After a couple interesting games to kick off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, we move to day two, and three more series getting underway including another edition of the Battle of Ontario.
Three games on tap today, as we hit day two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs (as well as the gold medal final between Canada and the US at the Women's Worlds in Czechia), but first, let's recap last night's games, shall we?
Winnipeg Jets 5 St Louis Blues 3 (Jets lead series 1-0)
The Jets and Blues both looked a little shaky to start this one, and a much anticipated goaltenders' duel was beginning to look like a dud as they finished the first period 2-2. The Blues took a 3-2 lead in the 2nd period, when Jordan Kyrou scored the Blues' 2nd power play goal of the game, but the Jets came roaring back in the third period. Alex Iafallo tied it, and then Kyle Connor scored what would prove to be the winner with just over a minute and a half to go to take a 1-0 series lead.
Colorado Avalanche 5 Dallas Stars 1 (Avalanche lead series 1-0)
Mackenzie Blackwood was outstanding in his first ever post-season appearance, stopping 23 of 24 Dallas shots as Colorado stole home ice advantage in an impressive 5-1 Game One victory. Nathan MacKinnon is off on what could be another monster playoff performance with a two goal, one assist night. Logan O'Connor added two assists as the Avs quieted a pumped up Dallas crowd.
CAROLINA HURRICANES (0-0) vs NEW JERSEY DEVILS (0-0)
LENOVO CENTER, RALEIGH, NC
12:00 PM PST/ 3:00 PM EST
TV: SPORTSNET, SN360
After a couple Western Conference battles, the first of two Eastern Conference matchups gets underway this afternoon as New Jersey heads to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes limped into the playoffs, losing seven of eight before winning their last two games of the season. The Devils meanwhile had won four of their last five to finish off the season. While the Devils are definitely the underdogs of this series, Carolina's recent poor play and a strong Devils PP could give them a chance against the NHL's best penalty kill.
Here's what nhl dot com says we'll see as far as lineups...
Stefan Noesen -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Erik Haula -- Dawson Mercer -- Timo Meier
Paul Cotter -- Cody Glass -- Daniel Sprong
Ondrej Palat -- Justin Dowling -- Nathan Bastian
Luke Hughes -- Brett Pesce
Brenden Dillon -- Dougie Hamilton
Brian Dumoulin -- Jonathan Kovacevic
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Scratched: Dennis Cholowski, Kurtis MacDermid, Seamus Casey, Simon Nemec, Nolan Foote, Tomas Tatar, Curtis Lazar
Injured: Jonas Siegenthaler (lower body)
Seth Jarvis -- Sebastian Aho -- Jackson Blake
Taylor Hall -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Andrei Svechnikov
Jordan Martinook -- Jordan Staal -- Logan Stankoven
William Carrier -- Mark Jankowski -- Eric Robinson
Jaccob Slavin -- Brent Burns
Dmitry Orlov -- Jalen Chatfield
Shayne Gostisbehere -- Sean Walker
Frederik Andersen
Pyotr Kochetkov
Scratched: Tyson Jost, Jack Roslovic, Alexander Nikishin
Injured: None
With the Devils missing Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler, it's hard to see them coming out on top, but that's the beauty of the NHL playoffs: upsets can and do happen.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (0-0) vs OTTAWA SENATORS (0-0)
SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON
4:00 PM PST/ 7:00 PM EST
TV: SPORTSNET, CBC
The one everyone will be watching, for sure. Any meetings between these two teams always guarantees both entertaining hockey and bad blood and with Brady Tkachuk set to appear in his first ever NHL playoff game, you know things are gonna get a little nuts. The Sens swept the season series between these two teams, but apart from that, the Leafs were very good this year. Can they overcome years of playoff failure in the early rounds? If there's a team that could continue their misery, it's definitely the Ottawa Senators.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (0-0) vs MINNESOTA WILD (0-0)
T-MOBILE ARENA, LAS VEGAS, NV
7:00 PM PST/ 10:00 PM EST
TV: SPORTSNET, SN 360
It won't come as a shock if this is the first series completed. The Wild are fortunate to be here in the post season, and their hard work down the stretch is rewarded with a date against a team that is gonna turn them inside out. Vegas has good goaltending, a high powered offence and a tough, steady defence core that is simply better than anything Minnesota can muster. They might steal a game, but the post-season is gonna be a short one for the Wild.
GAME DAY BATTLE HYMN
Here's a ripper from a new metal super group bursting from the Bay Area for ya. NEFARIOUS have some thrash metal royalty in their ranks, with Katon W. DePena (vocals), guitarists Rick Hunolt (Exodus) and Doug Piercy (Heathen), bassist Tom Gears (Blind Illusion) and drummer Will Carroll (Death Angel), they have managed to put something together that's a nice blend of old school and modern sounds, and without any obvious nods to any of their previous acts. I like what I hear so far, and will definitely check out the full release.
