Stanley Cup Playoffs: Sunday Game 1s Preview and Reactions
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 action promises to be intense, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as teams vie for an early advantage in their series. Let’s dive into the details of these matchups and see which teams might earn the early edge 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 their regular-season series with two wins apiece. However, it’s worth noting that all four of those games were played before Devils star Jack Hughes sustained a season-ending injury. The Hurricanes, led by Finland native Sebastian Aho (29 goals, 45 assists), will be looking to capitalize on Hughes’ absence. Meanwhile, 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 in a 4-1 series win.
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. On the other hand, the Maple Leafs are making their ninth consecutive playoff appearance, but 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 eager to reverse that trend. Despite being the favorites, Toronto lost all three regular-season games against Ottawa.
Finally, the nightcap features the Minnesota Wild taking on 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, will come at the Wild in waves. Vegas won all three regular-season games between the two clubs, with an aggregate score of 12-4.
Arda’s Three Stars of Saturday
- 1. Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Connor had a goal and two assists, keeping the Jets’ offense soaring in a game that set the tone for Winnipeg in this series, including a third-period comeback. The team is still motivated by a five-game first-round exit last postseason and wants to keep the Presidents’ Trophy vibes going. - 2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon, one of the best players in the game, showed up on Saturday with three points in Game 1, 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
Scheifele’s chemistry with Connor was on full display as he 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. The Jets lead the series 1-0. A furious first period saw both teams score twice, opting to throw haymakers at the start of the series. The Blues carried a 3-2 lead into the third after a second-period tally from Jordan Kyrou, but the Jets took over in the third. Alex Iafallo tied the game 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 sealed the victory.
In another matchup, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 5-2, taking a 1-0 series lead. Unlike the 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 a unique goal, and Nathan MacKinnon added a power-play tally. Although Roope Hintz scored a power-play goal for the Stars, the Avalanche responded with goals from Devon Toews, an empty-netter from MacKinnon, and a final tally from Charlie Coyle.
Originally Written by: ESPN staff
