Welcome to the opening round in the Stanley Cup finals – two of the best weeks in the annual sports calendar.
Welcome to intense clashes, exciting goals, brilliant rescues and maybe even some uproaces, with the extra spectrum of sudden dead overtime.
Now that the NHL’s regular season is in the books, the second season and chase for the magnificent trophy starts with the first eight rounds.
All these meetings are worth following intensely, but here are the three we are particularly interested in seeing how they play:
Dallas Stars against Colorado Avalanche
Call it Mikko Rantanen Bowl. Dallas defeated Avalanche last year in six games, and it is almost forgotten in the lonely meeting with two clubs that ended in the top eight of the position.
The stars uploaded for a run, which included the acquisition of Rantanen, which rejected re -signing in Denver before being traded to Carolina Hurricanes and later to Dallas.
It’s just a story. The stars, who only won one of three meetings with the regular season, will be without their top defender, Miro Heiskanen, to start the series, while the leading goal scorer Jason Robertson was nodded in their regular season.
Avalanche rebuilt in addition to handling the Rantanen and adds Key Forward’s Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle and Jack Dury and new goalkeepers in Mackenzie Blackwood – who have never tended to net in a playoffs – and Scott Wedgewood. Captain Gabriel Landeskog can also return after missing almost three full seasons since led his team to the cup.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
April 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, can; Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand (63) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn images The battle of Florida. For the fourth time in five years, the Sunshine State clubs meet each other. Tampa Bay won the first two meetings – the first 2021 on the way to win a second crown in a row and the second 2022 before losing in the final. Panthers won in five games last year on their way to his title, the fifth year in a row as a Florida-based team reached the championship round.
The clubs shared the season 2-2, and both teams did what they could to recall and upload for the playoffs.
Panthers has fought down on the route due to injuries, especially to Matthew Tkachuk, and the suspension to the top defender Aaron Ekblad, who will keep him out during the first two games. Florida dropped all but three of her last 10 games, which ended with a 5-1 defeat in Lightning.
The rivalry will undoubtedly go to a new level this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
April 13, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, Can; Ottawa Senators Center Tim Stutzle (18) controls the puck on overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Canadian Tire Center. Mandatory Credit: Marc Desrosiers-Imagn Pictures Speaking of rivals, the Battle of Ontario goes to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Maple Leafs has won all four previous playoffs.
Toronto will undoubtedly be favored, not only have quit forward in the position but also boasts much more experience. But this meeting is a study in print and its impact.
From game 1, Toronto’s season would always be judged by the playoffs – or lack of it. Maple Leafs and their core in Star Forwards – Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares – have ended the chance to win before changes come. Another early end of the franchise that has never reached the third round of the playoffs will mean intensive review, and these stars know it.
On the other hand, Ottawa, who won all three regular seasonal meetings, is a team that plays with house money. The senators snapped a seven -year -old playoffs and know that they are huge sub -dogs with a young and talented group that has been slowly built at this moment.
An added bonus will see how the Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk performs in his first playoffs, after seeing carefully his older brother’s exploits.
