a lot since he was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League on Feb. 20.The forward made his debut with the Stars on Feb. 24. He scored his first goal on Feb. 26, his 21st birthday. He had a four-point game on March 5. In 24 games, he had 14 points (six goals, eight assists).
And on Monday, he will make his NHL postseason debut, skating on the third line with Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn against the defending Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights.
Stankoven has a chance to be a difference maker for the Stars in the playoffs two months into his NHL career. He's certainly a player to watch.
Concerns in Colorado
The Avalanche had a feel-good, potentially get-right win Thursday, defeating the Oilers 5-1 at Ball Arena to end the regular season on a high note.But it was against a depleted Oilers lineup that was minus forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane and Zach Hyman, and defensemen Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm. So, as good as it felt to blow out a good team, it wasn't exactly the Oilers putting their best team on the ice to win a game, but that shouldn't matter.
The Avalanche need that feeling to carry over into Game 1 against the Jets or it could be another first-round exit.
The fact is despite the win against Edmonton, Colorado struggled down the stretch, particularly in keeping the puck out of its net. Its 7-0 loss to the Jets on April 13 was alarming, especially since that's who the Avalanche are playing in the first round.
They also lost 4-3 in overtime against the Golden Knights on April 14, 7-4 to the Stars on April 7, 6-2 to the Oilers on April 5 and 4-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 1.
Alexandar Georgiev allowed 26 goals in his last six starts, going 1-3-1 with a 5.69 GAA and .840 save percentage.
Worse yet, Winnipeg has gone 3-0-0 against Colorado this season, with wins of 7-0, 6-2 and 4-2.
Most notably, the Jets have done an admirable job limiting Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, holding him to four points (one goal, three assists) in three games. They blanked him and the Avalanche in the 7-0 win on April 13. The other two games were in December.
In fact, Winnipeg had the best 5-on-5 defense in the Western Conference with 121 goals against. The Panthers were No. 1 in the NHL with 120 against. The Jets and Panthers tied for first with 198 total goals against. Winnipeg went 3-0-0 with four goals against versus Colorado.
Playoff experience could serve Predators well
The Predators, the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference, are deservingly the underdogs against the Pacific Division-winning Canucks even though they had the best points percentage in the NHL (.768) from Feb. 17 through the end of the regular season.But the Predators have an advantage on the Canucks that could play a role in this first-round series.
Nashville's roster totals 19 players who have played in a combined 818 playoff games whereas Vancouver's totals are 19 players and 482 games.
The Predators have a combined five Stanley Cup championship rings in their dressing room with Ryan McDonagh (two), Luke Schenn (two) and Ryan O'Reilly, who also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
The Canucks have three, two for Ian Cole and one for Teddy Blueger.
Nashville's Roman Josi, Juuse Saros, Filip Forsberg and Colton Sissons played in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, when the Predators lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
Cole is the only Vancouver player who has appeared in a Cup Final. Blueger did not play in the Final with Vegas last season.
Saros, Nashville's goalie, has appeared in 17 playoff games. Demko, the Canucks goalie, has appeared in four.
ATLANTIC DIVISION
A1. Florida Panthers
Record: 52-24-6, 110 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Florida was an eleventh hour addition to the postseason field last year and wound up going all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. This year's Panthers have been anything but underdogs, and their chances of returning to the Final are better than ever. Florida ran it back this season with nearly the same roster intact -- including 15 skaters from that Cup Final lineup -- and have since added more experience with Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola among others.
Florida's real strength, though, comes through its star performers, and those top-tier skaters can do serious damage. Sam Reinhart had a career year, picking up 52 goals and 92 points, Aleksander Barkov remains an outstanding two-way center; Matthew Tkachuk found his feisty form again; and a rejuvenated Sergei Bobrovsky is Florida's game-changer in the crease. Confidence? The Panthers should be full of it.
Biggest flaws: Florida has top-end scoring talent. But will it make the team too top-heavy? After Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe (with 33 goals) and Tkachuk (with 26), there's a drop-off around who's putting pucks in the net. The Panthers don't have a standout offensive defenseman (Gustav Forsling leads the way there with 10 goals and 38 points) and could be exposed in the playoffs if their elite skaters are neutralized and there's no one behind them to answer the scoring bell.
