The Maple Leafs and Senators both ended the regular season on a high note with multi-goal, third-period comeback wins just three days before facing off in the first postseason edition of the “Battle of Ontario” in more than two decades. * Columbus concluded the 2024-25 campaign with its sixth straight win to land just two points shy of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blue Jackets rallied together following the death of their teammate, Johnny Gaudreau, and his brother, Matthew, to post a 23-point improvement over last season’s total.
* Nikita Kucherov and Leon Draisaitl officially added to their trophy case as Kucherov captured his second straight Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion and Draisaitl won his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader.
* The NHL announced the dates, starting times and national television coverage for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round, which begins Saturday, April 19 with Game 1s between the Blues-Jets and Avalanche-Stars.
MAPLE LEAFS, SENATORS SKATE INTO “BATTLE OF ONTARIO” WITH COMEBACK WINS
The Maple Leafs and Senators each skated to multi-goal, third-period comeback wins Thursday night, just three days before the “Battle of Ontario” is renewed in the postseason for the first time since 2004. Toronto will enter the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on a five-game winning streak while Ottawa went 6-1-1 through its final eight contests.
* Mitch Marner (0-2—2) factored on two goals, including Chris Tanev’s tying tally in the final two seconds of regulation, to set the stage for Scott Laughton’s overtime winner as Toronto concluded a season with a win streak of five or more games for the third time in franchise history – the others were 1950-51 (7 GP) and 1958-59 (5 GP), both of which saw the Maple Leafs reach the Stanley Cup Final, winning the championship in 1951.
* Marner (27-75—102 in 81 GP) finished 2024-25 with a team-leading 102 points and surpassed Darryl Sittler (100 in 1975-76) for the sixth most in a season in Maple Leafs history. He also recorded his 32nd multi-point game of 2024-25, which tied Auston Matthews (2023-24), Doug Gilmour (1993-94) and Wilf Paiement (1980-81) for the third most in a season in franchise history.
* After the Senators went up 3-0 early, the Hurricanes scored five unanswered goals to take a 5-3 lead into the third before Ottawa replied with four straight to post its third multi-goal, third-period comeback win of the season, trailing only Boston, Calgary and Colorado for the most in the NHL (all w/ 4). Tim Stützle (1-2—3) factored on three of four Senators goals in the final frame and tied the franchise mark for points in a third period.
* ICYMI: Hurricanes forward Skyler Brind’Amour scored his first career goal with his father and head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, looking on from the bench.
COLUMBUS CONCLUDES SEASON ON SIX-GAME WINNING STREAK
Columbus concluded the 2024-25 campaign on a six-game winning streak, which saw them land just two points shy of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blue Jackets rallied together following the death of their teammate, Johnny Gaudreau, and his brother, Matthew, to craft a story of resilience throughout the season – the team posted a 23-point improvement over 2023-24 and their highest point total since 2018-19, a season after finishing last in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the overall standings. Highlights included:
* The Blue Jackets honored the Gaudreau family and the lives of Johnny and Matthew at the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series before earning an emotional win at Ohio Stadium in front of 94,751 fans – the second-highest attendance in NHL history.
* Zach Werenski (23-59—82 in 81 GP) had a career year which saw him finish second across the League in points among blueliners next to Cale Makar (30-62—92 in 80 GP). His 82 points are tied for the second most by a Blue Jackets player in a season, while his assists are tied atop the franchise. Werenski also shattered Columbus records for goals, assists and points by a defenseman in a campaign.
* Adam Fantilli (31-23—54 in 82 GP), who led the League in goals scored in April (9), finished his sophomore season as the second player in franchise history with a 30-goal campaign at age 20 or younger behind Rick Nash (41 in 2003-04). His 43 career tallies are the second most from his 2023 NHL Draft class next to Connor Bedard (45), who he’s played 19 games fewer than.
* Sean Monahan (19-38—57 in 54 GP), who signed with Columbus on July 1 to reunite with Gaudreau after the pair played together for nine seasons in Calgary, finished with the fifth-most points by a Blue Jackets player in their first season with the club – a list Gaudreau sits second on (74 in 2022-23). His 1.06 points per game was the highest by any first-year Columbus player.
* The Blue Jackets finished 2024-25 tied for their most 20-goal scorers (also 5 in 2018-19) and 30-goal scorers in a campaign (also 2 in 2015-16), as well as tied for their most 50-point scorers (also 5 in 2009-10 & 5 in 2016-17). Werenski and Kirill Marchenko (31-43—74 in 2024-25) combined for the first season in franchise history to feature multiple players with 70 points.
* ICYMI: One of the first NHL Morning Skates of the 2024-25 season honored the legacies of Johnny and Matthew by highlighting their careers and everlasting impact on the people and communities they touched.
