Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Michael Traikos react to the Toronto Maple Leafs beating the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

The Battle of Ontario had a one-sided score despite the Senators sweeping the regular season, so has it affected the outlook on the series? Is the Leafs' Core Four stepping up a sign of more to come? Which player needs a big bounce back in Game 2?

They discuss all that and take a look around the NHL, with the Carolina Hurricanes' Game 1 win over the New Jersey Devils, an update on the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild game and more.

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.  

The Minnesota Wild is in action tonight for Game 1 of its Round One matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights for a 9:00 P.M Central start. 

Minnesota played Vegas three times during the regular season and lost all three times.  They were outscored 12-4 in those three games as well. The Wild are 2-8-3 in their last 13 games vs the Golden Knights. 

For the first time in a long time, the Wild are finally healthy. And to be healthy come playoff time is a huge plus for this team that hasn't been healthy for playoffs the last few years. 

Minnesota has not won a playoff series in ten years but have made the playoffs 11 times in its last 13 season. The Wild missed the playoffs last year. 

Zeev Buium will make his NHL debut tonight for Minnesota. He will become the first player in Wild history to make his debut in the playoffs and could become the second ever player to score his first NHL goal in the playoffs. 

Here are tonight's projected lines (subject to change). 

Wild Projected Lines

Kirill Kaprizov - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy

Marcus Johansson - Freddy Gaudreau - Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Foligno - Marco Rossi - Gustav Nyquist

Yakov Trenin - Ryan Hartman - Justin Brazeau

Defense:

Jonas Brodin - Brock Faber

Jake Middleton - Jared Spurgeon

Zeev Buium - Zach Bogosian

Starting Goaltender: Filip Gustavsson

Scratched: Declan Chisholm, Devin Shore, Jon Merrill, Jesper Wallstedt, Vinnie Hinostroza. 

Injured: None

Golden Knights Projected Lines

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone

Brandon Saad - Tomas Hertl - Pavel Dorofeyev

Victor Olofsson - William Karlsson - Reilly Smith

Brett Howden - Nicolas Roy - Keegan Kolesar

Defense:

Nicolas Hague - Alex Pietrangelo

Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin - Zach Whitecloud

Starting Goaltender: Adin Hill

Scratched: Alexander Holtz, Ben Hutton, Kaedan Korczak, Tanner Pearson, Akira Schmid, Cole Schwindt.

Injured: None

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven scored two second-period goals in his first playoff game with Carolina as the Hurricanes beat the Devils 4-1 on Sunday to open their first-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Jalen Chatfield scored a first-period goal for the Hurricanes, who carried a 3-0 lead late into the second period and kept consistent pressure on Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom. Andrei Svechnikov added an empty-net clincher late in the third.

Frederik Andersen finished with 23 saves for Carolina, including a key stop on Timo Meier near the crease midway through the third. The Hurricanes also turned away a Devils power play with about eight minutes left to stay in firm control.

Nico Hischier got New Jersey on the board by taking Jesper Bratt’s cross-ice pass and blasting the puck past Andersen during a 4-on-4 chance.

Markstrom finished with 41 saves on what turned out to be a rough afternoon physically for the Devils, who saw defenseman Brenden Dillon skating to the tunnel in the second period, then fellow blue-liner Luke Hughes and forward Cody Glass skating off after a single chaotic sequence in the third.

It was a quality start for Carolina, which had lost seven of its last eight regular-season games since clinching its seventh straight playoff trip on April 3. In that sense, it had been a long wait to get to the playoffs — and be healthy, at that — for the Hurricanes.

Carolina finished with a 45-24 shot advantage.

Chatfield got the Hurricanes off to a quick start with a goal just 2:24 into the game. Then it was a big day for Stankoven, who was the primary return in a trade-deadline deal that allowed Carolina to pivot out of its big-swing January addition of scoring winger Mikko Rantanen.

Stankoven first zipped the puck past Markstrom off a feed from Jordan Martinook, who had forced Hischier into a turnover along the boards at 6:37 of the second. He struck again on the power play, with Stankoven blasting a shot past Markstrom and off the inside of the left post for the 3-0 edge.

Game 2 of the series is Tuesday.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to kick off their 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, there’s no question that they have the most to prove – and the most to lose.

The Maple Leafs aren’t just playing to get to the second round of the post-seson – they’re playing to keep the team together beyond this season. And they’re playing to keep Buds management intact. 

If they fail and lose in Round 1 to the Ottawa Senators, the Leafs’ core of talent will likely be broken apart and sold to the highest bidder. That’s the potential bad news. But the good news for Maple Leafs fans is that they’re not the same team that has disappointed so often in recent years.

This year’s Leafs are a far better team, and they’re very likely to follow the evolutionary competitive path that other elite teams have followed en route to a long playoff run.

You don’t have to go back far in the annals of NHL history to see teams that have struggled for years in the post-season, only to finally figure out how to thrive. For instance, the Colorado Avalanche began their Nathan MacKinnon era back in 2013-14, but it took them nine seasons to win a Cup. And in the two seasons that followed their 2021-22 Cup win, the Avs once again have failed to get out of the second round.

Colorado didn't make it out of the second round through 10 post-seasons between 2002-03 and 2020-21 before they won the franchise's second Cup. The Leafs, meanwhile, are at 11 straight post-seasons without a Conference final appearance. The Leafs are right around that threshold.