The Panthers were middle-of-the-pack this season offensively (averaging 3.21 goals per game, 14th overall) and there's a scoring premium in the playoffs for every club regardless of regular-season success.
Player to watch: Aleksander Barkov. There are few players in the league with Barkov's unique skill set. He can win key face-offs, break up passes and execute in seemingly small areas that can make or break a team's outcome. This is when Barkov should be his most powerful.
Bold prediction: Florida barely survives a first-round series that goes the distance, and fatigue weighs heavily as the Panthers are ousted from the second round in five games.
A2. Boston Bruins
Record: 47-20-15, 109 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: The Bruins showed again this season they're a resilient bunch, grappling with the loss of key players (i.e. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci), transitioning to a new leadership group (led by newly anointed captain Brad Marchand) and, despite being among the NHL's older teams, still staying on pace with the younger crowd. The Bruins boast a deep lineup on both sides of the puck that goes well beyond their stars -- like Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. Coach Jim Montgomery will have an enviable amount of options to choose from when formulating Boston's attack.
Boston also secured home ice advantage to start the postseason, and the local help alone can be an advantage. The Bruins didn't tap into it last season -- losing in the first round to Florida -- but should have learned plenty from their prior disappointment. The Bruins are aware their contending window could snap shut at any time. They squandered a Presidents' Trophy winning season a year ago by falling flat in the playoffs. That's motivation enough to fuel Boston's next chapter.
Biggest flaws: The Bruins have had issues closing out games. Boston is tied for the league lead in overtime or shootout losses (with eight) when leading after two periods. It's a damning statistic, and Montgomery has talked throughout the season about Boston finding ways to "push through" even when tired at the end of a game. That's especially important in the playoffs when overtime can extend for hours.
Speaking of emotion, will the Bruins carry any demons from their past failure into this postseason? Boston has repeatedly handled questions about its first-round flop last spring. It's on the veterans who went through that to ensure there's no lingering effects impacting how Boston goes about their business from here on out.
Player to watch: David Pastrnak. Boston's stars must be stars. And there is no one who can rise to the occasion for the Bruins quite like Pastrnak. Whether it's scoring a critical goal, elevating his linemates or creating a matchup nightmare, Pastrnak is Boston's jack-of-all-trades who will lead the charge through a tough first-round slog -- and possibly well beyond it.
Bold prediction: Boston gets outworked (again) in the first round and can't match the intensity of a hungrier opponent. The Bruins fall in six games and head into another long offseason to think about making major changes.
A3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 46-26-10, 102 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Toronto took its time finding a sweet spot, where all the elements from consistent scoring, to stable goaltending, to solid defense came together and steered the Leafs closer to their full potential. That it happened late in the year, right before the playoffs? Well, that just might be Toronto's secret sauce.
Unlike seasons past, where the Leafs could coast at times on the goal scoring prowess of Auston Matthews or the playmaking magic of Mitch Marner, Toronto has successfully weathered adversity to emerge as perhaps the strongest collective version of themselves. Sure, GM Brad Treliving actively added some sandpaper to the lineup with Ryan Reaves and a big-bodied defenseman in Joel Edmundson, but it's the overall grit Toronto has earned throughout the year that should help in the postseason.
Another Leafs' edge? Their first line -- helmed by Hart Trophy contender Matthews -- has finally found its rhythm. After months of tinkering, Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi have combined with Matthews to make their unit elite. That's given coach Sheldon Keefe the opportunity to spread out some of the other top skaters -- like Marner and William Nylander -- so Toronto isn't as vulnerable to the ebbs and flows of its star performers. Nicholas Robertson has been improving up front lately, and so has Matthew Knies. The Leafs were felled by a lack of postseason scoring in the past, and if they've got that covered now, it could carry them well beyond one round.
Biggest flaws: Toronto has question marks on defense -- including who, exactly, will actually be in the six-man rotation come playoffs. TJ Brodie, once a top-pairing staple, has slipped down the depth chart, and Keefe's been regularly re-working his backend to see what sticks. Toronto has averaged 3.13 goals-against this season and nearly 30 shots-against while struggling to defend off the rush. In a tight-checking postseason contest when desperation is at its peak, Toronto's defense could be exposed if it can't find the right mix of players to handle the job ahead.
