The Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins series was a big moment for Buffalo because they finally got back into the playoffs and actually looked strong. The Sabres played faster and had more energy for most of the series. Boston had a couple of good games, but Buffalo controlled the momentum overall. It felt like Buffalo was ready for the moment, while Boston kept struggling to keep up.
The Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series was super close the entire time and every game felt stressful. A lot of the games were low-scoring and came down to one big play or overtime goal. Montreal kept surprising people and never backed down against the more experienced Tampa team. The series going to Game 7 showed how even both teams really were.
The Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators series honestly felt one-sided most of the time. Carolina’s speed and defense were too much for Ottawa to handle. Ottawa fought hard, but they struggled to create offense consistently. Carolina just looked like a serious Cup contender from the start.
“Freddie, it’s probably the best hockey he’s played for us since being a Hurricane,” said Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour on the goalie Frederik Andersen’s performance.
The Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins series was really intense because it’s a rivalry and both teams were playing physical hockey. Philly looked more aggressive and took advantage of Pittsburgh’s mistakes. The Penguins had moments where they looked dangerous, but they couldn’t stay consistent enough. The Flyers winning the series was definitely one of the bigger surprises.
The Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings series felt completely dominated by Colorado. The Avalanche were faster, more skilled, and controlled almost every game. The Kings couldn’t really find a way to slow Colorado down offensively. Colorado sweeping the series made them look scary going into the next round.
The Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars series was really competitive and had a lot of momentum changes. Minnesota kept making big plays at important times and found ways to win close games. Dallas had chances to take over the series but couldn’t finish consistently. It ended up being one of the more entertaining matchups in the first round.
“I think it’s the guys we have in here now,” said Wild forward Marcus Foligno, a player who has been with the team since 2017. “I think it’s a little bit different. I think we have a lot of leadership and guys that are experienced.”
The Vegas Golden Knights vs. Utah Mammoth series was physical and pretty emotional since it was Utah’s first playoff appearance. Utah had some exciting moments and their fans brought a lot of energy. Vegas still looked more experienced and stayed calmer in big situations. In the end, Vegas just made fewer mistakes and played smarter overall.
The Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers series was probably one of the biggest shocks because Anaheim knocked Edmonton out early. Edmonton had all the star power, but Anaheim played tougher defensively and got big performances from their younger players. The Oilers had stretches where they looked great, but they couldn’t stay consistent. Anaheim winning the series definitely surprised a lot of people. They were the underdogs vs the one of the best players in hockey and hot oilers but got the work done.