Similarly, the current defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers also had a long and bumpy road that preceded last season’s championship run. The Panthers failed to get out of the first round from 1997-2021. Mind you, they only made it to the playoffs five times during those years. And even when Florida did get into and beyond the first round, they needed another two seasons, including getting to the Cup final and losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, before finally winning it all last season.

It’s clear, then, that the Leafs are aiming to follow the same pattern we’ve seen from the Avalanche and Panthers. Toronto has systematically remade much of their roster – from their goalie tandem to their defense corps to their depth on the wing and their bottom-six group of forwards – and they now have the talent, grit and determination to knock off the Senators and get at least to the second round of this year’s playoffs.

The Buds are tough, patient and resilient in a way Toronto wasn’t in previous years, and they’re going to give the Senators all they can handle and then some.

This isn’t to say that Ottawa is guaranteed to lose to the Leafs in Round 1. The Sens have an up-and-coming core of talent, and they may shock people and upset the Leafs in this looming series.

The Senators were projected to make the playoffs the past few seasons, and failed in the years leading up to this playoff series. Thus, if the Senators do lose to the Maple Leafs, Sens fans are not going to be happy. That said, the Senators are like every other team – Toronto included – in that they probably have to learn how to lose in the playoffs before they learn how to win. And that’s why we’re picking Ottawa to lose to the Leafs this year.

The Maple Leafs may have only one playoff series win since 2005, but that doesn’t mean they can’t and won’t go on a long playoff run this spring. Toronto management has built a Leafs roster that is resilient, speedy and super-skilled, and the Sens are likely to learn the hard way how different this Buds team really is.

A team’s recent history isn’t always likely to repeat itself. Sometimes, a team can evolve for the better and shake off the shackles of the past as it finally gets to experience the glory of a long playoff run. And for that reason, we’re of the opinion that the Maple Leafs are finally going to give their fans a memorable and lengthy playoff experience. And that process will begin with Toronto sending the Senators home in the first round.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The New Jersey Devils did not get out of Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes unscathed. 

In the club's 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes, the Devils lost three players to injury, with one returning in the final minutes of the game. 

Defenseman Brenden Dillon

Defenseman Brenden Dillon left the game with an injury in the second period after colliding with an opposing player and falling awkwardly to the ice. The veteran did not return. 

After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters in Raleigh that his defenseman was eager to get back out there, but the team doctors held him off the ice for precautionary reasons. 

Dillon played 8:53 and led all defensemen with four hits. Entering this series, the 34-year-old had 83 games of postseason experience with the Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals, and Winnipeg Jets. 

Defenseman Luke Hughes 

Midway through the third period, New Jersey's youngest defenseman collided with Jesper Kotkaniemi and slid into Markstrom's net. In visible pain, he was holding his arm as he skated off.

Luke Hughes returned to the ice in the final few minutes of the third period and finished the game with the third-most ice time (22:20). 

The Devils have three defensemen on their roster: Seamus Casey, Dennis Cholowski, and Simon Nemec. It is worth noting that none of them have appeared in a postseason game. 

Center Cody Glass

On the same shift that Hughes was injured, Cody Glass was caught in the leg by goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who was attempting to clear his crease. He was immediately helped off the ice by a trainer.

Keefe said there is no update on Glass at this time. 

The 26-year-old played 9:04 and had a face-off win percentage of 81.8%, winning nine of 11 draws. Glass had two hits, one blocked shot, and one shot on goal. 

If Glass is unavailable, the Devils have Nolan Foote, Curtis Lazar, Kurtis MacDermid, and Tomas Tatar as options for the next matchup. 

Game 2 will be at the Lenovo Center in North Carolina on Tuesday night. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'

The NHL playoffs are where legends are made. A big goal, a statement game or a key moment can help build the hype and legacy of players around the league. Players have earned longer leashes, bigger contracts, and undying love from fans because of the moments they helped bring to their teams in the post-season. 

The 2024-25 Stanley Cup playoffs will feature several marquee matchups in Round 1. We are getting the ‘Battle of Ontario’, the ‘Battle of Florida’ and the ‘Battle of Mikko Rantanen’, to name a few. The Montreal Canadiens are back in the playoffs, the St. Louis Blues are channelling their inner 2019, and we get to see the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings go head-to-head for a fourth-straight year. 

With so many intriguing matchups, let’s take a look at some of the young players on teams across the playoff bracket that could help shape how things go in the first round and beyond.

Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have developed a reputation around the league. In all honesty, they have a couple. They are looked at as first-round choke artists. They are often called soft. They get the label of a team that can’t get it done when it matters.

While the style of play and the makeup of the team have changed dramatically this season under new head coach Craig Berube, the biggest difference for the Leafs up front is the development of Matthew Knies, who has spent almost the entirety of the year on the top line. 

His physicality and powerful game have flashed at points in the last couple of years, but this season, we’ve seen him become what the Leafs had always hoped he could.

The massive winger has the bullish strength to win pucks in the corner or around the net, but also the skill to play with players like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. If the Leafs are going to handle the Sens with the physicality and grit that they play with, Knies is going to have to be a key piece of that. 

Jake Sanderson, D, Ottawa Senators

The feisty Sens are finally in the playoffs and there are a number of young players that could play a pivotal role. Brady Tkachuk is sure to be a monster in the playoff environment. Tim Stutzle should be the high-powered difference maker that the Sens will need to score in the postseason. Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Dylan Cozens are all set to play pivotal roles on this young squad. Although all of that is true, no single player may be more important than Jake Sanderson. 