Player to watch: Ilya Samsonov. Toronto's starter has been through the ringer and came out the other side playing some of his best hockey. The Leafs can only hope Samsonov stays on that path when the playoffs begin. He projects to be their starter in the first round, with rookie Joseph Woll looking over his shoulder, ready to take over.
Bold prediction: Toronto escapes the first round and then explodes with a second-round sweep. The Leafs reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1967 and finally win it all in a dramatic Game 7 victory.
WC1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 45-29-8, 98 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Tampa Bay has an unparalleled playoff pedigree, and that's why the Lightning can never be counted out of contending for a Stanley Cup. Yes, the Lightning faltered in the first-round last year, but that's still the exception to their rule. Before that, it was three straight trips to a Cup Final, with two victories. Tampa Bay can turn it on when it's time to go.
The Lightning have also woven in some fresh bodies (namely Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba) and remained fairly healthy, so strong chemistry could build up over time. The results since early March speak for themselves -- Tampa Bay is averaging four goals per game (best in the league), is top-10 in goals against, top-five on the power play and their goaltending under Andrei Vasilevskiy is elite once more (.910 SV%, 2.61 GAA). Oh, and Nikita Kucherov? He leads the league in points with 144 and will be a momentum-shifting, series-defining threat.
Biggest flaws: Tampa Bay was dealt a tough blow when top-pairing defenseman Mikhail Sergachev suffered a broken leg in February. He won't return unless the Lightning go deep into the playoffs. Sergachev's absence has left the blue line exposed.
Victor Hedman is carrying their group, but it now includes more up-and-comers (like Nick Perbix and Emil Lilleberg) than the established skaters who have helped the team win in the past. Dumba's been a fine third-pairing guy, but it'll take more than just okay for the Lightning to not be drowned by defensive problems.
Player to watch: Brayden Point. While it's Kucherov gathering the points (and accolades) this season, Point has quietly had a phenomenal season of his own with 46 goals and 90 points. Having Point healthy and rolling like he is now is a major flex for the Lightning and adds to their depth scoring capabilities.
Bold prediction: Kucherov is held off the scoresheet through Tampa Bay's first two games, and the Lightning get knocked out in the first round a second consecutive time.
METRO DIVISION
M1. New York Rangers
Record: 55-23-4, 114 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: New York knows how it feels to fall short. It happened two years ago in the Eastern Conference finals. It happened again last season in the first round. Those disappointments led to a coaching change and roster turnover and to a battle-tested New York that became this season's Presidents' Trophy winners.
How did the Rangers get there? By becoming one of the league's elite offensive squads. Artemi Panarin -- who tallied just two assists in that first-round loss against New Jersey last spring -- exploded with a 120-point regular season, Chris Kreider popped in 39 goals and Adam Fox is a point-per-game skater on the backend. New York's depth is stronger, too, particularly since adding Alex Wennberg at the deadline to fill their third-line center role. Rookie Matt Rempe gives the Rangers some needed size and toughness. All that, along with an excellent goaltending tandem in Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, gives New York a superb opportunity to reach a Stanley Cup Final.
Biggest flaws: The Rangers have had their issues structurally and defensively this season. There were stretches around the midseason where New York was bafflingly poor in its own end, prone to turnovers and generally playing a dangerous game of hot potato with the puck. The Rangers are at their best playing a collective team defense. When that's lacking, things can go south quickly. Shesterkin and Quick are good, but they can't be left hung out to dry, either.
Being the Presidents' Trophy winner has not, historically, led to strong results in the playoffs. The Rangers have their own demons (as mentioned above) from lackluster showings on the game's biggest stage. How the Rangers push past those potential barriers will help determine their playoff success.
Player to watch: Artemi Panarin. It's time for Panarin to close the book on last season's awful playoff performance by writing a fresh new chapter -- this one centered on his ability to dominate opponents. That's how New York will stretch this postseason out for weeks to come.
Bold prediction: New York's stars turn up in the first round, but their depth fails to match, and a hungrier Washington team ousts the Presidents' Trophy winners in a dramatic Game 7 finale.
M2. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 52-23-7, 111 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Carolina has waited in the wings long enough. The Hurricanes are perennial contenders and then don't quite live up to playoff expectations, like in last season's Eastern Conference finals sweep against Florida. Well, consider this Carolina's time to shine. The Hurricanes are built to go all the way in every phase. Jake Guentzel has been a great addition to the lineup post-deadline, Sebastian Aho is a bonafide star averaging well over a point-per-game, Seth Jarvis has come to life with a 33-goal effort and Andrei Svechnikov made up for lost time with 52 points in 59 games. There's a strong blueline led by Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns to go along with complementary defensive performances throughout the Hurricanes' lineup.
