LAS VEGAS -- It takes 16 wins to hoist Lord's Stanley Cup.

One down, 15 to go.

The Golden Knights opened their 2025 postseason campaign with 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night to take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven set.

Brett Howden scored twice and Adin Hill made 18 saves for the Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev also scored for Vegas, his first career playoff goal, while Tomas Hertl found the slimmest of margins for his 26th career playoff score.

Matt Boldy scored both of Minnesota's goals while Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves.

Vegas opened the scoring late in the first period when Hertl simply outmuscled Minnesota's Brock Faber to grab the puck and lift it short side and beat Gustavsson.

WHO WANTS IT MORE THAN TOMAS HERTL????? pic.twitter.com/BH0wkCxQae

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 21, 2025

Boldy tied the game a little more than two minutes later when he one-timed Kirill Kaprizov's cross-ice pass to the doorstep past Hill.

The Knights retook the lead late in the second period, just five seconds into a power play, when Shea Theodore dragged the puck down the line, faked a shot and fed Dorofeyev, who fired a missile into a wide-open net to make it 2-1.

Howden pushed the lead to two goals early in the third period when he took a pass from Nic Roy inside the blue line during an odd-man rush and lasered a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle.

The Wild closed the gap again when Kaprizov's shot caromed behind the net, and Boldy was there to gather the puck on one side and deliver a nifty wraparound to the other and make it a one-goal game.

Howden's second of the evening, into an empty net as time expired, provided the final margin.

Here are three takeaways from Sunday's game:

NO PRESSURE: Dorofeyev, who led the Golden Knights with 35 goals during the regular season, may have done himself a favor by notching his first-ever playoff goal in his second career playoff game. One, the jitters are out after getting on the stat sheet, and two, any confidence that poured in from the regular season was exemplified when his blast beat Gustavsson.

"I think it's important to get that out of the way, so good for him," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Real good play by Hertl all around, wins the draw, picks, releases, screens a goalie. He's done that a number of times this year, opened up plays for the guys. And Pav, I mean, he didn't miss. Even if the goalie does track the puck and get across, it might still go in. ... Happy for Pav as a young guy that has scored a lot, you don't want that to have to answer those questions as a playoff goes along, if you can help it."

THE FIRST #StanleyCup PLAYOFF GOAL OF HIS CAREER!!!!! 🚪 pic.twitter.com/RGLgJtR0x7

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 21, 2025

MINNY MUSCLE: The Wild played an exceptionally physical game, looking to establish their presence immediately while hoping to bully the Knights. Minnesota outhit Vegas, 54-29, marking the Wild's second-highest postseason total in franchise history. The highest? That came on May 16, 2021, also against Vegas, with 71.

"Yeah, obviously, I think they were pretty physical today," Vegas forward Nic Roy said. "But we got a big team. We're not just gonna look for a number of hits. I think we're always gonna be a physical team. We're gonna win our battles. That's the most important thing. And I think the guys that have that in them to be physical are gonna be physical. And the guys that are going to make plays, are going to make plays and obviously raise their the intensity and winning their battles. It's just the way we approach it."

PLAYOFF ADIN: In his 20th career playoff appearance, and 18th start, Hill faced his second-fewest shots (20). The only time he faced fewer shots was his first-ever appearance, when he relieved Laurent Brossoit on May 6, 2023, and played just the third period. Hill has now allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of his 20 playoff games. He has a career goals-against average of 2.08 and a save percentage of .931.

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.    

Monday is day three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It’s been a fun start to the best postseason in all of sports, and now we’ll start getting into the drama of a seven-game series as we’ve already got a pair of Game 2’s.

By the time the night is over, only the series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will have yet to begin.

When the puck finally does drop on Game 1 between the Cats and Bolts, it’ll kick off one of the more anticipated matchups of the opening round.

While the longer wait can be frustrating for a fanbase frothing at the mouth to defend their Stanley Cup title from a season ago, the Panthers are embracing the additional time before the madness begins.

Remember, Florida was far from full strength down the stretch of the regular season.

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice regularly rested his players over the past few weeks, and made no secret about his intention to have the Cats as healthy as possible for the start of the playoffs.

Among the players given nights off to allow extra healing and rest time were Sam Bennett, Sasha Barkov, Gus Forsling, Sam Reinhart and several others.

Maurice has since said that every player on the active roster should be good to go for Game 1 against Tampa Bay, but that does not include Florida’s All-Star who remains on LTIR.

Matthew Tkachuk practiced with the Panthers on Saturday for the first time since he suffered an apparent groin injury during the 4 Nations Face-off in February.