The team’s 22-year-old No. 1 defenseman has been a force at both ends of the ice. Not only did he put up 57 points on the year, but Sanderson’s defense was heavily relied upon.

Easily their most trusted defender, Sanderson should see big minutes against Toronto’s top players. His mobility and size will allow him to deal with both the skill and heaviness that Toronto has brought this season, but he’s going to have to be at his best if the Sens plan on sending the Leafs home in the first round once again. 

Ivan Demidov, W, Montreal Canadiens

What a debut this kid had. After scoring his first goal and grabbing two points in his debut, his second game was a bit quieter but the reality of the situation is that having Demidov playing minutes for this team in the playoffs is likely the key to seeing them upset the Washington Capitals in Round 1. The Habs have been good for stretches this season, but Demidov’s dynamism and offensive potential are the kind of edge that the Habs need. 

Demidov might be the most purely skilled rookie in the league and he’s only played in two games. He will surely be the front runner for the Calder Trophy next season which could give them back-to-back winners if defenseman Lane Hutson is to capture the award this season. Demidov is the Canadiens' secret weapon heading into the post-season, and he could very well be their most dangerous offensive player. 

Quinton Byfield, C, Los Angeles Kings

A little cross-check from Darnell Nurse isn’t going to deter Byfield from being an impact player for the Kings. Although his season started slow, Byfield was able to hit his stride in the second half of the season, helping solidify the Kings' second line alongside Kevin Fiala. The speed at which the duo played made every shift dangerous. 

The Oilers have beaten the Kings in each of the previous three postseasons with the series progressively getting shorter each year. Byfield was a minimal part of the first series, and in the last two years, he’s been held to four points each, with one goal between the two years.

This year, Byfield is going to be looked to as a key scoring threat for the Kings. They finally seem like they have the firepower to keep up with Edmonton, and Byfield is going to be pivotal in ensuring that they don’t falter. 

Wyatt Johnston, C, Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are in the unlucky position of being matched up with the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, a matchup that feels worthy of a Conference Final. That means that they are going to need to combat the new and improved depth of the Avs lineup that features newcomers Brock Nelson, Martin Necas and Charlie Coyle.

Although the Stars are going to be relying on former Av Mikko Rantanen for the added offensive punch, Wyatt Johnston could be the key to the Stars winning the heavyweight tilt in Round 1. 

Johnston has been a revelation over the last couple of years with a true coming-out party in last year’s playoffs, putting him on the scene as one of the best young players in the NHL. Johnston brings the ability to elevate anyone he plays with while being highly productive on a lower line. Whether he’s playing with Rantanen or not, Johnston will need to find the level that he was playing at last post-season to help the Stars take down the Avs. 

Jake Neighbours, LW, St. Louis Blues

The Blues are in tough against the Jets, the NHL’s top team this regular season, and they are going to need someone to step up and bring an intensity from both a skill and physicality sense. There are very few players on the roster for St. Louis who can bring that to the game, and Neighbours is one of the best at it. 

He has brought the playmaking that we saw in his junior days, as well as the instigatory nature that makes him a presence on the ice even when his offense isn’t working. Neighbours has found himself playing big minutes for the Blues, playing alongside their top offensive players and bringing the traits that help fill in the gaps with his skilled linemates. Neighbours is exactly the type of player that excels in the playoffs, so it should be fun to see his first foray into the post-season. 

Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild

The newly signed Buium will be making his NHL debut in the first game of the Wild’s series against the Vegas Golden Knights, playing on the third pair alongside Zach Bogosian. He looks to be playing on the Wild’s power play as well, which is where we could see him make his biggest impact.

Buium is a supremely smooth skater and puck carrier, and his passing is crisp. If he is able to provide added offense with the man advantage, he could help give the Wild an edge. 

The Wild didn’t exactly finish the regular season out firing on all cylinders, but they need to find a way to get things back on track. Kirill Kaprizov is back, and he’s had some runway to get back to his early-season MVP level, which is a welcome sight, but the Wild are still going to need an added edge. Buium’s puck moving and skill could be the edge that they need. 

Luke Hughes, D, New Jersey Devils

Luke Hughes' second full season has been loaded with ups and downs. There have been stretches of play that featured the highest end of Hughes' skillset from a mobility and puck handling standpoint, but his season also saw runs of play where he struggled to assert himself as the go-to blueliner.

Hughes has all of the tools to be an elite puck-moving defender. He is an aggressive, attacking skater who wants to push the pace of the game. Hughes’ passing ability is fantastic at times, threading the needle through traffic to hit teammates on the tape. 

The Devils’ are going to be shorthanded heading into the playoffs against Carolina with older brother Jack Hughes out for the year, top defenseman Dougie Hamilton just returning from injury and Jonas Siegenthaler out for the year on the back end as well. The Devils need to generate offense and Hughes elevating his game to another level in the post-season would go a long way.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Toronto Maple Leafs host Ottawa Senators in thrilling game one of their first round matchup on Sunday

Sunday night is the ultimate opportunity for NHL fans, with a loaded slate of thrilling matchups on day two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The game that sticks out is the Battle of Ontario between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, which promises to be a physical war of attrition. 

Both teams don't like each other as they meet for the 172nd time with Sunday being their fifth meeting in the postseason. Toronto holds an all-time record of 16-8 fuelled by four straight series wins. 