Carolina is also dynamic on special teams, owning the second-ranked power play (26.9%) and top penalty kill (86.4%) in the regular season. That combination alone is a terrifying edge in their favor. The Hurricanes goaltending has been a source of strength, too. Frederik Andersen returned from his blood clotting issue in fine form (13-2-0, .932 SV%, 1.84 GAA) and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov has provided terrific showings in the crease.
Biggest flaws: The Hurricanes have to be careful with Andersen. While the veteran has been strong following his recovery, there's no denying Andersen's history of injuries. If Carolina expects to go far, it will need a solid tandem in place to lean on, and Andersen should be part of it. But if Andersen were to miss games, would Kochetkov survive carrying the load on a long postseason run? The Hurricanes' options to help Kochetkov in that regard are fairly limited. Depth, in all facets, can be the difference between winning and losing a tight series. Carolina must hope it doesn't face a goaltending dilemma anytime soon.
Player to watch: Jake Guentzel. The former Pittsburgh Penguin wasted no time proving his worth on a new roster with eight goals and 25 points in 17 games. If that was the start of Guentzel's production in Carolina, then consider the Eastern Conference playoff field on notice that an actual offensive hurricane is headed their way.
Bold prediction: Carolina charts an unstoppable course straight on to the Eastern Conference finals, but once again, the Hurricanes lose steam, and can't make the Cup Final.
M3. New York Islanders
Record: 39-27-16, 94 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: New York found its rhythm from late March into April, and that secured them a playoff spot and powers their postseason hopes. The Islanders have a white-hot goaltender in Semyon Varlamov (who is 8-1-1 in starts since March 10) leading the way. What the Islanders lacked in identity earlier this year has finally come together under new coach Patrick Roy. There's a stability to New York's structure that's revealed itself further with each passing game. The Islanders often favor physicality, and now they're more opportunistic offensively to add dimension where it wasn't before. New York should be confident heading into the postseason.
Biggest flaws: The Islanders have long faced criticism for their low scoring output, and this season -- as a whole -- has been no exception. New York ranked 23rd in offense through the regular season, averaging fewer than three goals per game. The Islanders' attack is top-heavy when it does ignite, with only five skaters surpassing the 20-goal mark and only one (Mathew Barzal) working at a point-per-game pace. New York has to work hard for the offense it does get, and that can weigh a team down in a playoff series.
New York is also vulnerable on special teams. The Islanders cobbled together a league-worst penalty kill (72.2%), and their power play ranked 21st overall (19.7%). That puts serious pressure on the Islanders to stay disciplined and not let opponents use their mediocre special teams against them.
Player to watch: Bo Horvat. The Islanders' forward had a solid regular season with 33 goals and 68 points. But this time of year is why New York traded for Horvat in the first place. He must produce a high-caliber effort nightly in the postseason for the Islanders to go far.
Bold prediction: New York tries to ride Varlamov's hot hand, but the goalie stumbles early and is replaced by Ilya Sorokin. He nearly guides the Islanders to a first-round victory but they fall in Game 7.
WC2. Washington Capitals
Record: 40-31-11, 91 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: The Capitals' never gave up. That attitude earned them a return bid to the playoffs in mind-blowing fashion. Washington somehow has both the worst goal differential (minus-37) of any postseason team in history and the chance to prove it means nothing when they open another first-round series. Washington has received contributions from everywhere and everyone this season, from established veterans (like Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson) to rising stars (including Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre). They're in capable hands between the pipes, too, with Charlie Lindgren emerging as a stable starting option who can swing a game in Washington's favor.
The Capitals' overall buy-in under first-year coach Spencer Carbery (who's done a masterful job righting the ship for Washington through several rocky stretches this season) is also what makes them dangerous. Yes, every team wants to be successful in the playoffs, but Washington is already driven by their underdog status. If the Capitals keep that mentality at the forefront, they could take the playoff field by storm.