NHL’S REGULAR-SEASON FINALE FEATURED MEMORABLE DEBUTS FROM PAREKH & CO.
The 2024-25 regular season concluded with the Flames defeating the Kings on ESPN in a game which saw three players score a goal in their NHL debut: Calgary’s Sam Morton and Zayne Parekh, as well as Los Angeles’ Taylor Ward. It marked the fifth game in the expansion era to feature three or more players each score in their League debut, following Oct. 9, 1974 (NYR: Rick Middleton; WSH: Ron Anderson & Jim Hrycuik:), Oct. 10, 1979 (EDM: Dave Hunter & Kevin Lowe; CHI: Rich Preston), Oct. 10, 1985 (DET: Chris Cichocki, Petr Klima & Adam Oates) and Oct. 10, 2002 (ANA: Alexei Smirnov & Stanislav Chistov; STL: Tom Koivisto:).
* Parekh (19 years, 61 days), who was named the CHL defenseman of the year in 2024 and won the Memorial Cup, became the sixth-youngest player in Flames history at the time of his first NHL goal. He trails Dan Quinn (18 years, 205 days on Dec. 23, 1983), Matthew Tkachuk (18 years, 312 days on Oct. 18, 2016), Sean Monahan (18 years, 357 days on Oct. 4, 2013), Kevin LaVallee (19 years, 25 days on Oct. 11, 1980) and Derek Morris (19 years, 51 days on Oct. 14, 1997). Among that cohort, Morris is the only other defenseman.
CROSBY HITS 90 POINTS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Sidney Crosby (1-1—2) completed his 20th season by facing off against his longtime rival Alex Ovechkin (1-0—1) – a contest which saw both of them score in the same regular-season game for the 11th time. The Penguins captain finished as his team scoring leader for the 15th time in his career, which tied Anze Kopitar (15) for the third most in NHL history behind only Wayne Gretzky (19) and Gordie Howe (17). These notes and more were featured in the final 2024-25 regular-season edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.
* ICYMI: Crosby and Evgeni Malkin gifted Ovechkin a Rolex for breaking the NHL scoring record.
KUCHEROV WINS ART ROSS, DRAISAITL CLAIMS “ROCKET” RICHARD
The 2024-25 regular season concluded with Nikita Kucherov (37-84—121 in 78 GP) capturing his third career Art Ross Trophy as the League’s scoring champion and Leon Draisaitl (52-54—106 in 71 GP) winning his first career Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s goal-scoring leader.
* Kucherov led the NHL in scoring for the second straight year and became the 10th player to win the Art Ross Trophy at least three times, joining Wayne Gretzky (10), Gordie Howe (6), Mario Lemieux (6), Phil Esposito (5), Jaromir Jagr (5), Connor McDavid (5), Stan Mikita (4), Bobby Hull (3) and Guy Lafleur (3). Click here for more notes on Kucherov’s Art Ross victory.
* Draisaitl earned his first Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after second-place finishes in 2018-19 and 2021-22. He became the second Oilers player to win the trophy following McDavid (2022-23), but two other Edmonton players have topped the League in goals at season’s end: Gretzky (5x, most recently in 1986-87) and Jari Kurri (1985-86). Click here for more notes on Draisaitl’s “Rocket” win.
NHL RELEASES SCHEDULE FOR OPENING ROUND OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
One hundred and ninety-seven days after the 2024-25 regular season began, the puck will drop on the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs where 16 teams have a shot at the championship. Two series will begin Saturday, April 19 starting with the Jets welcoming the Blues before the Avalanche visit the Stars for their respective Game 1s. NHL Network will provide extensive pre- and postgame coverage across NHL Now and NHL Tonight throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Click here for the full schedule of the 2025 First Round.
Below is a quick series look-ahead prior to each upcoming Game 1 (chronological by date of Game 1):
St. Louis (WC2) at Winnipeg (C1)
Game 1: Saturday at 5 p.m. ET (SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, truTV, MAX)
A battle between the No.1 team in the NHL (WPG) and the No. 1 club since 4 Nations Face-Off (STL), will feature the two goaltenders who went head-to-head in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game: Connor Hellebuyck (WPG/USA) and Jordan Binnington (STL/CAN). Another intriguing matchup will be the Schenn brothers: Brayden (STL) and Luke (WPG) facing each other in the playoffs for the first time. The Blues (12 GP from March 15 – April 5) and Jets (11 GP from Jan. 22 – Feb. 26) combined for the two longest winning streaks in the NHL this season.