For bettors, this matchup provides a chance to capitalize on some of our recent strong trends, like our 13-5 record on our last 18 picks and our 18-6 record on our last 24 underdog picks. 

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

More NHL:Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators Best Bets:

• Maple Leafs ML (-170)
• Over 5.5 goals (-108)
• Mitch Marner or Brady Tkachuk anytime goal (-120)
• Mitch Marner Over 1.5 points (+172)
• Tim Stutzle Under 0.5 points (-104)

The Senators haven't made the postseason since 2017 when they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Ottawa has struggled to put together a quality team since but this team looks very different with cornerstone players in Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle as well as a solid goaltender in former Vezina trophy winner Linus Ullmark. 

They will be more competitive than people believe in this series as they have the best odds of any wild card team to advance to the second round at +164 odds.

More NHL:Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Round 4 Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Ottawa should keep things close to start off this one as they'll be lead by Tkachuk, who has been vocal about his love for the big moments like Sunday night. 

The Senators captain has never played in the postseason before but I would expect a similar performance to his showing at the Four Nations where he recorded three goals in four games. His winger Tim Stutzle on the other hand, may suffer from the physicality of play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

Many hockey fans have heavily criticised Mitch Marner and other smaller-sized players for struggling to produce in the postseason as they can put up solid numbers but can't make an impact defensively.

Marner has taken a massive step forward this season but Stutzle has started to make headlines for getting pushed around. 

The German winger will get his first taste of the playoffs and I expect him to struggle. At 192 pounds, he may get pushed off the puck by bigger players like Auston Matthews (217 pounds), Matthew Knies (227 pounds) or Brandon Carlo (220 pounds). 

This is becoming a common belief as Stutzle is listed with very low odds to even get a point at -122 which is surprising for a the Senators top scorer. I expect Tkachuk will get on the board but not Stutzle. 

Marner should get on the board as he excels in game one's with four goals and five assists for nine points over his last first-round game one's.

Elite goaltending has brought the over/under down to 5.5 for this one despite these two having a history of high-scoring affairs with six or more goals in 16 of their last 25 matchups.

The under has hit in two of their four matchups this season but I expect another high-scoring affair as the nerves of the playoffs should get the better of a couple players and will leave holes for offence to pierce through. 

More NHL: Predicting Which Wild Card Team Can Upset Top Divisional Seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

The over hit in both playoff games yesterday with the Devils Canes matchup today being the first to go under. The Leafs and Sens should continue the trend and add excitement to this series with a shootout to open things up. 

Toronto will have home-ice to kick things off plus have the advantage of more experience in the playoffs that should carry them to a series-opening victory in game one. 

A value bet to look at would be depth forward David Kampf scoring for the Maple Leafs. The 30-year-old Czech winger isn't known for being an elite goal scorer after recording 31 goals over the last four season with Toronto.

More Hockey:Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

However, he has done well in the playoffs with goals in two of the last three first round game one's for the Maple Leafs. He may not be in the lineup but if he is, he's worth a look. 

When playoff season rolls around in the NHL, it also signals award season for the league's best players and staff.

We had 40 writers and editors provide their picks for seven of the NHL's most prestigious awards, with some polls being extremely tight, and others not so much.

Here's who they think will win the Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, Vezina Trophy and more.

1. Who will be the Hart Trophy winner as the NHL’s regular-season MVP?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Four NHL stars got a considerable amount of votes here, but in the end, Oilers superstar center Leon Draisaitl emerged as the winner, with two more votes than Jets star goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Draisaitl won the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy as the top goal-scorer in the league this season, and he’s done more than enough to earn his first career Hart.

2. Who will win the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Avalanche star Cale Makar has a Norris Trophy to his credit, and after posting career-bests in goals (30) and points (92) this year, he’s the runaway pick to win another. Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski had career-bests in assists (59) and points (82). And Canucks captain Quinn Hughes won last year’s Norris, but missing 14 games due to injury hurt his chances of repeating as Norris champ. 

3. Who will win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Only one category in this year’s poll had every voter in agreement, and it was this one, with 40 voters picking Hellebuyck to repeat as Vezina-winner. You can see why, as the 31-year-old set new personal-bests in goals-against average (2.00) and save percentage (.925). This will be Hellebuyck’s third career Vezina, as he’s earned every Vezina vote that’s come his way. 

4. Who will win the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Aleksander Barkov is the reigning Selke-winner with two Selkes under his belt, and this year, the Panthers captain finished just two votes ahead of  Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner, who is looking for his first career Selke, for first in this poll. Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel finished third in voting in this category, while one vote behind him were Florida’s Sam Reinhart and New Jersey’s Nico Hischier.

5. Who will win the Lady Byng Award as the NHL’s most gentlemanly player?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Eichel has only eight penalty minutes and 94 points in 77 games this year, and voters responded by giving him the most votes in this category. In second is veteran Kings center Anze Kopitar, who has won two Lady Byngs in his Hall-of-Fame-worthy career, and who has just four PIM this season. And in third place is Canadiens center Nick Suzuki, who has only eight PIM this year.

6. Who will win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson was the clear pick for this year’s Calder, as the 21-year-old posted 60 assists and 66 points in 82 games. The 24-year-old goalie Dustin Wolf had a .910 SP and 2.64 GAA for the Flames this season. San Jose center Celebrini generated 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games.

7. Who will win the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach?

(Don't see the graph? Click here.)