Biggest flaws: Washington will have to turn up the heat offensively. The Capitals ranked 28th in total offense (with 2.63 goals per game), 29th in five-on-five goals (143), and Dylan Strome paced the team with just 67 points on the season. Where will Washington get consistent scoring from in a playoff series? Even if they manage that, can the Capitals keep the puck out of their own net, too? Lindgren has been terrific for much of the year, but Washington allows over 30 shots on net per game. How will that affect the Capitals when some of their key contributors have little to no postseason experience? It's a recipe for preventable mistakes and those can quickly become series-defining problems.
Player to watch: Alex Ovechkin. Like there's anyone else you'd be watching anyway. Ovechkin is in the late stages of a Hall of Fame career, and this opportunity to be in the playoffs looked like a long shot even last month. He won't take this chance for granted, and that should fuel not only a stellar showing from him, but provide motivation to every player in Washington's dressing room.
Bold prediction: Washington gives a rousing first-round effort to unseat the Presidents' Trophy winners and advance to an unexpected second-round showing that ends with a Game 6 defeat.
CENTRAL DIVISION
C1. Dallas Stars
Record: 52-21-9, 113 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Practically every team that wins a Stanley Cup encounters some sort of crucible before eventually capturing a championship. The Stars have done just that. Back in 2020, they reached the Stanley Cup Final. In 2022, they struggled to score in a first-round loss. The 2023 postseason saw them get within two games of the Stanley Cup Final, which is part of what makes them one of the NHL's most legitimate Cup challengers.
Depth is everything in the postseason, and the Stars have it. They have eight players who scored more than 20 goals this season, and 13 players who finished with more than 20 points. But it's not just the ability to score. Trading for Chris Tanev at the deadline gave the Stars that right-handed partner they'd sought for Miro Heiskanen, giving them a pairing capable of shutting down an opponent's top two lines.
Biggest flaws: Strange as it sounds, there are questions about Jake Oettinger. Even though he has a third straight season of more than 30 wins, Oettinger's consistency has been a topic of conversation. His 2.72 goals-against average and .905 save percentage are outliers, given he has a career 2.52 GAA and .912 save percentage.
That said, he had a 1.66 GAA and a .940 save percentage in April. If that's the version of Oettinger the Stars can get in the playoffs, it could ultimately see them take the next step and advance to their second Stanley Cup Final in four seasons.
And of course, matching up against the Golden Knights in Round 1 brings questions too; namely can they take the lessons learned from last year to win this time around?
Player to watch: Wyatt Johnston. Several executives around the NHL stress the importance of being able to build through the draft. Johnston is the latest example from the Stars' assembly line that shows why they place such a premium on draft picks. He's gone from being a rookie who was a significant contributor, to a second-year player who led them with 32 goals -- and he doesn't turn 21 until May.
Bold prediction: Thomas Harley will be the breakout star of a playoff run that will at least reach the second round. Harley finished the regular season with 15 goals and 47 points, and will give the Stars another standout on both ends.
C2. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 51-24-6, 108 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Losing in the first round to the Golden Knights last year exposed a number of the Jets' issues. Namely, they needed to add as much scoring help as possible, and that's what they've done over the last 12 months. The Pierre-Luc Dubois trade allowed them to land Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi, who have been part of the Jets' balanced scoring attack.
Altogether, the Jets had 13 players who scored more than 10 goals this season. They've received the contributions from established figures such as Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, while seeing new faces like Iafallo, Vilardi and Sean Monahan add to those totals. Combine that with what they have in goal in Connor Hellebuyck, and it makes the Jets a team that could pose problems if they can get out of the first round.
Biggest flaws: Can they parlay their regular-season success into the sort of results that gets them beyond the first round? It's an even more relevant question heading into Round 1, given what they've done against the Avs in the regular season (winning all three games). But it's a question the Jets have been trying to answer for the last few years. Back in 2017-18, they lost in the Western Conference finals to the Golden Knights, creating the belief that the Jets could become one of the West's long-term contenders.
Since then, they've only made it out of the first round once. What's separated them from teams such as the Avalanche, Golden Knights and Stars, among others, is they haven't been able to go on those extended runs that show they are ready to challenge for a Stanley Cup. Is this the season the Jets take off?
Player to watch: Connor Hellebuyck. He has had one of the strongest individual campaigns of his career, and stands to capture what would be his second Vezina Trophy. Last year's playoffs were a challenge, as Hellebuyck finished with a 3.44 GAA and a .886 save percentage. Still, Hellebuyck's previous postseason experience has shown he can make a difference for a team that's seeking to take the next step in their playoff evolution.
