With the first 13 games of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs complete, giving each team a chance to reveal their postseason form, it`s time to look at the early impressions. Which teams and players have stood out? Who needs to step up? And how will these initial observations shape the rest of Round 1 and potentially the entire playoff run?
Avs-Stars Series: Proving the Importance of Depth Contributions
In the highly anticipated series between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, currently tied 1-1, the early games have underscored the vital role of depth players. Despite modest salaries—one earns just over $1 million, another $775,000—players like Logan O`Connor and Colin Blackwell have been pivotal. O`Connor is already near the playoff scoring lead, while Blackwell`s crucial goal prevented the Avs from taking a 2-0 lead. While star players such as Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Jake Oettinger, and Mikko Rantanen are undoubtedly central, success hinges on contributions from the supporting cast.
The Avalanche`s fourth line (O`Connor, Jack Drury, Parker Kelly) has significantly contributed with two goals and seven points. Similarly, the Stars` fourth line (Blackwell, Oskar Back, Sam Steel) has provided four points, including key goals in Game 2, demonstrating that bottom-six production is essential for both teams.
Can the Maple Leafs` Core Four Finally Dominate?
The Toronto Maple Leafs` `Core Four`—Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and John Tavares—appear to be answering critics regarding their past playoff performances. In Game 1 against Ottawa, Marner led with three points, while the others each added two. Game 2 saw Tavares contribute a goal and an assist, with the rest chipping in assists. Marner`s strong start is particularly significant, given his history of postseason difficulties and being in a contract year.
If these star forwards can consistently produce at this level when it matters most, the Maple Leafs might finally reach their long-anticipated playoff potential. Ultimately, Toronto`s fate seems tied to the performance of its top offensive players, regardless of improvements in goaltending or defense.
Alex Ovechkin Proving He Still Has It
Alex Ovechkin continues to generate palpable excitement whenever he finds the back of the net, especially on home ice. As teammate Tom Wilson noted, “Everyone [on our bench] kind of jumps through the roof whenever he finds the back of the net…” We saw this in Game 1 against Montreal, where his power-play goal opened the scoring to a roaring crowd, and again when he incredibly scored his first career playoff overtime goal to end the game.
Ovechkin is the clear pacesetter for the Capitals, influencing the game from the scoreboard to the locker room vibes. Given his performance this season, particularly rising to crucial moments like shutting down Montreal`s upset bid after they tied Game 1 late, his impact has been immense. His season, while celebrated for the pursuit of Gretzky`s record, might be an overlooked MVP performance in the Hart Trophy conversation. Facing potential ghosts of past playoff failures, Ovechkin stepped up and closed the door.
Is This Mark Scheifele`s Best Playoff Performance?
The Winnipeg Jets have frequently faced scrutiny regarding their playoff track record, having advanced past the first round only twice since 2011. Their current 2-0 series lead against the St. Louis Blues marks the first time they`ve held such an advantage since 2021, the year of their last series victory. This raises a new question: How dominant can Mark Scheifele be this postseason?
Known for consistency as a responsible two-way center with a decade of 20+ goal and 60+ point seasons, Scheifele had a career-best 87 points this year. Through the first two games against the Blues, he has played a hand in five of the Jets` seven goals and leads forwards in 5-on-5 ice time. Crucially, the Blues have failed to score at 5-on-5 when Scheifele is on the ice and have generated minimal high-danger chances against him. His early production is remarkable, nearly matching his output from five playoff games last year and almost equaling his total from the past two postseasons combined.
The Tkachuk Brothers Make Playoff History
Tuesday night marked a historic moment in the NHL: for the first time, brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk competed in Stanley Cup playoff games on the same night and both found the back of the net. Matthew, a playoff seasoned veteran with the Panthers, returned from a February injury and immediately made his presence felt against the Lightning. After an early penalty, he exploded with two power-play goals and an assist, showcasing his “incredible set of hands,” according to coach Paul Maurice, who noted Matthew still has room to improve his game rhythm, a scary thought for Tampa Bay.
Brady, making his long-awaited playoff debut after seven seasons with the Senators, scored his first career playoff goal with a deflected pass against Toronto. Although Ottawa lost Game 2 in overtime, Brady expressed confidence in the team. The potential for a second-round matchup between the brothers exists if the Panthers advance and the Senators pull off an upset against the Maple Leafs, adding extra motivation for both.
Carolina Hurricanes` New Additions Making an Impact
Although the Hurricanes traded forward Mikko Rantanen, the players acquired by GM Erik Tulsky have quickly integrated and are making their presence felt. Logan Stankoven, a key return in the Rantanen trade, immediately impressed with two goals in Game 1 against New Jersey. His relentless, forechecking style and playmaking ability perfectly fit the Hurricanes system, developing natural chemistry with Jordan Staal.
Stankoven is providing crucial depth scoring, addressing a past weakness for the team in the playoffs. Midseason acquisition Taylor Hall has also shown promise. His line with Andrei Svechnikov and Jesperi Kotkaniemi was highly effective in Game 1, generating numerous shots and scoring chances. These new faces are helping make Carolina less top-heavy, putting them on a promising path for sustained offense throughout a potential deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Kings: Which Version Will Appear After Game 1?
Despite significant progress under Jim Hiller this season, the Los Angeles Kings` playoff performance remained a question mark. While their 6-5 Game 1 win over the Edmonton Oilers secured a 1-0 series lead, it also highlighted their unpredictability, notably blowing a commanding four-goal lead. This volatility is somewhat familiar, as 12 of the last 18 playoff games between these teams over the past three years have been decided by two goals or fewer.
The Kings ultimately rallied to win Game 1 with a late goal from Phillip Danault, mirroring comebacks seen in their 2022 and 2023 series losses to the Oilers. The central question remains: Will the Kings suffer the same fate as in previous years, or have they finally found the formula to overcome their perennial tormentors and advance to the second round?
Special Teams Making a Significant Early Impact
Special teams have already proven to be a critical factor in the early playoff games. The Vegas Golden Knights, who had one of the league`s best power plays despite drawing few penalties in the regular season, demonstrated their efficiency by scoring on both of Minnesota`s penalties in Game 1. This trend of power plays heavily influencing outcomes is visible across the league.
Toronto scored three power-play goals in their first game, while Colorado, Dallas, and Los Angeles each netted two. St. Louis managed three power-play goals but couldn`t secure a win, contrasting with Winnipeg`s reliance on five even-strength goals alongside just one on the power play. The key questions going forward are whether teams can become more disciplined and if these special teams advantages will continue to be decisive. While regular-season performance doesn`t always translate, the strong starts for some power plays suggest this could be a recurring theme.
Kirill Kaprizov Carrying the Load for Minnesota
Kirill Kaprizov has emerged as an early standout, being involved in five of the Minnesota Wild`s seven goals against the Vegas Golden Knights. In Game 1, he provided the primary assists on both of Matt Boldy`s goals. His Game 2 performance was even more impressive, featuring a stunning saucer pass assist to Boldy (described by Boldy as “the best pass I`ve ever seen”), a crucial insurance goal in the second period, and an empty-netter to seal the victory, giving him two goals for the night.
Kaprizov`s early playoff brilliance is particularly noteworthy considering his regular season was limited to just 41 games due to injury and surgery, potentially costing him a Hart Trophy nomination. Now, he is serving as Minnesota`s offensive savior, orchestrating a potential upset against the division champion Golden Knights. Excitement is high in the Twin Cities ahead of Game 3.