He should be back on the ice with Florida on Monday, barring any setbacks following Saturday’s skate.

If all goes well, thanks to this late series start date, there is still hope that Tkachuk will be ready in time for Game 1 on Tuesday.

As Maurice explained earlier this week, the team is doing their best to use the extra days to their advantage.

“We’ll get an extra day skate, and it lets us accomplish both things: we’ll get the right amount of rest and also be on the ice enough that we can stay sharp,” he said. “To balance those two things, the extra days allow us to accomplish both.”

The Panthers will head up to Tampa after their practice in Fort Lauderdale on Monday.

Before they leave, we’ll likely get an update on Tkachuk, as Maurice also previously said that Monday would be a decision day regarding his status for Game 1.

Stay tuned.

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At the NHL trade deadline in 2024, the Pittsburgh Penguins took their first major step in shifting toward a rebuild when they dealt their best winger, Jake Guentzel, to the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was a decision that weighed heavily at the time, and there was a lot of pushback once the final trade details were announced.

But one year later, things might not be looking so bad after all.

So, let's revisit the trade - and whether or not the Penguins may actually come out on top of it.

---

The full trade

Carolina Hurricanes get:
-  F Jake Guentzel
-  D Ty Smith

Pittsburgh Penguins get:
-  F Michael Bunting
-  F Ville Koivunen
-  F Vasily Ponomarev
-  F Cruz Lucius
-  Conditional 2024 first-round pick
-  Conditional 2024 fifth-round pick

Bunting was traded to the Nashville Predators at the 2025 trade deadline for defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak. Schenn was then flipped to the Winnipeg Jets for a second-round pick.

The conditions were not met for the 2024 fifth-round pick.

TRADE: Penguins Flip Luke Schenn to Winnipeg following Trade with PredatorsFormer Nashville Predators defenseman Luke Schenn is on the move for the second time this week, with multiple reports indicating that the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded him to the Winnipeg Jets for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

---

Will the Penguins end up winners in the trade?

More than one year later, it's interesting to see how this trade has panned out. Guentzel did not end up remaining with the Hurricanes, as his UFA rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he signed a seven-year, $63 million contract extension. The 30-year-old winger registered 41 goals and 80 points in 80 games this season with the Lightning.

Yes, Guentzel is one of the game's elite wingers, and there are many who posit that he should have returned a sure first-rounder when the Penguins dealt him. 

Maybe that's true to an extent. But given what both Koivunen and Brunicke - who, by several different accounts, may have gone in the first round if not for an injury during his draft year - have shown in short sample sizes over the course of this season, it's hard not to have some hindsight bias and like the early returns on the trade. 

Koivunen, 21, was one of the AHL's top rookies this season, recording 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games to finish third in rookie scoring. At the time of his call-up, Koivunen led all rookies in scoring and was top-three in goals.

And his call-up proved impressive, too. Seeing playing time alongside both Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, Koivunen ended the season on a five-game point streak and had seven points in his first eight NHL games - which is the most points by a Penguins' rookie in their first eight games since Guentzel in 2017.

But Koivunen's hockey sense, offensive zone smarts, and playmaking acumen were what stood out most, as the details in his game are more advanced than expected at this point. He meshed beautifully with Crosby, especially, and his smarts are a bit remniscent of Guentzel in some ways.

'I Have No Doubt This Thing's Going To Be Turned Around Quickly': After Lost Season, Penguins Optimistic About FutureFor one final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins gathered at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. - this, time, for locker cleanout day.

As far as Brunicke, he had an impressive training camp with the Penguins that nearly earned him a nine-game trial run as an 18-year-old. He fractured his hand during his junior season with the Kamloops Blazers and missed two months of action, but he still managed to produce five goals and 30 points in 41 games. 

Brunicke got the call to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - a few weeks ago. And while there was a bit of a learning curve in terms of getting up-to-speed and decision-making, he has seen a lot of growth over the course of his 10 games at the AHL level. 

He has spent most of his time on a second pairing with Filip Kral, and he has two points and 18 penalty minutes and is a minus-4 in those 10 games. He is starting to make better reads, his decision-making is improving, and he's using his biggest strength - his skating - to his advantage to beat opponents in all three zones. 

Even when looking at just Koivunen and Brunicke, the Penguins have legitimate top-six and top-four potential in them - perhaps even top-line and top-pairing potential. Of course, that's the ceiling for those players, but it's looking more and more like a tangible possibility because they are ahead of the development curve and haven't looked a step out of place against NHL competition. 