Bold prediction: Gabriel Vilardi will lead the Jets in scoring through at least one round of the playoffs. In a full, 82-game season, Vilardi was on pace for a team-high 37 goals, while his projected 62 points would have been second. Going to the Jets has allowed him to further tap into his promise, and it could once again benefit the Jets in the postseason.
C3. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 49-25-7, 105 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Having Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar allows the Avalanche to be top Cup contenders on an annual basis. But having those three is not enough, which is what the Avs learned last year when the then-defending champions were ousted in the first round.
Avs general manager Chris MacFarland and his front office staff have used the time since to strengthen their depth. This is a team that isn't reliant on its stars, and can receive contributions from everyone on a nightly basis. That's what allowed the Avs to win the title back in 2022, and it's what has them in contention for a second championship in the last three years.
Biggest flaws: Could it be the fact they're opening the playoffs against the Jets? The Jets' 7-0 victory on April 13 raised questions about what could happen once the playoffs started. Losing by a rather large margin wasn't the only talking point after the game. There was also a discussion about how the Jets were 3-0 against the Avalanche in the regular season -- and had outscored them 17-4 in those contests.
It's possible that what happened in the regular season could have little bearing once their first-round series starts. The Golden Knights won only one of their eight combined games against the Oilers and Stars in the 2022-23 regular season, only to then beat those two teams en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Could it be a similar situation for the Avs, or can the Jets parlay their regular-season success into winning the series?
Player to watch: Gabriel Landeskog. The biggest question regarding the team has been: Can the captain return this postseason? Landeskog has missed the last two seasons recovering from a persistent knee injury which saw him undergo cartilage transplant surgery last May. Avs coach Jared Bednar said on April 16 that Landeskog is "not close" to participating in practices, while noting previously that the Avs captain could return at some point in the playoffs.
Bold prediction: Casey Mittelstadt averages a point per game in the first round. After coming over in trade from Buffalo, Mittelstadt filled the second-line center gap Colorado had been trying to fill since the departure of Nazem Kadri. His arrival now gives the Avs another player who could make a massive impact in what will be the first playoff series of his career.
WC2. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 45-28-8, 98 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Much of the system that allowed the Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup last season is back. They have the reigning Conn Smythe winner in Jonathan Marchessault. They have players who have excelled in top line and/or top pairing roles such as Jack Eichel and Alex Pietrangelo. They have Adin Hill, the goaltender who played a significant role. They also have the unsung heroes such as Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud, who were among the most used defensive pairings in the playoffs last season.
And then they supplemented all that by having one of the most advantageous trade deadlines in recent memory. They added a top-nine winger in Anthony Mantha, a top-pairing defenseman in Noah Hanifin and then made the shocking trade to get another top-six forward in Tomas Hertl, creating a team that looks like it can certainly defend its title.
Biggest flaws: Could the additions of Hanifin, Hertl and Mantha be too many new moving pieces at once? One thing that has allowed the Golden Knights to go from being an expansion team to a full-on juggernaut is their ability to have players seamlessly fit into their system as if they've been there the whole time. That's how it's worked with Ivan Barbashev, Mark Stone, Chandler Stephenson, Eichel, Pietrangelo and Hill.
It's uncertain if Hanifin, Hertl and Mantha can follow suit. Hanifin had 12 points through his first 18 games, while Mantha had 10 points in his first 18 games. Once Hertl was cleared to play following his recovery efforts from knee surgery, he had three points in his first four games which included the game-winning goal against the Avs on April 14. So far, so good.
Player to watch: Noah Hanifin. Yes, the idea of Stone coming back from injury to appear in the playoffs makes him a strong candidate to be the answer here. But we know what Stone can do in the postseason. Seeing what Hanifin can do in the playoffs could be rather important, considering the Golden Knights just signed him to an eight-year extension. He has eight points while averaging 21:03 of ice time per game in 27 career playoff contests, numbers should both rise this spring.
Bold prediction: Hertl will lead the Golden Knights in points throughout the entirety of their playoff run. Even if there are questions about how all the new pieces fit, Hertl finds a way to answer them by being the Golden Knights' most prolific performer.
