The Stanley Cup Playoffs noticed some riveting motion all through the primary spherical. Two of the Western Convention sequence went the total seven video games. The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets finally moved onto the subsequent spherical regardless of each wanting lifeless within the water late in Sport 7.

There have been many spectacular particular person performances that performed an enormous position in groups transferring onto the second spherical, which begins on Monday with the Toronto Maple Leafs internet hosting final season’s champions, the Florida Panthers. Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen was actually one which modified the complete complexion of the sequence in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche.

NHL Playoffs 2025: Stanley Cup schedule, bracket, scores, as Jets shock Blues in double additional time

Austin Nivison

This is a have a look at three of the highest stars from the primary spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

1 — Mikko Rantanen, Stars

Revenge is a dish greatest served chilly, and that was undoubtedly the case when Stars ahead Mikko Rantanen took on his former workforce within the first spherical.

After the 2 sides could not come to phrases on a contract extension, the Avalanche elected to commerce Rantanen to the Hurricanes in a package deal that netted Colorado Martin Necas. Nonetheless, Carolina additionally ended up transferring Rantanen to Dallas simply previous to the commerce deadline. 

Rantanen did get off to a sluggish begin in opposition to his former workforce with only one help by means of the opening 4 video games of the sequence. Nonetheless, Rantanen put collectively a stretch for the ages within the closing three video games of the sequence. He tallied 5 objectives and 6 assists within the span, however no efficiency was extra electrical than what he produced in Sport 7. Rantanen racked up three objectives and an help in flipping a 2-0 third-period deficit into an unbelievable 4-2 victory.

Rantanen turned the primary participant in league historical past to report 4 factors in a interval in consecutive video games after tallying a aim and three assists within the second interval of Sport 6. He was in a position to end off his hat trick efficiency in Sport 7 with an empty-net aim.

The Stars winger actually introduced a brand new definition to the phrase “placing the workforce on his again.” Rantanen rose to the event when the Stars wanted him essentially the most, and so they’re transferring on to face a Jets workforce that wanted its personal share of heroics to outlive a scare from the Blues.

2 — Anthony Stolarz, Maple Leafs

Anthony Stolarz has spent nearly all of his NHL profession as a backup goaltender, however lastly received his probability to shine when the Stanley Cup Playoffs received underway for the Maple Leafs.

Stolarz spent nearly all of the common season splitting time with Joseph Woll, however Toronto coach Craig Berube elected to maneuver ahead with the veteran goaltender in internet once they took on Ottawa. In six video games, Stolarz recorded a 2.21 goals-against-average and a .901 save share, whereas successful 4 of his subsequent begins. Stolarz additionally surrendered two or fewer objectives in 5 of the six video games within the first-round sequence. 

Stolarz stopped 11 of the ultimate 12 photographs that he confronted within the third interval of the series-clinching sport. The veteran goaltender additionally gave up simply 4 complete objectives over the ultimate two video games of the sequence, which helped the Maple Leafs keep away from a Sport 7.

The Maple Leafs had been in a position to rely on Stolarz to close the door when the workforce wanted him essentially the most. Contemplating that he solely appeared in a single profession playoff sport previous to the first-round sequence, Stolarz actually handed his check with flying colours.

3 — Connor McDavid, Oilers

The Oilers had a tough begin to their opening spherical sequence as they had been outscored 12-7 of their first two video games. Nonetheless, when a workforce has a participant of the caliber of Connor McDavid on its roster, they’re by no means out of it.

McDavid ended up registering two objectives and 9 assists all through the six-game sequence as he continued to rise to the event. The Oilers star recorded three multi-point performances together with his playmaking skill being on full show all sequence lengthy.

When going through a 2-0 sequence deficit, McDavid managed to dominate in a spot the place the Oilers desperately wanted a win to be able to shift the momentum. The Oilers celebrity ended up tallying a aim and two assists, together with recording the first help on Evander Kane’s game-tying aim within the third interval in a contest the place the Oilers finally gained 7-4.

When the lights are the brightest, McDavid has proved to be completely electrical. Whereas it does not at all times come from placing the puck within the internet, McDavid impacts the sport in so many various ways in which the opposition persistently has their arms full, very similar to the Kings did within the first spherical.