The credit for the Capitals’ stunning success this season – finishing with the Eastern Conference’s top regular-season record – goes to Spencer Carbery, who is in his second year behind Washington’s bench. No other coach got more than one vote in this category, as Carbery cruised to a landslide victory in our poll.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Carolina Hurricanes struck first in their opening game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs as defenseman Jalen Chatfield's shot from distance beat New Jersey's Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom through traffic.

It was a quick bank-bang goal for the Canes as Jack Roslovic won an offensive zone faceoff, Eric Robinson picked it up and sent it to the blueline where Chatfield teed off on it.

William Carrier provided the screen in front and while New Jersey pondered a challenge as Carrier wound up making contact with Markstrom, it appeared to happen after the puck had already gone past.

Jalen Chatfield gets the first goal of the series! 👏 #StanleyCup

🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/ybuZDYvoTH
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctFpic.twitter.com/SzJp3GgnYS

— NHL (@NHL) April 20, 2025

The goal gave the Canes an early 1-0 lead about three minutes into the contest, getting Lenovo Center roaring and giving the team a foot up on the Devils in Game 1.

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By Alex Scott, The Hockey News Intern

The NHL trade deadline is a time for teams to load up on talent, restock the prospect cupboard or free up cap space for future moves. When players get traded, some find themselves on an exciting new team, preparing for a playoff push, while others find themselves suddenly out of contention.

Here are a few players who saw their fortunes change significantly this year.

Unlucky at the deadline

Poor Josh Norris moved to the Ottawa Senators just as franchise legend Erik Karlsson departed – Norris was part of the package that the San Jose Sharks sent to acquire the star defenseman – and as Ottawa firmly entered a rebuild. 

In Norris’ first full season with the Sens in 2020-21, he played very well, finishing tied for second on the team in points and placing fourth in Calder Trophy voting. He followed that up with a sophomore effort that saw him score 35 goals in just 66 games, which was good enough to earn him an eight-year, $63.6-million contract extension, per puckpedia.com. 

Norris’ next two seasons were abbreviated due to separate shoulder injuries, which limited him to eight games in 2022-23 and 50 in 2023-24. The Sens missed the playoffs both years, extending their playoff drought to seven straight seasons.

This season, things finally started to click for the Sens, and they found themselves firmly in playoff contention at the deadline, thanks in part to great seasons by Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle.

The Sens then dealt Norris and teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker to Buffalo in exchange for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert and a second-round pick in the 2026 draft. Ottawa has since clinched a post-season spot, ending their playoff drought, while Buffalo’s drought has reached 14 seasons and counting. To make matters worse, Norris found himself injured again and has only played three games for the Sabres since being traded.

Lucky at the deadline

When Seth Jones got to Chicago in 2021, he immediately signed an eight-year, $76-million extension, one which was supposed to have him anchoring the Blackhawks’ defense as they emerged from a rebuild. 

Things didn’t exactly go according to plan, as the Blackhawks’ rebuild stalled and the team missed the playoffs in each of Jones’ first three seasons. This year, the team found itself well outside of contention once again, and Jones requested a trade to a more competitive team.

Chicago obliged, trading Jones to the Florida Panthers along with a fourth-round pick in 2026 in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a 2026 first-rounder. For Jones, this has meant playing almost 25 minutes a night for the reigning champs, while Chicago has found itself once again near the bottom of the league. 

Unchanged at the deadline

Mikko Rantanen has done a lap of the NHL this season and found himself almost right back where he started.

The star winger won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022 and scored over 100 points in each of the previous two seasons. This season, Rantanen and the Avs were unable to negotiate a long-term extension to keep him in town, and he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal with Chicago. 

Then, history repeated itself, as the Canes also found themselves unable to re-sign their new star. Having given up several assets to acquire Rantanen, including fan-favorite Martin Necas, Carolina decided to recoup some of its investment by trading Rantanen to the Dallas Stars, after he’d played just 13 games in red and black. 

Now, Rantanen is back in the Central Division and is once again playing for a playoff contender. In fact, he is currently facing his former Avs teammates in the first round of the playoffs. And Rantanen can probably unpack his suitcase for good, as the Stars have given him the eight-year, $96-million contract he was looking for. 

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By Jack Sponagle, The Hockey News Intern

We’ve seen many memorable NHL debuts over the years. Derek Stepan scored a hat trick in his debut with the New York Rangers, Auston Matthews found the net four times in an overtime loss in his first game and Al Hill had five points (two goals and three assists) in his debut with the Philadelphia Flyers back in 1977, which is still an NHL record.

However, what those three players all have in common is that their NHL debut happened early in the regular season. In Stepan and Matthews’ case, it was the first game of the year. Hill had his record-setting game in February.

Many NHL players did not lace up their skates for the first time on opening night. Some had to wait until the last few games of the season or even the playoffs to showcase their big-league talents. 

Lane Hutson

Hutson set a franchise record this season for most points by a rookie defenseman in Montreal Canadiens history, and he looks like a lock to win this year’s Calder Trophy as the league’s most impressive rookie.

This time last year, the 62nd pick in the 2022 draft was making his NHL debut. Following Boston University’s defeat in the Frozen Four, Hutson played his first NHL game in an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Hutson played two games at the end of last season, registering two assists. 

Matty Beniers

Beniers won the Calder Trophy in 2022-23 after scoring 24 goals and 57 points in 80 games. But Beniers made his NHL debut when he played in the final 10 games of the 2021-22 season, putting up three goals and nine points.

