The first round of the NHL playoffs was filled with surprises as top teams like the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Tampa Bay Lightning were eliminated. The unpredictable outcomes have made the second round even more exciting, with three first-time playoff matchups in the cards.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are now the favorites to win their first championship since 1967, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Leafs dominated in the regular season and defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the first round.
They will now face the Florida Panthers in the second round, which could be a challenging matchup for the Leafs.
Reseeding Complaints
One major complaint about the playoffs is that they have not reseeded after the first round since 2014. This has led to top teams meeting each other early on and has increased the likelihood of upsets.
The NHL has not yet announced any changes to the playoff format.
Three First-Time Matchups
The second round of the playoffs features three first-time playoff matchups: the Panthers vs. the Maple Leafs, the Hurricanes vs. either the Devils or Rangers, and the Kraken vs. the Stars.
These matchups could bring even more upheaval to the playoffs and make for some exciting games.
Hurricanes Advance Despite Injuries
The Carolina Hurricanes managed to advance to the second round despite playing without injured forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen.
In the second round, the Hurricanes will be up against either the Devils or Rangers.
Stars Have Strong Goaltender
The Dallas Stars have one of the best goaltenders left in the playoffs: Jake Oettinger. Oettinger has been playing at an elite level and could be a key factor in the Stars’ success in the playoffs.
The Stars will face off against the Seattle Kraken in the second round.
McDavid and Eichel Face Off
In a highly anticipated matchup, Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, who were picked first and second in the 2015 draft, will face off in the playoffs for the first time. The Vegas Golden Knights will be facing McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers in the second round of the playoffs.
The NHL playoffs have been full of surprises so far, with top teams being eliminated and new favorites emerging. The second round features three first-time playoff matchups and could bring even more excitement to the playoffs. Fans will be eagerly watching to see who will come out on top and advance to the next round.
