The NHL playoffs are heating up after an incredible first round that saw some of the most dramatic Game 7 finishes in recent memory.
The Dallas Stars pulled off something special on Saturday, scoring four straight goals to come back from a two-goal deficit and knock out the Colorado Avalanche 4-2.
But that wasn’t even the most dramatic finish of the weekend.
The Winnipeg Jets, who had the league’s best regular-season record, staged an unbelievable comeback against the St. Louis Blues. Down 3-1 with less than two minutes left, they scored twice to force overtime. Team captain Adam Lowry finally ended it in double overtime, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
These thrilling finishes set up what should be an intense second round, starting this week.
The Jets will face those same Dallas Stars on Wednesday in Winnipeg. The Jets have had Dallas’s number this season, winning three of four games and outscoring them 13-5.
Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights are taking on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers starting Tuesday. These teams split their regular-season matchups, but Vegas knocked Edmonton out of the playoffs last year in six games.
In the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs host the defending champion Florida Panthers on Monday. The Panthers have been Toronto’s nightmare lately – they dominated them in the regular season and knocked them out of the playoffs two years ago.
The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes round out the second-round matchups, starting Tuesday in Washington. Interestingly, the home team won every game between these teams this season.
The oddsmakers are seeing some surprises too. Despite finishing first in their conferences, both Winnipeg and Washington are underdogs in their series. Toronto, even after winning their division, is an even bigger underdog against Florida.
Vegas vs Edmonton? That one’s too close to call, though Vegas has a slight edge with the bookmakers.
Looking for a smart bet? Keep an eye on Vegas. They weren’t perfect in round one, but they found ways to win. If their top scorers heat up and Edmonton’s stars stay quiet like they were at the end of their first series, Vegas could be moving on.
Want a longshot worth considering? Don’t count out Toronto. Yes, Florida looks unstoppable after crushing Tampa Bay, but the Leafs have a new coach in Craig Berube who knows how to win in the playoffs. If Auston Matthews can break out of his scoring slump, they might just surprise everyone.
The second round kicks off Monday, and if the first round was any indication, hockey fans are in for quite a ride.
