The intense initial round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has concluded, reducing the field of contenders from sixteen to eight. As the second round commences, the journey towards the championship continues. A key matchup sees the Florida Panthers heading north to face the Toronto Maple Leafs. The question on everyone`s mind is whether the Panthers can advance further or if their path will end here. Fans following the series or individual games should be aware that various platforms exist for placing wagers.
Second Round Overview
Following hard-fought first-round series, eight teams remain, battling for conference supremacy and a spot in the semifinals. The competition has been fierce, with several teams pushed to their limits.
Western Conference
In a dramatic turn of events, the Dallas Stars overcame a two-goal third-period deficit to defeat the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7. This victory was significantly boosted by a hat-trick performance from a former Avalanche player in the final period. The Stars` head coach maintains an impressive undefeated record in Game 7s. Their next challenge is against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Winnipeg Jets survived a determined challenge from the St. Louis Blues, needing the full seven games to secure their progression. The decisive Game 7 was a thriller, with the Jets forcing overtime by scoring twice late in regulation before finally netting the game-winner in double overtime. Home advantage proved significant throughout that series. The Jets, who finished the regular season with the best record in the NHL, are aiming to become the first team in over a decade to win both the Presidents` Trophy and the Stanley Cup. They had a favorable record against the Stars during the regular season.
The other Western Conference series features the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Edmonton Oilers, last year`s Western Conference finalists. The Oilers showed resilience in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, dropping the first two games before winning four straight to advance. The Golden Knights also demonstrated determination, defeating the Minnesota Wild in six games after trailing 2-1 in the series, winning the final three contests. The season series between Vegas and Edmonton was evenly split. Offensive power is a hallmark of both teams, reflected in their scoring totals in their regular-season meetings. A recent matchup in April saw the Oilers narrowly defeat the Golden Knights. A key player to watch is Connor McDavid, who was highly productive in the Oilers` first-round victory.
Eastern Conference
The defending champions, the Florida Panthers, begin their second-round campaign against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Panthers had a relatively smooth first round, defeating their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in just five games. The Maple Leafs advanced by overcoming the Ottawa Senators in six games. Florida held the edge in their regular-season series against Toronto, winning three out of four meetings. Their most recent games in early April saw them split victories. Sam Reinhart was a leading scorer for the Panthers in the first round, while William Nylander was a standout performer for Toronto.
The Washington Capitals were dominant in their five-game victory over the Montreal Canadiens and now face the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes also had a strong first round, needing only five games to eliminate the New Jersey Devils. The regular-season series between Washington and Carolina was tied, with each team winning twice. Their last encounter in April resulted in a close shootout victory for the Capitals. Dylan Strome was a key offensive contributor for the Capitals in the first round, and Sebastian Aho led the way for Carolina.
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