PACIFIC DIVISION
P1. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 50-22-9, 109 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Few teams have been as consistent as the Canucks in a season that has watched them go from a surprise team to one that could win the Cup. Other than a four-game losing streak in February, the Canucks have looked the part of a serious championship challenger that relied upon its entire roster to reach this stage.
While J.T. Miller has 100 points and Quinn Hughes appears to be the Norris Trophy favorite, there is so much more to the Canucks. Brock Boeser's 40-goal campaign led the way for the Canucks to have 10 players who finished the season with more than 10 tallies. They also have 14 players who finished the year with more than 20 points.
Biggest flaws: Can they make it work in the playoffs? Rarely does a team go from missing the playoffs in seven of its last eight seasons to winning a Stanley Cup. But that's the narrative the Canucks are seeking to rewrite as they've made it beyond the second round only once since the 2010-11 season that saw them reach the Stanley Cup Final.
They're also trying to do this in a crowded Western Conference landscape that has seen quite a few teams encounter years of frustration before finally claiming the game's ultimate prize. Although the argument could be had that maybe all those years of missing the playoffs is the struggle that has set the stage for the Canucks this postseason.
Player to watch: Thatcher Demko. Before he sustained a knee injury on March 9, Demko was performing like one of the NHL's best goaltenders. He led the league with 34 wins while posting a 2.47 GAA and a .917 save percentage at the time of his injury. Demko returned to the lineup on April 16 and finished with 39 saves and a .975 save percentage in a win against the Calgary Flames.
Bold prediction: Elias Lindholm will reach double figures in points during the playoffs. While his time with the Canucks has had its challenges, Lindholm will play a major role in the Canucks' bid to get beyond the first round.
P2. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 49-26-6, 104 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Since Kris Knoblauch was hired to replace Jay Woodcroft in November, the Oilers have seemingly found answers to many of the questions facing them following their slow start. At times, they've looked like the most dangerous team in the league, evidenced by the fact they're third in goals scored per game and have given up the fifth fewest goals per game since Knoblauch was hired.
Could this be their year? It was just two years ago when they were in the Western Conference finals, before losing to the eventual champion Avalanche. Last year, they reached the second round where they were knocked out by the eventual champion Golden Knights. Could the lessons from the past few years lead the Oilers to future glory?
Biggest flaws: Do the Oilers have the supporting cast that can help them win a championship? That remained a question throughout that second-round series against the Golden Knights. One of the avenues that allowed the Golden Knights to beat the Oilers, and the rest of their playoff opponents, was that they could rely on their depth to win games.
This has been a challenge for the Oilers. Outside of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, the only Oilers to score goals in those losses to the Golden Knights were Zach Hyman and Warren Foegele. Receiving consistent secondary scoring, along with the ability to parlay the success they've created with their defensive structure under a new coaching staff, could prove crucial to the Oilers' title aspirations.
Player to watch: Stuart Skinner. Among the questions the Oilers faced last postseason: Can Skinner be the goalie who leads them to a championship? His maiden playoff voyage was rocky. There were postseason games in which he had a save percentage exceeding .960, and there were also games in which he was pulled in favor of Jack Campbell. He looked solid this regular season, but until he proves his mettle in the postseason, those questions will linger.
Bold prediction: Adam Henrique finishes among the top five Oilers in playoff points. Again, secondary scoring will be crucial, and this is also a big opportunity for Henrique to make his mark after playing for non-playoff teams for most of the past decade.
P3. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 43-27-11, 97 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: Returning to the playoffs for a third straight season was due in part to the depth of the Kings' roster. They have four players who had more than 20 goals in the regular season, nine players who reached double figures in goals and also had 11 players finish with more than 20 points. Four of those 11 players were defensemen.
Like a number of teams, they also made a coaching change this season, replacing Todd McLellan with interim coach Jim Hiller. His arrival has led to the Kings becoming one of the stronger defensive teams in the NHL. Since he took over on Feb. 2, the Kings have allowed the third fewest goals per game, the fifth fewest shots per game and have a top-six penalty kill.
Biggest flaws: Do they have enough to win a first-round series -- particularly against a team that's beaten them two years in a row? All the moves the front office has made over the last few years has made the Kings one of the more intriguing teams in the NHL, but getting beyond the first round has been the biggest challenge facing a franchise that's trying to cement itself as one of the West's elite teams.