When watching those two players, it's easy to separate them from their peers. The fact that Koivunen was nearly point-per-game in his first taste of the NHL and that Brunicke has well-exceeded expectations already, it's fair to wonder whether or not the Penguins might actually come out on top of this one. 

If Koivunen does hit his peak potential as a top-line winger? If Brunicke does reach his ceiling as a top-pairing defenseman? If Novak can be a serviceable third-line center? If Ponomarev can be a really solid fourth-line center? If Lucius can even be an option as an AHL call-up for the Penguins?

'He's Grown A Ton': Ponomarev Looks To Build On Learning Experience With PenguinsIt has been a whirlwind year for Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect Vasily Ponomarev.

Yes, that's a lot of "ifs," but the picture is coming more into focus. And it's looking more and more like the Penguins may have, at least, two crucial parts of their future because of this trade, and, at most, two stars in the making.

If either ends up happening? That's not so bad. Not bad at all, actually.

Guentzel is one of the best wingers in Penguins' history, and he was probably Crosby's greatest winger. Nothing can replace that. But the decision to trade him may just end up turning out far more than okay for the Penguins.

Time will only tell how these prospects - and Novak - pan out. But, as of now, the future looks a whole lot brighter than it did just one year ago on March 8.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

Anthony Stolarz showed up and showed out against the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, which the Toronto Maple Leafs won commandingly, 6-2.

The 31-year-old stopped 31 of 33 shots from the Senators, winning his first-ever NHL playoff game. It wasn't an easy game, though, as Stolarz had to battle through a lot of physicality throughout.

He'd like to have the first goal allowed back, which hopped over his stick before landing on Drake Batherson's stick, who, at the time, cut Toronto's 2-0 lead in half.

Drake Batherson cuts the lead in half pic.twitter.com/SiDBTtmye3

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 20, 2025

"It kind of hops over your stick, right? That’s part of being a goalie, it’s short-term memory, and you gotta worry about that next shot," Stolarz said after Toronto took a 1-0 series lead.

"Guys did a really good job for me, keeping them to the outside, and when my number was called to make a big save, I just tried my best to do that. Like I said, though, our commitment to playing a 200-foot game, blocking shots, having good sticks in lanes, I think, was key to our success tonight."

There were countless moments in Sunday's game where Stolarz had to battle through physicality. At one point late in the third period, Ottawa's Ridly Greig drove the net hard, colliding with Stolarz, who said his knee hit the post.

luckily nothing came from this pic.twitter.com/foOusyIgnm

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 21, 2025

"Yeah, I’m fine. He just kind of came in and caught me in a little awkward spot," said Stolarz. "It was something that just happened, he blew a tire. It is what it is, and I felt fine and was able to finish the game."

Despite the conditions in front of him, Stolarz backstopped the Maple Leafs when they needed it most. He stopped Brady Tkachuk on a breakaway early in the second period before making some timely stops later in the frame.

He comes up big in key moments, and that's why Toronto brought him into the fold last summer on a deal that keeps him with the Maple Leafs for another season after this one.

Stolarz robbed Pinto and its been all uphill from there pic.twitter.com/DkbDMR0Sn3

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 21, 2025

"Well, he had to make some huge saves, I thought, in the second period after we had the five-on-three. They had three really good opportunities after that, when it became five-on-five, he made big saves. I thought he was solid, very solid tonight."

At the other end of the rink, however, was Linus Ullmark, who had a difficult night.

He allowed two goals on Toronto's first four shots and gave up six total, leaving Scotiabank Arena on Sunday evening with a .750 save percentage, well below his .910 season total.

"It's just one game," Ullmark told reporters after the loss.

"That's the view of it. It doesn't matter how you play one game and you lose it. You can lose 1-0, and it's still going to be a loss. It's just have the mind of a goldfish and go out there and play a game two with a little bit of a chip on your shoulder."

'I Can't Say Enough About Matthew Knies and JT In Those Areas': Maple Leafs Explode For 3 Power-Play Goals To Down Senators In Game 1The Toronto Maple Leafs exploded for three power-play goals against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ullmark is right: there are more games in this series. However, if Ottawa allows Toronto to keep firing on all cylinders, it will be a quick first round for both teams. Either way, Stolarz clearly has the upper hand on the goaltending after Game 1.

But don't count out Vezina Trophy-winner Ullmark just yet.

"I like our goaltending. I like our goalie a lot," Senators head coach Travis Green said post-game. "He's a good goalie. He's won a Vezina. He's pretty good. There's no elephant in our room."

---

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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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