The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs concluded with two dramatic Game 7 matchups this weekend. On Sunday night, the Winnipeg Jets secured a thrilling 4-3 double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues. Winnipeg forced overtime by scoring a game-tying goal with an astonishing three seconds left in regulation. The day before, the Dallas Stars advanced by defeating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in a comeback effort, fueled by Mikko Rantanen`s third-period hat trick against his former team.
Winnipeg faced significant deficits against the Blues, trailing 2-0 in the first period and later 3-1 with just two minutes remaining. Vladislav Namestnikov narrowed the gap at 1:56 remaining, followed by Cole Perfetti`s crucial goal with only three seconds left on the clock to send the game to sudden death. The decisive moment arrived after more than 36 minutes of intense overtime play when Adam Lowry deflected a Neal Pionk shot into the net, ending the contest which ranks as the third-longest Game 7 in NHL history.
In the weekend`s other tense Game 7, the Dallas Stars found themselves trailing the Avalanche 2-0 in the third period. Mikko Rantanen then scored twice to level the game and subsequently assisted on Wyatt Johnston`s game-winning goal with under four minutes left. Rantanen capped his remarkable performance by scoring an empty-net goal to complete his hat trick and seal the Stars` victory.
The second round of the playoffs is set to commence Monday evening, featuring the reigning champion Florida Panthers visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs to open their series. Canada, which has not celebrated a Stanley Cup victory since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, began the playoffs with five teams but is now down to just Toronto, Winnipeg, and last season`s finalist, Edmonton.
(1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3) Florida Panthers
- Game 1: Monday, May 5 | 8 p.m. | at TOR | ESPN
- Game 2: Wednesday, May 7 | 7 p.m. | at TOR | ESPN
- Game 3: Friday, May 9 | 7 p.m. | at FLA | TNT/truTV/Max
- Game 4: Sunday, May 11 | 7:30 p.m. | at FLA | TBS/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 | TBD | at TOR | ESPN
- IF NECESSARY Game 6: Friday, May 16 | TBD | at FLA | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 7: Sunday, May 18 | TBD | at TOR | TNT/Max
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 | 7 p.m. | at WSH | ESPN
- Game 2: Thursday, May 8 | 7 p.m. | at WSH | ESPN
- Game 3: Saturday, May 10 | 6 p.m. | at CAR | TNT/truTV/Max
- Game 4: Monday, May 12 | 7 p.m. | at CAR | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 5: Thursday, May 15 | TBD | at WSH | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 6: Saturday, May 17 | TBD | at CAR | TBD
- IF NECESSARY Game 7: Monday, May 19 | TBD | at WSH | ESPN
(1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (2) Dallas Stars
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 7 | 9:30 p.m. | at WPG | ESPN
- Game 2: Friday, May 9 | 9:30 p.m. | at WPG | TNT/truTV/Max
- Game 3: Saturday, May 11 | 4:30 p.m. | at DAL | TBS/truTV/Max
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 13 | 8 p.m. | at DAL | ESPN
- IF NECESSARY Game 5: Thursday, May 15 | TBD | at Jets | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 6: Saturday, May 17 | TBD | at DAL | TBD
- IF NECESSARY Game 7: Monday, May 19 | TBD | at WPG | ESPN
(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers
- Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 | 9:30 p.m. | at VGK | ESPN
- Game 2: Thursday, May 8 | 9:30 p.m. | at VGK | ESPN
- Game 3: Saturday, May 10 | 9 p.m. | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
- Game 4: Monday, May 12 | 9:30 | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 | TBD | at VGK | ESPN
- IF NECESSARY Game 6: Friday, May 16 | TBD | at EDM | TNT/truTV/Max
- IF NECESSARY Game 7: Sunday, May 18 | TBD | at VGK | TNT/Max
