After a long, exciting season, the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs have finally begun. As the second round starts to begin, let’s take a look at the strongest contenders, and teams who have shocked viewers with their impressive hold against hefty opponents. 

Eastern:

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals (Round Two)

After clinching a dramatic Game five overtime win in Raleigh on April 29th, the Hurricanes have proven their strength on both sides of the ice. They do need to be careful, however, after their starting goaltender, Frederik Andersen, took a hard hit in game 4 against New Jersey and missed game 5. Without him at full strength, Carolina could face problems shutting down Washington’s offense, especially with veteran and all-time leading goal scorer Alexander Ovechkin. The Capitals had to grind through a scrappy first round series against Montreal, who pushed them to five games and exposed some weakness in Washington’s defensive zone coverage. 

Ottawa vs. Toronto: 

The Maple Leafs playoff curse has been a long-running storyline, with years of early exits haunting the franchise. Toronto raced out to a 3-0 series lead, only to see the Senators storm back with two straight wins of their own to force a game six. Despite standout performances from Auston Matthews and William Nylander early in the series, the Leafs have struggled defensively in recent games, while Ottawa, making their first postseason appearance in several years, has found their momentum. With Game six in Ottawa, the Senators will hope to push a game seven and hold the Leafs to yet another high pressure situation, which Toronto fans are pretty used to by now. 

Florida vs. Tampa Bay:

The defending Stanley Cup champions made quick work of their in-state rivals, closing out the series with a 4-1 win. The Panthers dominated game one with a 6-2 statement victory and didn’t hold back for the rest of the series. The Lightning, despite their successful experience in the playoffs, struggled to contain Florida’s speed and depth around the ice. Florida is facing the winner of the Toronto/Ottawa series. The Panthers would most likely rather see Ottawa, who have the confidence but lack the postseason experience and high-end offensive power that Toronto brings. 

Western:

St Louis vs. Winnipeg  

The Jets have been one of the Western Conference’s most consistent teams of the season, with Connor Hellebuyck delivering Vezina-contending goal defending and Kyle Connor leading the offense. Winnipeg took a 3-2 series lead after a clutch game five win on home ice, thanks to a dominant third period and a timely power-play goal from Nikolaj Ehlers. St. Louis, with veterans like Brayden Schenn and Jordan Kyrou, has shown resilience, but  struggled to generate sustained offense against Winnipeg’s structured defense. Game six in St. Louis will be crucial for the Blues, who will need to slow down Winnipeg’s top line and create more chances in front of the net if they hope to force a game seven. 

Minnesota vs. Las Vegas: 

Though Minnesota entered the postseason as underdogs, they’ve shown grit and discipline against the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights. Kirill Kaprizov has been a game changer for the Wild, while Vegas continues to lean on their playoff experience and deep forward group. After taking a 3-2 series lead with a crucial game five win, the Golden Knights are looking to close the series in Minnesota. Mark Stone has provided much needed leadership, while Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel have delivered timely goals. Minnesota isn’t going to go down quietly, showing they can play a heavy and physical game to wear down Vegas. 

Colorado vs. Dallas: 

In one of the most intense and evenly matched series so far, Dallas has taken a 3-2 lead after edging out Colorado in a crucial game five. The Stars, led by Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and a great playoff performance from goalie Jake Oettinger, have managed to contain Colorado’s lethal offense in key moments. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar continue to drive the Avalanche attack, but Colorado has struggled to get past Oettinger. Dallad has impressive special teams skills to frustrate the Avalanche, especially being able to limit Colorado’s power-play opportunities and clogging up the neutral zone to slow their transitions. 

Edmonton vs. Los Angeles: 

After dropping Game one at home, the Oilers have fought their way back to a 3-2 series lead. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been as dynamic as ever, generating a combined 18 points in the series. Goalie Stuart Skinner has settled in after the shaky game one, providing stability in the net. The Kings have stayed competitive thanks to solid goaltending from Cam Talbot, but have struggled to match Edmonton’s firepower. Veterans Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty have done their best to keep LA in the fight, but unless the Kings can find a way to limit Edmonton’s top line, they’ll be facing elimination in game six back in Los Angeles.