2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Takeaways as Round 1 Heats Up

The opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is entering its critical phase, with elimination games set to take place across North America throughout the week. The series are filled with captivating narratives, ranging from struggling goaltenders attempting to recover their form to significant hits further intensifying the already heightened emotions.

ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, and Greg Wyshynski share their primary observations and insights from the postseason so far, as all 16 competing teams are still in contention, at least for now.

Are Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets in Trouble… Again?

Despite their Game 4 loss on Sunday against the St. Louis Blues, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves tied in their series, aiming to advance past the first round for the first time in three seasons. However, things are not looking promising for Winnipeg, as two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck was once again removed early from a game.

In Game 3, Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 25 shots before being pulled, and then gave up five goals on just 18 shots in Sunday`s game. How Hellebuyck would bounce back after being pulled in Game 3 was clearly a focal point.

Every Western Conference series has seen at least one goaltender leave a game early. This trend began with Stuart Skinner`s removal in Game 2 of the Oilers` 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Thursday saw both Hellebuyck and Vegas` Adin Hill pulled in their respective team`s defeats. It happened again Saturday when the Stars replaced Jake Oettinger at the start of the third period in their 4-0 loss to the Avalanche.

Hellebuyck`s recent track record of recovering from consecutive playoff losses has been problematic. After winning the first game of last year`s first-round series, he and the Jets lost four straight. The same scenario played out in 2023 against the Golden Knights. In 2021, Hellebuyck lost all four of his starts against the Montreal Canadiens.

The last instance of Hellebuyck ending a two-game losing streak in the playoffs was in 2019, when he led the Jets to victories in Games 3 and 4 against, coincidentally, the Blues, who went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. Hellebuyck urgently needs to demonstrate his ability to turn things around.

The most memorable “salt in the wound” moment of the 2025 postseason occurred when Blues fans chanted `WE WANT CONNOR!` after Hellebuyck was pulled in the third period of Game 4, having allowed five goals on 18 shots. It was superior trolling, something Winnipeg fans could appreciate.

Why wouldn`t they want Hellebuyck back in net? He is only the seventh goalie in NHL history to allow four or more goals in six consecutive road playoff games, a streak that includes series defeats to Vegas and Colorado. He became just the second reigning Vezina Trophy winner to be pulled in back-to-back playoff games, joining Ron Hextall of the Flyers in the 1988 divisional series.

Hellebuyck has a .817 save percentage and a 4.24 goals-against average through four playoff games. Over his last three postseasons, his record is 4-10 with an .866 save percentage and a 4.27 goals-against average.

In stark contrast, over his last three regular NHL seasons, Hellebuyck boasts 121 wins in 187 games with a .922 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average. That level of performance has been conspicuously absent in the playoffs statistically.

However, anyone who has witnessed the Blues` barrage of 16 goals against the Jets knows that not all the blame rests on Hellebuyck. Defenseman Luke Schenn noted, “You watch the replays of the goals that went in and there are deflections, screens, pucks bouncing off us and in.”

Screening Hellebuyck has proven to be a successful strategy for opponents in the playoffs. Approximately half of the Blues` goals have come with traffic in front of him.

Jets coach Scott Arniel commented, “If there`s people getting to the net, we`ve got to get them out of there before they get their screens. We`ve gotta box out earlier. There`s a lot of coverage stuff.”

Hellebuyck is perhaps a victim of his own excellence. We expect the player considered the best goalie in the world to fight through screens and compensate for defensive lapses.

Arniel expressed clear confidence in Hellebuyck for the playoffs, stating he is “100% confident.” He added, “There are things that we have to do to help him and he knows he has to do things to help us.”

Yet, Arniel also emphasized that for Winnipeg to win two of the next three games, “our best players have to be better than their best players.” And undeniably, Jordan Binnington has outperformed Hellebuyck in this series.

On Monday, the NHL will announce the finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy, which Hellebuyck has won twice and is likely to win again in June. It`s the award for the best regular-season goalie. Connor Hellebuyck is genuinely at risk of having his career defined by his struggles after those initial 82 games.

Ottawa Has Life – Until Toronto Proves It Can Close

1-12.

That is the Toronto Maple Leafs` record in playoff elimination games stretching back to 2017.

It`s an unflattering statistic, much like the Leafs` 0-1 record in this series when attempting to eliminate the Ottawa Senators.