Beating a conference power like the Oilers would emphatically answer those questions. But if they don't, Kings general manager Rob Blake and his front office staff will be asking quite a few questions about what potential changes need to be made.
Player to watch: Pierre-Luc Dubois. Landing Dubois in a megatrade with the Jets -- and then signing him to a long-term contract -- was one of those moves that signaled the Kings intent when it came to their aspirations. So far, Dubois' first season in L.A. hasn't gone as planned, given the 40 points he had through 80 games are the fewest he's had in a season in which he's played at least 70. Dubois is averaging 0.68 points per game in 38 career postseason contests, and could use these playoffs to reframe his first season in Southern California.
Bold prediction: Dubois will lead the Kings in points during the playoffs. It'll allow them to force a Game 7 against the Oilers in a series that will see the Kings make another first-round exit.
WC1. Nashville Predators
Record: 47-30-5, 99 pointsCase for a Stanley Cup run: There are two arguments that could explain why the Predators will go on a long run. The first is that the gulf between higher-seeded and lower-seeded teams isn't that wide anymore. Or at least that was the case last season when the Panthers upset the Bruins while the Seattle Kraken knocked out the Avs.
The second is that the Predators have been one of the NHL's most consistent teams since Feb. 17 -- the day their 18-game points streak started. Only the Hurricanes have won more games than the Preds since then. They're fourth in goals per game while allowing the fourth least goals per game in that time. Finding that sort of cohesion, while having experienced Cup winners on the team such as Ryan McDonagh, Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn, makes the Preds one of the more intriguing teams to watch.
Biggest flaws: Could a general lack of playoff experience be a problem? One thing that has allowed the Preds to change their fortunes this season is the contributions made by players such as Luke Evangelista, Michael McCarron, Tommy Novak, Kiefer Sherwood and Cole Smith, among others. It's a group that also doesn't have much -- and in some cases, any -- playoff experience.
McCarron and Sherwood have combined to play in five games. Evangelista is a rookie, whereas Novak and Smith haven't played in the postseason before. Seeing how that particular group can handle the demands of the playoffs could play a rather sizable role in whether or not the Preds can get beyond the first round for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Player to watch: Juuse Saros. He's one of the few goaltenders in the NHL who has started more than 60 games in each of the last three seasons. Even though the Preds haven't made it out the first round in a few years, Saros was strong in his most recent postseason back in 2021-22 when he finished with a .921 save percentage. And with one year left on his contract and the emergence of Yaroslav Askarov, there's added pressure to perform.
Bold prediction: The Predators will push the Canucks to seven games. Last year's postseason showed that lower-seeded teams can not only challenge the higher seeds, but beat them in the first round. It's possible that the Predators could either be the next lower seed to advance to the second round or know they exited the first round on the brink of a major upset.
What's the Presidents' Trophy curse?
There have been 37 previous Presidents' Trophy winners for having the league's best record. Only 11 of them advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, and only eight of those teams hoisted the Cup.Only three teams in the salary cap era (since 2005-06) have won the Presidents' Trophy and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
It's only gotten tougher in recent years. Since the NHL changed to a wild-card format in 2013-14, there hasn't been a single Presidents' Trophy winner that has advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Boston Bruins won the Trophy last season -- and set records for regular-season success -- but were shocked in the first round by the Panthers.
The Oilers didn't even win their division, finishing behind the Vancouver Canucks. How legit are the 'Nucks as a contender?
If they can reclaim their offensive consistency, they can be dangerous. Coach Rick Tocchet is in the coach of the year conversation because he helped turned the Canucks' defensive metrics around this season. Through their past 20 games, they're second in 5-on-5 defense, maintaining the effectiveness they had all season. But their 5-on-5 offense ranked 22nd during that span.The Canucks have been as top-heavy as a Tootsie Pop this season. After leading scorers J.T. Miller (103 points), Quinn Hughes (91), Elias Pettersson (89) and Brock Boeser (73), there's a 25-point drop to the next-leading scorer, Filip Hronek.
That depth challenge might hurt them more against other opponents than against the Predators, but Nashville is no pushover. They're talented and play with pace under coach Andrew Brunette. Plus, they're one of the NHL's greatest psychological experiments this season: Can depriving a team from seeing a U2 concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas not only lead to regular-season success but also postseason results?
Dave Portnoy ticket
