Stanley Cup Playoffs 2025: Sunday Game 1s Preview
Hockey fans, brace yourselves! The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing, and after an exciting two-game opening night, we’re gearing up for a thrilling Sunday with three Game 1 matchups. The stakes are high, and the ice is ready to be set ablaze with action. Let’s dive into the matchups and see which teams might gain the early edge in their series and who the key players to watch are.
First up, we have the New Jersey Devils taking on the Carolina Hurricanes at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. These two teams split the regular-season series with two wins apiece. However, it’s important to note that all four of those games were played before Devils star Jack Hughes sustained a season-ending injury. The Hurricanes have been led in scoring this season by Finland native Sebastian Aho with 29 goals and 45 assists. On the other hand, Sweden’s Jesper Bratt was the Devils’ leading scorer with 21 goals and 67 assists. The last time these two teams met in the postseason was in 2023, with the Hurricanes emerging victorious 4-1.
Next, the Ottawa Senators face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. This matchup marks the first postseason appearance for the Senators since 2017 and the first ever for Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are making their ninth consecutive playoff appearance, albeit with just one series win to show for it. Toronto’s scoring prowess has often vanished in past postseasons, so leading scorer Mitch Marner (27 goals, 75 assists) and his teammates will be looking to reverse that trend. Although Toronto is favored in the series, Ottawa won all three regular-season games between the teams.
Finally, the nightcap features the Minnesota Wild against the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Wild, a wild-card team, will face one of the more complete teams in the West. Newly signed Minnesota defenseman Zeev Buium, fresh off a run to the NCAA Frozen Four final with the University of Denver, didn’t see action in the regular-season finale. It will be interesting to see how much he is deployed in this series. The Knights, led by center Jack Eichel, who earned some Hart Trophy votes in the final edition of ESPN’s NHL Awards Watch, will come at the Wild in waves. Vegas won all three regular-season games between the two clubs, by an aggregate score of 12-4.
Arda’s Three Stars of Saturday
- 1. Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
A goal and two assists for Connor, who kept the Jets’ offense soaring in a game that set the tone for Winnipeg in this series, including a third-period comeback. This team is still motivated by a five-game first-round exit last postseason, and they also want to keep the Presidents’ Trophy vibes going. - 2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
One of the best players of the game, and he showed up Saturday. Three points in Game 1 (on the road, no less), including the eventual game-winning goal and an empty-netter to help the Avalanche take the early lead in the series. - 3. Mark Scheifele, C, Winnipeg Jets
The chemistry between Scheifele and Connor was on display. The center finished with three points in Game 1, including a great play to get Connor the puck late in the third period on the game-winning goal.
Saturday’s Results
The Winnipeg Jets bested the St. Louis Blues 5-3 in Game 1 of their playoff series. A furious first period included a pair of goals for both teams, as the clubs elected to throw haymakers at the start of the series instead of patiently reading their opponents. The Blues carried a 3-2 lead into the third after a second-period tally from Jordan Kyrou, but the Jets took over the third — first with the momentum in front of a “White Out” crowd, and then with a trio of goals. Alex Iafallo had the game-tying score at 9:18 of the third, followed by the game-winner by Kyle Connor with 1:36 left and an empty-net goal by Adam Lowry to put the game away. Full stats, recap.
In another matchup, the Colorado Avalanche made easy work of the Dallas Stars with a 5-2 victory. Unlike Saturday’s earlier game, these two contenders started with a 0-0 first period. But from the second period onward, it was all Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring with one of the most unique goals in memory, with the puck going in off of his skate and over Jake Oettinger‘s shoulder — the play was ruled a good goal upon review. Nathan MacKinnon added a power-play tally after Roope Hintz high-sticked him to push it to 2-0 and the Avs never looked back. Although Hintz scored a power-play goal of his own in the third, the Avs got goals from Devon Toews, an empty-netter from MacKinnon and a final tally from Charlie Coyle. Full stats, recap.
Originally Written by: ESPN staff