There`s a familiar cliché about the final win of a series being the hardest to achieve. The Leafs have spent nearly a decade validating this. And Toronto certainly had ample opportunities to sweep the Senators into the offseason in Game 4 on Saturday night. The Leafs had a four-minute power play in overtime, although without John Tavares who exited earlier for injury assessment.

Nonetheless.

Toronto had been highly effective with the man advantage, going 5-for-9 in the first three games; however, they were 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 4. To make matters worse, they conceded a shorthanded goal to Shane Pinto in the first period. Not ideal.

Ottawa deserves significant credit for their resilience in securing the overtime victory. The Senators took a 2-0 lead in the first period, only to see it disappear by the second. David Perron put Ottawa back ahead, and the Leafs tied it again to force the extra frame. The Senators could have faltered facing that challenging four-minute power play (regardless of Tavares` presence) but instead stood firm. And Jake Sanderson`s goal kept Ottawa`s playoff hopes alive.

Has the momentum shifted in Ottawa`s favor? The Senators have nothing to lose and can play freely. Toronto is burdened by expectations stemming from too many past postseason disappointments. But this Leafs team is supposed to be different, right? So, Toronto cannot – or will not – allow one discouraging defeat to become two, will they?

Perhaps Don`t Challenge, Coaches?

In the regular season, coaches challenging scoring plays for interference were successful more often than not, with a 56% win rate on 126 challenges. This suggests the risk – incurring a delay of game penalty if incorrect – was worthwhile.

That level of risk is acceptable over an 82-game season. However, in a seven-game playoff series, certainty is paramount. And so far in the 2025 postseason, coaches would have benefited from refraining from challenges.

The initial challenge was a somewhat desperate attempt by Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch in Game 1 against the Kings. Defenseman Jake Walman was penalized for shooting the puck over the glass, a delay of game call. Walman was convinced he didn`t, and the Oilers – trailing 5-3 in the third period – supported him by challenging the call. The ruling was that there was “no conclusive evidence” the puck went off the glass “after a thorough examination of all available replays.”

Consequently, Edmonton received a delay of game penalty on top of the original one, although Los Angeles failed to capitalize on the ensuing 5-on-3 power play.

Other coaches were less fortunate. Tampa Bay`s Jon Cooper unsuccessfully challenged goaltender interference on Nate Schmidt`s goal, which gave Florida a 3-1 lead in Game 1. The league determined Eetu Luostarinen was actively playing the loose puck in the crease before Schmidt`s goal, which by rule does not constitute interference. The Lightning were assessed a delay of game penalty. Matthew Tkachuk scored 14 seconds into the subsequent power play, making it 4-1 and effectively sealing the game.

However, the most ill-conceived challenge of the playoffs came from Kings coach Jim Hiller in Game 3 against Edmonton. He sought to overturn an Evander Kane goal that tied the game 4-4 at 13:18 of the third period. It remains unclear what prompted the challenge, and why the Kings would gamble by giving Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a power play opportunity to break the tie – which they did, as Draisaitl assisted on Evan Bouchard`s eventual game-winner.

“We got a good look at it. We took plenty of time. We felt it was goalie interference, so we challenged it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose on those. Tonight we lost, and it cost us big time. No other way around it,” Hiller acknowledged, stating the obvious.

Thus far in the playoffs, the cost associated with challenges has significantly outweighed the benefit.

Are the Golden Knights About to Turn the Corner?

For a franchise within a championship window that has already claimed a title, conversations naturally arise about what is needed to secure another. For the Vegas Golden Knights, the collective unit has been more significant than the individual components, though those components themselves are formidable.

The Golden Knights clinched the Stanley Cup in 2023 by benefiting from contributions throughout their entire lineup. This principle was evident again Saturday in their crucial 4-3 overtime win. That victory represented the difference between being tied 2-2 in the series versus facing a potential consecutive first-round elimination game on home ice.

Consider how Vegas achieved the win. Shea Theodore scored the opening goal on the power play, and Nicolas Roy also netted a power-play goal to tie the game 2-2. Adin Hill made essential saves to navigate overtime before Ivan Barbashev scored the winning goal. All three goal scorers had been held pointless in the first three games of the series, while Hill rebounded from allowing four goals on 21 shots in Game 4.

