The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered plenty of excitement and intense competition. Two series in the Western Conference were pushed to the full seven games. Ultimately, the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets successfully advanced to the next stage, despite both teams facing precarious situations late in their respective Game 7 matchups.
Many exceptional individual efforts were crucial in helping teams secure their spot in the second round, which is set to commence. For instance, Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen`s play significantly altered the dynamics of their series against the Colorado Avalanche. This article highlights three of the most outstanding players from the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Mikko Rantanen`s performance when facing his former team, the Avalanche, felt like sweet retribution. After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension, the Avalanche had previously traded Rantanen to the Hurricanes as part of a package that included Martin Necas. However, the Hurricanes later traded Rantanen to Dallas just before the trade deadline.
Rantanen initially struggled against his old club, registering only one assist through the first four games. Yet, he found his stride in the final three games of the series, putting together an incredible stretch. During this period, he recorded five goals and six assists. His Game 7 performance was particularly electrifying: Rantanen scored three goals and added an assist, helping the Stars overcome a 2-0 deficit in the third period to secure an improbable 4-2 victory.
Making history, Rantanen became the first player in league history to achieve four points in consecutive periods across two games, following a goal and three assists in the second period of Game 6. He completed his Game 7 hat trick with an empty-net goal. The Stars winger truly exemplified `carrying the team,` stepping up precisely when Dallas needed him most. His efforts propelled them forward to face the Jets, a team that themselves needed significant heroics to survive a scare from the Blues.
Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs
Anthony Stolarz, who has spent most of his NHL career as a backup goaltender, finally got his opportunity to shine as the Stanley Cup Playoffs began for the Maple Leafs. He split time with Joseph Woll during the regular season, but Toronto coach Craig Berube opted for the veteran netminder to start against Ottawa.
In the six-game series, Stolarz posted a 2.21 goals-against-average and a .901 save percentage, winning four of his starts. He also limited opponents to two or fewer goals in five of the six games in the first round. Stolarz was particularly strong in the series-clinching game, stopping 11 of the final 12 shots he faced in the third period. By allowing only four goals total over the last two games, he helped the Maple Leafs avoid a decisive Game 7.
The Maple Leafs could rely on Stolarz to shut down the opposition during critical moments. Considering he had appeared in only one prior career playoff game before this first-round series, Stolarz undoubtedly passed his test with remarkable success.
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers experienced a difficult start to their opening-round series, being outscored 12-7 in the first two games. However, with a player of Connor McDavid`s exceptional skill on the roster, the team is never truly out of contention.
McDavid demonstrated his impact by registering two goals and nine assists across the six-game series, consistently rising to the occasion. The Oilers captain recorded three multi-point games, showcasing his elite playmaking abilities throughout the series. Facing a 2-0 series deficit, McDavid delivered a dominant performance when the Oilers desperately needed a win to shift momentum. He tallied a goal and two assists in that game, including the primary assist on Evander Kane`s game-tying goal in the third period, as the Oilers ultimately won 7-4.
McDavid proves to be absolutely spectacular when performing under pressure. While his impact isn`t solely measured by scoring, McDavid influences the game in so many diverse ways that opponents are consistently challenged to contain him, just as the Kings were in the first round.
