The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs delivered compelling hockey action, with intense battles across both conferences. Notably, two series in the Western Conference were pushed to the limit, reaching a decisive Game 7. The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets ultimately secured their spots in the next round, navigating challenging situations late in their respective winner-take-all games.
Significant individual contributions were crucial in propelling teams forward to the second round, which is set to begin on Monday with the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers. Among these standout players, Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen`s remarkable performance fundamentally altered the course of their series against the Colorado Avalanche.
Here is a look at three of the top individual performers from the initial stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
1 — Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
Facing his former team in the first round undoubtedly added an extra layer of motivation for Stars forward Mikko Rantanen.
Following disagreements over a contract extension, the Avalanche had previously traded Rantanen to the Hurricanes as part of a package that included Martin Necas. However, Carolina subsequently traded Rantanen to Dallas shortly before the trade deadline.
Rantanen`s series against Colorado began quietly, registering just one assist through the first four contests. But he then unleashed an extraordinary display over the final three games, accumulating five goals and six assists. His performance in Game 7 was particularly explosive: he notched three goals and an assist, spearheading a comeback from a 2-0 third-period deficit to secure an improbable 4-2 victory.
He etched his name in league history by becoming the first player to record four points in a single period in consecutive games, following his goal and three assists in the second period of Game 6. His Game 7 hat trick was sealed with an empty-net goal.
The Stars winger truly exemplified carrying his team on his back. Rantanen rose to the occasion precisely when the Stars needed him most, guiding them to the next round to face a Jets team that also required dramatic heroics to survive a scare in their series.2 — Anthony Stolarz, Toronto Maple Leafs
Anthony Stolarz, who has spent much of his NHL career as a backup goaltender, seized a significant opportunity to shine when the Stanley Cup Playoffs commenced for the Maple Leafs.
Although he shared goaltending duties with Joseph Woll during the regular season, Toronto coach Craig Berube opted to start the veteran Stolarz in net for their playoff series against Ottawa. Over six games, Stolarz posted a solid 2.21 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage, earning four wins. He notably held the opponent to two goals or fewer in five of the six games in the first-round matchup.
Stolarz made crucial saves late in the series-clinching game, stopping 11 of the final 12 shots he faced in the third period. He allowed a total of just four goals over the last two games of the series, helping the Maple Leafs avoid a potentially perilous Game 7.
The Maple Leafs were able to depend on Stolarz to deliver under pressure. Considering he had appeared in only one career playoff game prior to this series, Stolarz unquestionably passed his test with flying colors.3 — Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers faced a difficult start to their opening-round series, being outscored 12-7 across the first two games. However, with a generational talent like Connor McDavid on the roster, the team is never truly out of any situation.
McDavid finished the six-game series with two goals and nine assists, consistently rising to the occasion. The Oilers captain recorded three multi-point performances, with his exceptional playmaking ability on full display throughout the series.
Facing a 2-0 series deficit, McDavid delivered a dominant performance in a pivotal Game 3, where the Oilers desperately needed a victory to change the series momentum. He registered a goal and two assists, including the primary assist on Evander Kane’s game-tying goal in the third period, contributing significantly to the Oilers` eventual 7-4 win.
When the intensity is highest, McDavid proves to be absolutely electric. While his impact isn`t solely measured by scoring, McDavid influences the game in so many profound ways that opposing teams, such as the Kings in the first round, find him incredibly challenging to contain.