Beniers was the first draft pick in Kraken franchise history when he was chosen second overall in the 2021 draft. He made his NHL debut on April 12, 2022, against Calgary, and managed a primary assist on a Ryan Donato goal in a 5-3 loss. He scored his first career goal against New Jersey on April 16, 2022. 

Ryan Poehling

Before Ivan Demidov, Poehling’s debut had Habs fans talking. The Canadiens played the Toronto Maple Leafs in their final game of the 2018-19 season.

Poehling scored his first career goal in the first period. He would go on to score in the second and third periods to complete his hat trick before adding the shootout winner. This made him the first Habs player to score three goals in his NHL debut since 1943.

Cale Makar

Before Makar won the Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022, he was a standout collegiate defenseman for UMass Amherst. Following his last game with the Minutemen, he signed a three-year deal with the Avalanche on April 14, 2019.

The next day, he made his debut for Colorado in Game 3 of their playoff series against Calgary. Makar connected on a drop pass from Nathan MacKinnon and scored his first career goal. He became the seventh player and first defenseman to do so in the playoffs. 

Johnny Gaudreau

Another NCAA standout to get his first shot in the NHL in the springtime was the late, great Johnny Gaudreau. His cut-short 10-year NHL career began when he suited up for the Flames' final game of the 2013-14 season.

He signed his entry-level deal on the same day he was awarded the Hobey Baker Award. He debuted against the Vancouver Canucks and scored the Flames’ only goal on his first shot. 

Esa Tikkanen

Tikkanen made his NHL debut during the 1985 playoffs, getting into three games and failing to register a point with three shots on net and two penalty minutes. He was included by Oilers coach Glen Sather in Games 2, 3 and 4 in a 4-1 series victory against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tikkanen's brief playoff appearance was enough to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup before his regular-season debut the following year. Tikkanen ended his career with five Stanley Cups.

Jarome Iginla

Iginla became the first 18-year-old to play a game for Calgary since 1983 when he took to the ice against Chicago during the 1996 playoffs.

The morning after Iginla’s Kamloops Blazers were ousted from the WHL playoffs, Iginla flew to Calgary to make his debut. He put up a goal and an assist in his first two games. Iginla made his debut wearing the No. 24, not the iconic No. 12 that hangs from the Saddledome rafters.

Brett Hull

The NHL’s fifth-highest all-time goal-scorer made his debut in the playoffs with Calgary during Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final against Montreal in 1986. Hull had just posted a 52-goal, 84-point season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The Canadian-born American citizen played two playoff games in 1986 and went pointless. 

Mark Stone

Long before Stone roused debates about the long-term injured reserve being used as a way to subvert the salary cap, he was lighting the WHL on fire with a 41-goal, 123-point season with the Brandon Wheat Kings during in the 2011-12 season.

On April 21, 2012, Stone was added to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup for Game 5 against the New York Rangers in the first round. Stone assisted on Jason Spezza’s game-winning goal. 

Mike Richter

The final inclusion is the only goalie to be featured on this list. Richter played 666 games with the Rangers from 1989-90 to 2002-03. But his maiden voyage in the NHL came in the 1989 playoffs, when New York faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4 of the Patrick Division semifinal. Richter allowed four goals on 30 shots in the game, which saw the Penguins come out on top.

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Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings

The Oilers and Kings battle for the fourth straight time in the first round. Edmonton has claimed all three series so far with LA desperately looking to get out of the shadow of their big brother. It's been a long time coming as the Oilers hold an all-time 36-18 playoff record with six straight series wins over the Kings dating back to 1989.

Things will most likely get heated after last year's first round matchup saw one game reach 92 penalty minutes as a flurry of brawls broke out in the third period after the Oilers went up 6-1 in Game three. LA looks like they'll have the best chance yet to get over the Edmonton hump after finishing with four more points and securing home ice advantage that could go far for a Kings team that has the best home record in the NHL at 31-6-4 through 41 games.

 More NHL: The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators

It should make for a thrilling series with some of the best players in the world on display like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Anze Kopitar. It should make for must-see tv and a series of games that any hockey fan won't want to miss. We want to add to your viewing enjoyment by providing a couple betting options that should enhance the viewing experience as you win some money along the way.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

LA Kings +1.5 (-178)

Edmonton has been plagued by injuries down the final stretch of the season with a 14-13-1 record over their last 28 games which places them behind the likes of the Sabres, Utah Hockey Club and Flames during that span. It's not great to enter the postseason playing worse than some non-playoff teams but the Oilers did manage to win seven of their last ten games with McDavid and Draisaitl battling injuries.

More NHL: Predicting Which Wild Card Team Can Upset Top Divisional Seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Edmonton will also be without forward Evander Kane and possibly Zach Hyman, who is day-to-day with their biggest loss being key blueliner Mattias Ekholm. The Kings certainly don't have the same level of high-end talent that the Oilers have but LA has been playing as a cohesive unit for most of the season with almost no injuries.

Kuemper does his best HOLTBY impression 🤯👑Los Angeles Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper robs Seattle Kraken forward Jaden Schwartz with an unbelievable stick save reminiscent of Braden Holtby's miraculous s...

The Kings have also handled the Oilers through their season series with a 3-1-0 record, a 12 to four goal ratio and netminder Darcy Kuemper earning back-to-back shutouts in the final two matchups. This series should feature many under games like most LA Kings games are and it should keep them in this series to the very end.