The contributions from Barbashev, Hill, Roy, and Theodore highlight the Golden Knights` ability to leverage their depth. Could Game 5 see similar results for star players Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone? Both players, who had no points entering Game 3, were also pointless in Game 4 but showed signs of improvement, combining for 10 shots on goal. This total matched the number of shots they had in the first three games combined.

No Love Lost in the Battle of Florida

Naturally, it all revolves around Matthew Tkachuk.

Florida`s fiery forward was already causing problems for Tampa Bay in their first-round series, scoring three goals in the first three games. Then came another significant impact – a crushing hit – when Tkachuk leveled Lightning forward Jake Guentzel at center ice, resulting in a game misconduct as Florida fell 5-1 in Game 3.

Predictably, debate ensued regarding whether Tkachuk deserved supplemental discipline for the hit. Guentzel was in the process of passing the puck and had released it when Tkachuk made contact. However, there will be no suspension for Tkachuk. How that decision resonates with the Lightning remains to be seen in Game 4 on Monday night.

Players from both teams exchanged pleasantries following Tkachuk`s hit on Guentzel, clearly indicating that the physical intensity had escalated. The Lightning delivered a statement performance Saturday, scoring five unanswered goals to get back into the series. Now, we can only anticipate how the animosity will influence the remainder of the series.

Discipline is vital for a lengthy playoff run; it`s even more critical for Tampa Bay given the Panthers` effective power play (30%) in the postseason so far. The Lightning securing that win and now being further unified by Tkachuk`s hit on their leading playoff goal scorer adds new layers of intrigue to this rivalry clash between Atlantic Division foes.

Everyone Loves Tom Wilson (Except Those That Hate Him)

Following their Game 4 victory, Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson was asked about the importance of teammate Tom Wilson to the team`s success. Wilson was sitting beside Thompson, who turned and grinned broadly at the imposing forward.

“No need to make his head any bigger,” Thompson quipped, before proceeding to heap further praise.

“He`s been huge for us. The heart and soul of this organization, right? When he`s making plays, big hits, we feed off that. Especially in our home rink, I think the whole building feeds off it. He`s a huge part of this team. We love him,” the goalie stated, then spread his arms wide to mime Wilson`s head swelling with compliments.

Wilson deadpanned in response, “That`s it?”

Like Logan Thompson, many people admire Tom Wilson. However, there are also countless fans and opponents who strongly dislike him due to a history of hits resulting in injury and other unsportsmanlike actions. Montreal fans and players were notably unhappy with Wilson in Game 3 when he engaged Josh Anderson in a brawl that spilled onto the Capitals` bench, and he then pretended to cry while apparently labeling an unidentified Canadiens player as a complainer.

“Things escalated,” Anderson said after the game.

Wilson displayed more control in Game 4. By his own admission, he wanted to avoid penalties to impact the game on the ice, and he didn`t receive a single penalty in the contest. In the third period, his influence was felt quite literally: Wilson delivered a powerful center-ice check on Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier moments before the Capitals gained control of the puck and Brandon Duhaime scored to tie the game 2-2 with 13:21 remaining in regulation.

“It`s been a physical series both ways. Getting hit. Giving hits,” Wilson commented. He also added an empty-net goal in the 5-2 win. “It was a big hit. The boys were able to score right after. That`s the way that hockey goes.”

Wilson has participated in the postseason for the Capitals since 2012-13. He has experienced the triumph of the Stanley Cup championship in 2018 and the disappointments of playoff exits. It speaks well of Washington that they have prevented Montreal from gaining momentum for an upset bid, thanks to their Game 1 overtime win on an Alex Ovechkin goal and their third-period comeback in Game 4 that secured a 3-1 series lead.

“It`s a group that`s had different guys step up throughout the year. I don`t think there`s any panic when we`re down a goal. We believe in ourselves,” Wilson remarked. “We got it done. It`s really fun to come to the rink.”

Few players are more intimidating when they are enjoying themselves than Tom Wilson.

More to Landeskog`s Game 4 Performance Than Just His Goal

Any uncertainties about how Gabriel Landeskog would reintegrate into a Colorado Avalanche lineup that has changed significantly since he last played nearly three years ago have been dispelled at various points this postseason. But in the 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday, he offered a compelling reminder of what the Avalanche had been missing.

