Written by: Samantha Roseff
Round 1 of the NHL Playoffs is officially in the books, and eight teams are moving on. But let’s zero in on the Western Conference, made up of the Central and Pacific Divisions.
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
Result: Jets win 4-3
The Jets, who took home the Presidents’ Trophy, faced off against the St. Louis Blues in a gritty, back-and-forth series where the home team won every game. Game 7 was no different. Winnipeg erased a 3-1 deficit late in the third, tying it up with just 3 seconds left on the clock. In double OT, Adam Lowry played hero, burying the game-winner and sending the Jets to Round 2.
Next up: Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Result: Stars win 4-3
This seven-game showdown delivered all the drama. Game 7 was a rollercoaster, with Dallas winning 4-2. Mikko Rantanen made history, becoming the first player ever to net a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7. The twist? He used to wear an Avalanche jersey. Rantanen finished the series with 5 goals and 7 assists. Head Coach Peter DeBoer stayed perfect in Game 7s, moving to a jaw-dropping 9-0, the best record in NHL history.
Next up: Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
Result: Golden Knights win 4-2
Vegas punched their ticket to the semis with a gritty 3-2 win in Game 6. Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Mark Stone all tallied a goal and an assist. Goalie Adin Hill stood tall with 29 saves. For Minnesota, Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves in a clutch Game 3 win, while Kirill Kaprizov led the charge in Game 2 with two goals and an assist.
Next up: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Result: Oilers win 4-2
After dropping the first two games, the Oilers flipped the script, rattling off four straight wins to bounce the Kings. In Game 5, Leon Draisaitl lit the lamp twice, Connor Brown added one, and Calvin Pickard held strong with 23 saves. Connor McDavid, who racked up 132 points in the regular season, continues to dominate the postseason.
Next up: Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Round 2 is heating up. Who’s going to the Western Conference Final? Who’s headed to the Stanley Cup Final? Could the West bring the Cup home this year? Time will tell.