Betting Strategies: Rely On Elite Goaltending

Under bets have been a regular for us and the Kings as they secured the second-best goals against average this season at 2.48 that improves to 1.98 when playing at home. This should keep almost every one of these games low-scoring with four of their last six Kings-Oilers matchups totalling under six goals.

I expect Kuemper to play the biggest role in this after going on a tear through his final 16 starts of the season with a league-best 13-3-0 record, a 1.27 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. The last time Kuemper was in the postseason was the 2022 Playoffs, where he helped lift the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup with a 10-4-0 record and a 2.57 goals against average. He should be a difference maker for this team but also don't count out the goaltender in the opposing crease.

Many Oiler fans having been doubting Stuart Skinner once again after finishing with a 2.81 goals against average but a .896 save percentage this season. If the Edmonton native can dial back in to what he accomplished last postseason, we should see almost all these games go under as Skinner finished with a 14-9 record and a 2.45 goals against average. 

More NHL: Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender

The New York Rangers may already have a top coaching candidate in mind with Peter Laviolette officially out of the picture. 

While Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said he’s open to hiring a first-time head coach if the fit is right, he reportedly prefers someone with experience according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today. 

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has already emerged as a potential target for Drury. 

“The guy that I believe that Drury is targeting No. 1 on his list is not technically available, that would be Mike Sullivan, the two-time Stanley Cup winning coach from the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Mercogliano said. “He has two years remaining on his deal with Pittsburgh and said to the media in Pittsburgh on Friday that he plans on continuing to coach the Penguins. 

“I’ve heard that there could be some wiggle room there. I know the Rangers are waiting to find out if there is any chance of prying him away. I do believe Drury thinks highly of Sullivan. They have connections through USA Hockey.”

Pittsburgh’s struggles over the past couple of seasons have led to some rumblings about Sullivan’s future with the team and his potential departure. 

However, when addressing the media after the season on Friday, Sullivan made clear that he intends to remain with the Penguins. 

“My intentions are to be the head coach moving forward,” Sullivan said.

Things could obviously change and words are just words, but given Sullivan’s contract situation and his recent statements, prying him away from his current situation may be difficult.

For the record, the Ottawa Senators' rebuild lasted 2,878 days—that’s 412 weeks, or 7 years, 10 months, and 5 days. Along the way, some moments may have signalled the end, but calling the rebuild officially over always felt subjective.

On Sunday night in Toronto, as the Senators hit the ice to end the NHL’s third-longest active playoff drought, there’s no room for debate: the rebuild is finally, truly over. This is a better team. Better coaching. Better management. Better ownership.

Better everything.

Now the question becomes: Are they better than the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Based on the regular season standings, no. Toronto finished with 52 wins to Ottawa’s 45 and ended up 11 points ahead in the standings. Eleven. Numerologists among the Ottawa fanbase will have a field day with that one.

Assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson and head coach Travis Green are the only remaining bridges to the playoff wars of Ontario from a quarter-century ago. If history matters—and it probably doesn’t—it’s this: the Senators won all three games against Toronto in the regular season.

Sure, it doesn’t count for anything now. But it gives the Sens a little boost of confidence heading into a series where this young core has no reason to believe they can’t beat Toronto.

Since the start of March, following the Four Nations Face-Off, these two teams have been among the NHL’s hottest. And both are expected to be fully healthy for Game 1. Beyond the natural geographical rivalry, history adds some heat. Leafs fans are desperate to see a team that’s won one playoff series in 20 years take another step—and maybe, finally, end a 58-year Stanley Cup drought.

Senators fans, on the other hand, would love nothing more than to get revenge for the franchise’s 0-for-4 playoff record against Toronto and shut up the blue-and-white invasion that floods their building every time the Leafs come to town.

Game 1 Lineup Watch

At Ottawa’s game-day skate, the biggest surprise was seeing Matthew Highmore slotting in on the fourth line at left wing, with agitator Nick Cousins skating as the extra. Unless Cousins has had an injury setback, seeing him in the press box for Game 1 would definitely raise eyebrows.

Projected Senators Lineup:

Interestingly, while Ottawa might leave a Florida Panthers Cup winner out of the lineup, Toronto will lean heavily on two of them.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson returns for Game 1 after missing the final three games of the season with an upper-body injury. And 6'6", 240-pound Anthony Stolarz will make his first NHL playoff start at 31 years old.

And he could be a serious problem for Ottawa.

Stolarz went 21-8-3 this season with a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Even scarier? He ended the season on an 8-0-0 tear, posting a 1.37 GAA, a .950 save percentage, and three shutouts.

But again, regular-season numbers just don’t matter anymore.

Projected Maple Leafs Lineup:

Forwards:

Knies – Matthews – Marner

Domi – Tavares – Nylander

McMann – Holmberg – Robertson

Lorentz – Laughton – Järnkrok

Defense:

Rielly – Carlo

McCabe – Tanev

Ekman-Larsson – Benoit

Goalies:

Stolarz
Woll 

Series Schedule:

Game 1: Sunday, April 20 – 7:00 PM ET

Game 2: Tuesday, April 22 – 7:30 PM ET

Game 3: Thursday, April 24 – 7:00 PM ET 

Game 4: Saturday, April 26 – 7:00 PM ET

If necessary:

Game 5: Tuesday, April 29 – Time TBD

Game 6: Thursday, May 1 – Time TBD

Game 7: Saturday, May 3 – Time TBD

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have started, this time without an appearance from the Vancouver Canucks. Despite the Canucks not making the postseason, there are still many teams and individual players that fans can cheer for. Here’s a list of who Canucks fans should cheer for during this season’s playoffs. 

