The Stanley Cup Playoffs first round lived up to the hype, delivering edge-of-your-seat drama right to the final buzzer. Two Western Conference matchups needed all seven games to find a winner, with both Dallas and Winnipeg pulling off stunning comebacks when it mattered most.
The action kicks off again Monday when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the defending champion Florida Panthers. But before we look ahead, let’s break down three players who absolutely dominated the opening round.
Mikko Rantanen turned his series against Colorado into a personal revenge tour. After being traded twice this season – first to Carolina, then to Dallas – he saved his best for his former Avalanche teammates.
Talk about perfect timing. After a quiet start, Rantanen exploded for 11 points in the final three games. His Game 7 performance was something else: three goals and an assist to erase a 2-0 deficit in the third period.
He made NHL history along the way, becoming the first player ever to rack up four points in a period in back-to-back games.
The Stars needed every bit of that magic to advance past Colorado. They’ll face a Jets team that just survived their own seven-game thriller against the Blues.
In Toronto, Anthony Stolarz finally got his playoff moment – and boy, did he deliver.
The career backup stepped into the spotlight against Ottawa and looked like he’d been there all along. He won four games with a solid 2.21 goals-against average, giving up two or fewer goals in five of six starts.
Pretty impressive for a guy who’d only played in one playoff game before this series.
Then there’s Connor McDavid. The Oilers superstar showed why he’s the best player in hockey, even after his team fell into an early 2-0 hole against the Kings.
McDavid put up 11 points in six games, including three multi-point performances. When the Oilers desperately needed a win in Game 3, he came through with a goal and two assists in a 7-4 victory that changed the series.
He might not always be the one scoring, but McDavid’s impact on every shift is something else. Just ask the Kings – they couldn’t find an answer for him all series long.
