The opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs concluded with two thrilling Game 7s over the weekend. On Sunday night, the Jets narrowly avoided elimination by beating the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in double overtime, thanks to a regulation goal scored with just three seconds left. Saturday saw the Dallas Stars eliminate the Colorado Avalanche with a 4-2 comeback victory, featuring Mikko Rantanen`s third-period hat trick against his former team.
The Jets found themselves trailing by two goals twice: first at 2-0 in the opening period, and later at 3-1 with only two minutes remaining in the game. Vladislav Namestnikov scored with 1:56 left, followed by Cole Perfetti`s equalizer with three seconds on the clock to force overtime. The sudden-death period lasted over 36 minutes before Adam Lowry tipped in a Neal Pionk shot, ending the third-longest Game 7 in NHL history.
In the other weekend Game 7 classic, the Stars were down 2-0 in the third period when Rantanen scored twice to tie the game. He then assisted Wyatt Johnston`s game-winning goal, scored with less than four minutes left. To add insult to injury for the Avalanche, Rantanen completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal to secure the victory.
The second round is set to begin Monday night, with the reigning champion Florida Panthers starting their series on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Canada, which hasn`t had a team raise the Stanley Cup since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, began the playoffs with five teams but is now down to just Toronto, Winnipeg, and last season`s runner-up, 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