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Nate Schmidt and Jonah Gadjovich 

Two former Canucks now on the Florida Panthers, Nate Schmidt and Jonah Gadjovich are two players who Canucks fans could root for throughout the playoffs. Schmidt was traded to the Canucks during the 2020 off-season and played 54 games with Vancouver before requesting a trade elsewhere. He ended up with the Winnipeg Jets for three seasons before moving on to Florida. This season, he had five goals and 14 assists in 78 games played. 

Gadjovich was drafted by the Canucks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft and remained with the organization until 2021. He played one game for Vancouver. Last season, he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Panthers organization. 

Anthony Beauvillier 

Another former Canuck with a limited sample size in Vancouver, Anthony Beauvillier and the Washington Capitals are on a quest to win the franchise their second Stanley Cup. Beauvillier was acquired by the Canucks in the 2023 Bo Horvat trade. He played 55 games with the team before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in November of the same year. In his time with Vancouver, he scored 11 goals and 17 assists. 

Jalen Chatfield and Spencer Martin 

The Carolina Hurricanes will also be entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with two former Canucks. Jalen Chatfield, now a lineup regular with the Hurricanes, played 18 games with Vancouver and spent four seasons with the Canucks organization. In his time with Vancouver, he potted three assists. He had 18 points in 78 games played this season and averaged nearly 20 minutes a night with Carolina. 

Spencer Martin was a rock for the Canucks when they needed him to be. He faced 218 shots in his first six NHL games with the Canucks and didn’t let in more than two goals in each game. In his second NHL game, he faced 50 shots and carried his team to overtime. He left the Canucks organization after being claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2023. Another interesting tidbit about him is that Martin and Gadjovich are in-laws. 

Jacob Markström

Most Canucks fans know of Jacob Markström and his time with Vancouver. Acquired as part of the trade that sent Roberto Luongo back to the Panthers, Markström spent seven seasons as a member of the Canucks before he signed with the Calgary Flames in 2020. He made his mark on the Canucks organization in the 2019–20 season, backstopping his team to multiple wins despite facing 1420 shots in 43 games played. Markström is now entering his third career playoff run, this time with the New Jersey Devils. 

The Ottawa Senators 

Who doesn’t love a feel-good postseason story? The Ottawa Senators will play in their first playoff game since their Conference Finals loss in 2017. Not only do they sport a talented crop of young players, their roster also features some former Canucks. Senators Head Coach Travis Green spent almost five seasons with Vancouver, helping the team to their Bubble Playoff run in 2020. Also behind the Senators’ bench are former Canucks Assistant Coaches Nolan Baumgartner (2017–2021) and Mike Yeo (2022–2024). 

Also on the Senators are former Canucks Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Matthew Highmore, and Zack MacEwen. Gaudette was drafted by the Canucks in 2015 and spent three full seasons with Vancouver. Hamonic, a two-year member of the Canucks, spent a good chunk of his playing time with current Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes. Highmore was with the Canucks organization from the 2020–21 season to the 2021–22 season, putting up 17 points in 64 games. Ironically enough, he and Gaudette were traded for one-another in 2021. MacEwen, who played 55 games for Vancouver, is most remembered for standing up for Nils Höglander after he was tossed around by current Canuck Derek Forbort in 2021. 

Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson 

This may be a polarizing take. An original member of the 2011 Stanley Cup-contending team, Chris Tanev should be an easy pick for who Canucks fans should cheer for in the playoffs. However, Tanev also plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that many fans are opposed to cheering for. The toothy veteran spent a decade with the Canucks before joining Markström and signing with the Flames in 2020. This is his first season with the Leafs, a team that he signed a six-year contract with in 2024. 

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is the other former Canuck on the Leafs that Canucks fans could cheer for. He wasn’t the most popular player during his tenure on the team, as most people will remember him for his contract that is still impacting Vancouver to this day. However, he did experience a rebound with the Panthers last season and has been a steady defender for his current price. 

The Winnipeg Jets 

Another Canadian team with ties to Vancouver, the Winnipeg Jets are a team Canucks fans could root for while feeling relatively safe in their choice. While Winnipeg has a history of not performing in the playoffs, they have one of the NHL’s best goaltenders in Connor Hellebuyck. They have been the strongest Canadian team during the regular season, finishing the season with 116 points and collecting the President’s Trophy (although, this in itself may be a bad omen). As well, the Jets recently acquired former Canuck fan-favourite Luke Schenn, who will be on the hunt for the third Stanley Cup of his career. Schenn joined the Canucks twice throughout his career — by trade in 2019 and by free-agency in 2021. 

The Montréal Canadiens 

The Montréal Canadiens are this season’s personification of an underdog team. Squeaking into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens beat out a number of mid-tier teams to clinch their playoff spot. They are propelled by a youthful core that Canucks fans don’t see enough in one season to have a rivalry with. Another plus to cheering for them is that Canucks Ring of Honour member, Alex Burrows, is still part of their organization. A Canadiens Stanley Cup win would be Burrows’ first. 

Troy Stetcher 

Rooting for the man once known as Tony Stretcher is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the former four-year Canuck would win his first Stanley Cup — on the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers would also win. Given the fact that the Oilers knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs last season, it may not be as joyous to cheer for Stetcher as it would be for other teams. 

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