Auston Matthews, Mikko Rantanen and Matthew Tkachuk headline electrifying first-round Stanley Cup Playoff confrontations

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs are under intense pressure against the dark horse Ottawa Senators
• Mikko Rantanen 's narrative fuel for a heavy-hitting series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche
• Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning renew their intense Battle of Florida in a high-scoring rematch

There is no sports event having more high drama, high-flying, and downright unpredictability than the NHL playoffs. With high-flying showdowns galore, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will feature superstars like Auston Matthews, Mikko Rantanen, and Matthew Tkachuk as the dash for hockey's most prized trophy begins. Of the eight opening-round meetings, three series promise fireworks on the first opening puck drop—each packed with rivalry, redemption, and storytelling heft.

Toronto Maple Leafs host Ottawa Senators in playoff back of Battle of Ontario


For the first time since 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators meet in a playoff series, and it is as high-stakes a series as can be for the Maple Leafs. While the expectations are lofty for the Toronto Maple Leafs with hopes of making it past the second round after years of first-round exits, the Ottawa Senators are on a rollhaving swept the regular-season series and snapped a seven-year playoff dry spell. Captain Brady Tkachuk, in his first playoff game, heads a hungry team looking to turn the tables.

Mikko Rantanen's Dallas debut tops Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche showdown

Call it an edgy reunion. Mikko Rantanen, who was the soul of the Colorado Avalanche, now wears a Dallas Stars uniform after a frantic season where he was traded twice. That in itself is reason enough to bring significance to this game, but the war on ice is far greater.

The Avalanche also feature a revamped goaltending crew in Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, neither of whom has a wealth of playoff experience—a potential X-factor in a series between two of the league’s top eight finishers.

Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning renew playoff rivalry in Sunshine State showdown

When the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers face each other, it's not a series—it's war. For the fourth time in five years, these Florida division rivals engage in a battle of postseason pride and state supremacy.

The Panthers, in the form of Matthew Tkachuk, have struggled into the playoffs, bedevilled by injuries and the loss of Aaron Ekblad, out for the first games. Though they won the series last season on their path to the final, their play has declined, including a 5–1 thrashing by Tampa in the season finale.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, playoff veterans themselves, are seeking revenge. Splitting the season series 2–2, this best-of-seven war now feels more personal than ever, and a second-round trip might depend on who maintains their cool the longest.

Also read: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs of Metropolitan Division from 4/20/25 to 4/27/25: Games, teams, date, time

With feelings running high, competition intense, and superstars under the microscope, the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is looking to be one for the ages.