The quest for the Stanley Cup is underway, with 16 teams competing to be crowned NHL champions. Canadian teams are eager to break the streak since 1993, with five teams from Canada in the playoffs this year, including the Winnipeg Jets, who are the top seed in the Western Conference and had the league`s best record. For those interested in betting, numerous opportunities are available for wagering on games and series, with attractive promotions for new users from leading sportsbooks.
Here’s an overview of the playoff picture and a look at the first-round matchups.
NHL Playoffs First Round Preview
Western Conference
The Winnipeg Jets, boasting the league`s best defense and star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, face the St. Louis Blues, who have their own experienced goalie in Jordan Binnington, a Stanley Cup winner from 2019.
The Vegas Golden Knights, consistent contenders, are matched up against the Minnesota Wild. Vegas brings significant playoff experience, while Minnesota hopes their goalie Filip Gustavsson continues his strong recent play.
The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, both strong playoff teams, are competing in a highly anticipated series. Colorado took Game 1 decisively. The Avalanche are powered by stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, while the Stars rely on a balanced team led by Matt Duchene and Jason Robertson. Both teams have solid goaltending.
The Los Angeles Kings are set to play against the Edmonton Oilers in another Western Conference series. The Oilers, aiming to return to the Stanley Cup Finals after losing last year, face a tough challenge against the defensively sound Kings, whose goalie Darcy Kuemper has been very effective.
Eastern Conference
The Washington Capitals, despite Alex Ovechkin`s pursuit of goal records, also secured the top seed in the East. They will play against the Montreal Canadiens, the last team to qualify for the playoffs, who have struggled defensively this season.
A Canada versus Canada matchup features the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Ottawa Senators. Toronto is led by Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, while Ottawa has had scoring challenges this season.
In a Florida showdown, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stanley Cup champions in 2020 and 2021, play the Florida Panthers, the reigning champions. Tampa Bay has a high-powered offense led by Nikita Kucherov, while Florida is led by Sam Reinhart.
Lastly, the Carolina Hurricanes will face the New Jersey Devils. Carolina is strong both offensively and defensively, while New Jersey has a good defense but has had trouble scoring. Key players include Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis for Carolina, and the Hughes brothers for New Jersey.
Responsible Gaming
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