Colorado (C3) at Dallas (C2)
Game 1: Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV, MAX, SN, SN360, TVAS)
Mikko Rantanen, who spent his first nine and a half seasons with the Avalanche before being traded on Jan. 24, will face the team he helped win a Stanley Cup in 2022 and many former longtime teammates including regular linemate Nathan MacKinnon in a highly anticipated first-round matchup. Familiar foes in the playoffs, Colorado and Dallas are meeting for the seventh time overall and second straight postseason after Matt Duchene and the Stars eliminated the Avalanche with a double-overtime winner in Game 6 of the 2024 Second Round.
New Jersey (M3) at Carolina (M2)
Game 1: Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, SN360, TVAS)
The Hurricanes, who are bringing back most of their key players from recent postseasons and looking for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since 2006, are in the playoffs for a franchise record-tying seventh straight year and have accumulated the second-most series wins over that span (8; tied), including multiple trips to the Conference Finals. After missing the postseason in 2024, the Devils return with a different look compared to their playoff team of 2023, including a new goaltender (Jacob Markstrom) and head coach (Sheldon Keefe). While New Jersey is missing star forward Jack Hughes due to injury, captain Nico Hischier had a career-high 35 goals in 2024-25 and could become the first Swiss-born player to captain a Stanley Cup champion.
Ottawa (WC1) at Toronto (A1)
Game 1: Sunday at 7 p.m. ET (SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN2)
The “Battle of Ontario” returns for the first time in 21 years with the Maple Leafs in the playoffs for a ninth straight season and the Senators qualifying for the first time in eight campaigns. Auston Matthews, in his first season as captain, and Mitch Marner will become the only players in club history to play in the postseason in at least each of their first nine seasons while Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, who starred for USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, will skate in the playoffs for the first time in his seven-season career.
Minnesota (WC1) at Vegas (P1)
Game 1: Sunday at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, SN360, TVAS)
This will mark the second playoff series between the Wild and Golden Knights, 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. Fleury, who also backstopped the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in their inaugural season, is set to retire at the conclusion of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vegas seeks its second Stanley Cup in three years (2023) and has now made the playoffs in seven of its first eight NHL seasons.
Montreal (WC2) at Washington (M1)
Game 1: Monday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, TVAS)
Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record, topped the 40-goal mark as a 39-year-old and captained the Capitals to the top record in the Eastern Conference. For an encore, he’s looking to win a second Stanley Cup (2018) and could move into the top-10 on the NHL’s all-time playoffs goals list. They will face a young Montreal team, which clinched a playoff spot in its 82nd and final game of the season and is led by 25-year-old captain Nick Suzuki, 24-year-old leading goal scorer Cole Caufield, 21-year-old rookie sensation Lane Hutson on defense and the recent arrival of a much-anticipated prospect in 19-year-old Ivan Demidov.
Edmonton (P3) at Los Angeles (P2)
Game 1: Monday at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2, SN, TVAS 2)
In a familiar Spring feeling, the Kings and Oilers will meet in the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight year with Edmonton advancing in each of the previous three. The Kings are looking for their first series victory since winning the Stanley Cup in 2014 but hold home-ice advantage after setting a club record for home wins in 2024-25 (31-5-4). The high-powered Oilers look to return to the Final after rallying from a 3-0 series deficit to force a Game 7 against the eventual champion Panthers in 2024 and return with the Maurice “Rocket” Richard winner in Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who is coming off his eighth career 100-point season. The last time the Oilers made the Final in back-to-back years was 1987 and 1988 (they won both years).
Florida (A3) at Tampa Bay (A2)
Game 1: Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN360, TVAS 2)
A series packed with 4 Nations Face-Off stars, the Battle of the Sunshine State will happen in
the playoffs for the fourth time, all in the past five years. The winner of each Lightning-Panthers series has reached the Stanley Cup Final: the Lightning won in the 2021 First Round (won Cup) and 2022 Second Round (lost in Final), while the Panthers took the 2024 First Round (won first Cup). Overall, the state of Florida has been represented in the Stanley Cup Final in five straight years (2020 to 2024, including three wins). An intriguing goaltending matchup will pit Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (66 playoff wins; 2 Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe Trophy, Vezina Trophy) against Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky (45 playoff wins, 2 Vezina Trophies, 1 Stanley Cup) – only Minnesota’s Marc-Andre Fleury (92) has more playoff wins among goaltenders in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
QUICK CLICKS
* Stanley Cup Playoffs to take intensity from 4 Nations Face-Off to next level
* Connor Bedard reiterates ‘love’ for playing with rebuilding Blackhawks
* Neal Pionk signs 6-year, $42 million contract with Jets
* Blue Jackets ‘worked through so much’ during bid for Stanley Cup Playoffs
* Jesse Puljujarvi of Panthers suspended 2 games for illegal check to head
