1st-Round Upsets Often Pump Life In Stanley Cup Playoffs

First-round upsets are prevalent in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Teams may play with consistency during the regular season and demonstrate a level of dominance against their opponents, but it doesn’t indicate that the playoffs will follow suit.

There is no better example than the 2023 Florida Panthers. They made the playoffs that season as eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference on the last day of the season. They drew the record-setting and top-seeded Boston Bruins in the opening round. Boston had set the standard for wins and points during the regular season.

Instead of a four-game sweep, the Panthers roared back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Bruins in seven games. Carter Verhaeghe scored the series-winning goal in overtime at TD Garden. The Panthers would go on to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights. They would return to the Finals again last year and win their first Stanley Cup in team history.

Three of the Wild Card teams in this year’s playoffs all have a chance to pull off major upsets. In this piece, we look at the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators and examine their chances for first-round upsets

St. Louis Blues (8^th seed) – Winnipeg Jets (1^st seed)

This series got underway Saturday night and the top-seeded Jets needed a third-period rally to come away with the Game 1 victory. Kyle Connor broke a 3-3 tie with 1:36 remaining and the Jets added an empty-net goal for a 5-3 triumph.

The Blues should not be discouraged. The Jets have lost their first-round series each of the past two seasons against the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche, respectively. The Jets won Game 1 in both series before losing four straight against both teams.

In addition to that history, the Jets have a couple of significant injuries to Gabe Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers that are likely to impact the offense.

Meanwhile, the Blues played their best hockey down the stretch when they reeled off 13 consecutive victories and played sensational team defense. Goalie Jordan Binnington has shown he can dominate in the playoffs and Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou have demonstrated that they can score big goals.

The Blues have all the weapons needed to survive and advance.

Montreal Canadiens (8^th seed) – Washington Capitals (1^st seed)

The Canadiens had a little trouble before they finally clinched the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in their final game of the regular season, but this team should not be overlooked. Head coach Martin St. Louis has an opportunistic team featuring a powerful first line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.

In addition to that trio, rookie defenseman Lane Hutson is a tone-setter and a record-setter. Hutson delivered 60 assists, and that’s the most ever by a first-year blue liner. He may be the league’s second-best offensive defenseman behind Colorado’s Cale Makar.

The Capitals are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but Spencer Carbery’s team had trouble down the stretch, finishing with a 4-7-1 record in their last dozen games. Alex Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer late in the season, but he can’t carry the team on his 39-year-old shoulders.

Additionally, injuries to goalie Logan Thompson (upper body) and center Aliaksei Protas (cut on foot) could have a huge impact on the Capitals.

The pressure is on Washington to produce as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Habs are clearly an up-and-coming team that can show off its speed and skill.

Ottawa Senators (7^th seed) – Toronto Maple Leafs (2^nd seed)

The Maple Leafs are coming off an impressive regular season that saw them take the Atlantic Division crown. There is quite a bit of relief in the Toronto locker room because they don’t have to face the Boston Bruins in the first round after losing seven-game series to the Bruins four times since 2013.

The Maple Leafs have the star power with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. They have the skilled players to dominate this series – on paper.

However, the Senators have the ultracompetitive Brady Tkachuk leading the way along with elite defenseman Jake Sanderson. Ottawa should also have the edge in goal with former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark having an edge on Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.

Ottawa also won the season series, sweeping three games from the high-profile Leafs. The Senators will be ready for the battle of Ontario.