By Basil Stroh
NHL Public Relations
* Kyle Connor capped his three-point night with the latest postseason go-ahead goal in franchise history as he propelled the Jets to a 1-0 series lead.
* Nathan MacKinnon posted three points and became the fastest active player to 50 career playoff goals as he led the Avalanche to a Game 1 victory.
* Three more series are set to start Sunday on ESPN and Sportsnet programming, beginning with the Devils-Hurricanes, continuing with the Senators-Maple Leafs and ending with the Wild-Golden Knights.
SCHEIFELE, CONNOR HELP JETS SOAR BACK TO TAKE 1-0 SERIES LEAD
After the Blues took a 3-2 lead in the second period, Mark Scheifele (1-2—3) and Kyle Connor (1-2—3) spearheaded a Jets third-period rally that culminated with the latter scoring the game-winning goal in the final 1:36 of regulation to lift Winnipeg to a 1-0 series lead. It marked the Jets’ fifth postseason third-period comeback win in franchise history and first since Game 4 of the 2021 First Round (4-3 OT W vs. EDM).
Connor recorded his fourth career game-winning goal in the postseason and tied Paul Stastny for the most in Jets/Thrashers history while Scheifele boosted his career playoff totals to 22-19—41 (43 GP), surpassing Blake Wheeler (9-30—39 in 44 GP) to establish a franchise record for most playoff points.
* Connor and Scheifele both collected their third career three-point playoff game and surpassed Stastny for the second most in Jets/Thrashers history behind Wheeler (4 GP). The pair also moved into second place on the franchise’s all-time playoff assist list, with 19 each.
MACKINNON LEADS AVALANCHE TO GAME 1 VICTORY WITH 50TH CAREER PLAYOFF GOAL
A scoreless game through nearly two periods was broken when Nathan MacKinnon (2-1—3) factored on two straight Colorado goals before scoring another to reach 50 career playoff goals as he led the club to a 5-1 victory. The Avalanche won their 29th Game 1 of a playoff series since the franchise moved to Colorado in 1995-96, which passed the Red Wings (28-17) for the most such wins through that span.
* MacKinnon’s first goal was factored on by Cale Makar (73 GP), who also reached a scoring plateau during Game 1 when he became the third-fastest defenseman in Stanley Cup Playoffs history to reach 60 career assists behind only Bobby Orr (69 GP) and Al MacInnis (71 GP).
* MacKinnon became the third player in franchise history with 50 career postseason goals, joining Joe Sakic (84) and Peter Forsberg (58) while also becoming the fastest active player to reach the mark, besting Alex Ovechkin (103 GP).
-20122503.png)
QUICK CLICKS
* #NHLStats: Live Updates – April 19, 2025
* 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs First round schedule
* Zeev Buium to make NHL debut with Wild in Game 1 against Golden Knights
* Brad Marchand ‘same old pain in the butt’ with Panthers entering playoffs
* Darcy Kuemper‘s career year gives Kings confidence in latest playoff matchup against Oilers
ESPN HOSTS THREE MORE SERIES OPENERS, INCLUDING BATTLE OF ONTARIO
Six more teams will begin their quest for the Stanley Cup when the puck drops on three more First Round series: the sixth all-time meeting between the Hurricanes and Devils (last: 2023 R2), the fifth postseason rendition of the “Battle of Ontario” between the Maple Leafs and Senators (last: 2004 CQF) as well as the second head-to-head playoff clash between the Golden Knights and Wild (also: 2021 R1).
* Teams that take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-seven own an all-time series record of 525-247 (.680), including a 10-5 (.667) mark during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (6-2 in 2024 R1, .750).
DEVILS, HURRICANES READY FOR SECOND PLAYOFF MEETING IN THREE YEARS
The Hurricanes and Devils are meeting in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in three years and sixth time overall, with the series winner eventually advancing to the Final on three occasions (NJD in 2001, CAR in 2002 & 2006). The 2006 Hurricanes are the only instance that produced a Stanley Cup champion.
* Rod Brind’Amour is well versed in the playoff history between the two franchises and has been involved in every series to date. He collected 4-7—11 in 24 career postseason games against the Devils as a member of the Hurricanes, which included the winning goal in Game 3 of the 2006 Conference Semifinals en route to a Stanley Cup.
* Devils captain Nico Hischier enters the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs after scoring a career-high 35 goals – a total that includes a 2-0—2 mark in four games against the Hurricanes. The most goals by a New Jersey skater in a single series in the past 15 years is held by Erik Haula (4-2—6 in 2023 R1).
BATTLE OF ONTARIO RETURNS TO THE PLAYOFFS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2004
The Stanley Cup Playoffs feature an all-Canadian showdown for the third time in four postseasons, but the first head-to-head postseason meeting between the Maple Leafs and Senators since a seven-game series during the 2004 Conference Quarterfinals – a series that ended with Toronto’s Game 7 victory exactly 21 years ago today. While Ottawa owns five consecutive regular-season wins against Toronto dating to Dec. 27, 2023, the latter has won all four previous series against its provincial rival in the postseason (also 2002 CSF, 2001 CQF & 2000 CQF).
* Auston Matthews enters his first Stanley Cup Playoffs as captain of the Maple Leafs and has his sights set on his second series win following the 2023 First Round (vs. TBL). A First Round victory against Ottawa would make Toronto the fourth franchise in NHL history to win each of its first five or more series against a single opponent, following the Oilers (6 vs. WIN), Canadiens (5 vs. HFD) and Bruins (5 vs. BUF).
* American counterpart and 4 Nations Face-Off teammate, Brady Tkachuk, is poised to make his postseason debut and will do so exactly 300 days after his brother, Matthew, captured his and the Panthers’ first-ever Stanley Cup. The most points in a player’s playoff debut with the Senators is two, last accomplished by Marc Methot (1-1—2) and Mika Zibanejad (0-2—2) in Game 1 of the 2013 Conference Quarterfinals.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS, WILD READY TO OPEN SERIES AT THE FORTRESS
The Golden Knights and Wild will begin their second-ever series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Marc-Andre Fleury (now with MIN) leading Vegas to victory in Game 7 of the 2021 First Round after Minnesota rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force a winner-take-all contest.
* Jack Eichel, who led the Golden Knights in scoring during their 2023 Cup run, guides the franchise into the postseason after setting a single-season record for points. Eichel, with 9-24—33 in 29 career playoff games to date, can join Sidney Crosby (27), Adam Fox (26) and Connor McDavid (25) as the fourth active player with at least 25 assists through his first 30 career outings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* The Wild have overcome the lengthy absence of leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov (1.37 P/GP) en route to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and vie for their first series win since 2015. Minnesota, which owns the conference’s first Wild Card position, is one four franchises in NHL history who have claimed all of their series wins as the lower-seeded team (4 of 4). The others: Columbus (2 of 2), Seattle (1 of 1) and the New York Americans (1 of 1).
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS
