2025 NHL playoffs each day: Previewing Sunday’s three Sport 1s

Which groups will earn the early edge of their collection? Who’re the important thing gamers to observe?

Learn on for recreation previews, recaps of what went down final night time, and the Three Stars of the Evening from Arda Öcal.

Matchup notes

New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes
Sport 1 | 3 p.m. ET, ESPN

These two groups cut up the regular-season collection with two wins apiece; notably, all 4 of these video games had been performed earlier than Devils star Jack Hughes sustained a season-ending harm. The Hurricanes had been led in scoring this season by Finland native Sebastian Aho (29 objectives, 45 assists), whereas Sweden’s Jesper Bratt was the Devils’ main scorer (21 objectives, 67 assists). The 2 groups’ most up-to-date postseason conflict occurred in 2023, which the Canes gained 4-1.

Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Sport 1 | 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

The opening skirmish within the Battle of Ontario is the primary postseason look for the Senators since 2017 — and the primary ever for Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk. On the opposite facet, this would be the Maple Leafs’ ninth consecutive playoff look — with only one collection win to indicate for it. Toronto has had its scoring prowess vanish in previous postseasons, so main scorer Mitch Marner (27 objectives, 75 assists) & Co. will hope to reverse that development. And whereas Toronto is the favourite within the collection, Ottawa gained all three regular-season video games between the groups.

Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights
Sport 1 | 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

Sunday’s nightcap sees the wild-card Wild face one of many extra full groups within the West. Newly signed Minnesota defenseman Zeev Buium — contemporary off a run to the NCAA Frozen 4 last with the College of Denver — did not see motion within the regular-season finale; how a lot will he be deployed on this collection? The Knights will come on the Wild in waves, led by heart Jack Eichel, who earned some Hart Trophy votes within the last version of ESPN’s NHL Awards Watch. Vegas gained all three regular-season video games between the 2 golf equipment, by an mixture rating of 12-4.

Arda’s Three Stars of Saturday

A purpose and two assists for Connor, who stored the Jets’ offense hovering in a recreation that set the tone for Winnipeg on this collection — together with a 3rd interval comeback. This crew continues to be motivated by a five-game first-round exit final postseason, and so they additionally wish to preserve the Presidents’ Trophy vibes going.

Probably the greatest gamers of the sport, and he confirmed up Saturday. Three factors in Sport 1 (on the highway, no much less), together with the eventual game-winning purpose and an empty-netter to assist the Avalanche take the early lead within the collection.

The chemistry between Scheifele and Connor was on show. The middle completed with three factors in Sport 1, together with an incredible participant to get Connor the puck late within the third interval on the game-winning purpose.

Saturday’s outcomes

Winnipeg Jets 5, St. Louis Blues 3
Jets lead collection 1-0

A livid first interval included a pair of objectives for each groups, because the golf equipment elected to throw haymakers at the beginning of the collection as an alternative of patiently learn their opponents. The Blues carried a 3-2 lead into the third after a second-period tally from Jordan Kyrou, however the Jets took over the third — first with the momentum in entrance of a “White Out” crowd, after which with a trio of objectives. Alex Iafallo had the game-tying rating at 9:18 of the third, adopted by the game-winner by Kyle Connor with 1:36 left, and an empty-net purpose by Adam Lowry to place the sport away.

Colorado Avalanche 5, Dallas Stars 2
Avs lead collection 1-0

Not like Saturday’s earlier recreation, these two contenders began with a 0-0 first interval. However from the second interval onward, it was all Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring with probably the most distinctive objectives in reminiscence, with the puck getting in off of his skate and over Jake Oettinger’s shoulder — the play was dominated a great purpose upon evaluation. Nathan MacKinnon added a power-play tally after Roope Hintz high-sticked him to push it to 2-0 and the Avs by no means regarded again. Though Hintz scored a power-play purpose of his personal within the third, the Avs bought objectives from Devon Toews, an empty-netter from MacKinnon and a last tally from Charlie Coyle.