Landeskog scored 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games when he captained Colorado to the third Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2022. His goal and assist in Game 4 against the Stars increased his career totals to 28 goals and 69 points in 71 postseason appearances.

A factor contributing to Landeskog`s consistent success within the Avalanche system – whether scoring himself or setting up teammates – is his positioning on the ice. This includes battling in the corners for puck possession and finding routes to the front of the net. These attributes were evident in his one-timer from the slot, set up by Brock Nelson, which extended the Avalanche lead to 3-0.

However, the sequence that perhaps best encapsulated Landeskog`s value came on Samuel Girard`s goal that made it 4-0. Landeskog, who earned a secondary assist, passed the puck to Nelson, who then found Girard. As Girard prepared to shoot, Landeskog moved to the net front and engaged in a physical battle with 6-foot-7 Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel to gain position and screen goaltender Casey DeSmith.

Landeskog`s presence was crucial not only in helping the Avalanche tie the series as it shifts back to Dallas but also represents a key element that could propel Colorado forward as the playoffs continue.

Goalie Clinic Turned to Controversy in Hurricanes-Devils

New Jersey`s playoff run might already be over if not for goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Conversely, Carolina would likely not be so dominant without netminder Frederik Andersen. This strong goaltending has been a significant theme of the series, with two top-tier goalies keeping their teams competitive.

In Game 4 on Sunday, the situation took a dramatic turn when Andersen was forcefully knocked over in his crease by Timo Meier and had to leave the game, being replaced by young Pyotr Kochetkov. Notably, no penalty was called on the play that injured Andersen. Adding insult to injury, Meier immediately turned around and scored on the incoming Kochetkov, narrowing the Hurricanes` lead to 3-2. A difficult moment for Carolina.

Andersen`s history with injuries is well known. He missed 39 regular-season games following knee surgery and appeared to be fully healthy and recovered for the playoffs. Now, his status is uncertain, a situation the Devils could potentially exploit, thanks in large part to the stellar play of Markstrom.

New Jersey has faced poor luck with injuries on their blue line, playing without Brenden Dillon or Luke Hughes since Game 1 and losing Johnathan Kovacevic in Game 3. Markstrom has been instrumental in compensating for his team`s defensive deficiencies. The veteran has stood tall against Carolina`s offense, giving New Jersey opportunities to take and hold leads. However, the Devils` scoring struggles (only five goals through the first three games) haven`t provided much support for Markstrom. Despite this, the Devils goaltender has still posted an impressive .929 save percentage in the postseason, placing him just behind Andersen among starting goalies on the playoff leaderboard.

Andersen has certainly earned his position at the top. He has been exceptionally solid for Carolina, consistently shutting down New Jersey`s attack. Andersen`s heroic efforts in Game 3 allowed the Hurricanes the chance to come back and win in double overtime. (His save on Meier in the second period was particularly outstanding.)

The head-to-head performance of these two goaltenders exemplifies playoff goaltending at its finest. The discussion should naturally focus on who can sustain their high level of play long enough to be the decisive factor in securing a series victory. Instead, the question for the Hurricanes now is who will be available going forward – Andersen or the emerging Kochetkov? The answer could have significant long-term implications for Carolina`s playoff hopes.

Can the Oilers Beat the Curse of the Western Conference?

Alright, perhaps “curse” is too strong a term in this context. However, the team representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final has encountered its share of difficulties in recent postseasons.

This trend began in 2020 when the Stars won the Western Conference playing in the Edmonton bubble. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning and then failed to make the playoffs the following season. Naturally, there was no designated Western Conference champion during the 2020-21 season due to the pandemic`s impact on scheduling.

Fast forward to 2022. The Colorado Avalanche won the West and the Stanley Cup. But a year later, they were eliminated in the first round. In 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights captured their first title, only to be knocked out in the first round in 2024. Leading up to the weekend, the Oilers were trailing 2-1 in their series against the Kings after losing the initial two games in Southern California.

The Kings-Oilers series has been peculiar, even beyond the fact that this is the fourth consecutive year they`ve met in the first round. A last-minute goal in a thrilling 6-5 Game 1 was followed by the Oilers allowing six goals for the second straight game in a 6-2 loss. This, in turn, was followed by another high-scoring affair where the Oilers won 7-4 in Game 3. It seems probable that something else unusual could occur, such as the Oilers either falling victim to this recent trend or finally breaking it.