The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are upon us, and we continue to predict how the first round will go.

On Thursday, we posted our picks to win the Western Conference’s four series. And today, this writer is predicting the winners of each Eastern Conference first-round matchup.

Every year, we say the same thing: this writer’s picks are our best guesses to emerge as first-round winners. However, we’re also going to examine which factors could go in the other team’s favor.

Now, here are our breakdowns for the NHL's four Eastern Conference series:

Washington Capitals (M1) Vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)

Season series: 2-1 Washington

Why Washington will win:The Capitals handily beat the Canadiens in their first two games, winning by a combined score of 10-5. There’s every reason to think they’ll eliminate the Habs from the post-season. 

The Capitals have the NHL’s second-best offense, averaging 3.49 goals-for per game. That’s far and away better than Montreal’s 2.96. 

On defense, Washington’s 2.79 goals against per game is also significantly better than Montreal’s 3.18 goals-against average. By virtually every metric, the Capitals are the better team, and on paper, at least, they should dispose of the Canadiens rather easily.

Why Montreal will win: Nobody expected the Canadiens to qualify for the post-season, so they’re playing with house money. 

Montreal’s group of young, fast and skilled skaters very well may push Washington to its limit in Round 1. The Habs did beat the Capitals in their last showdown, and the Caps went 4-7-0 in their final 11 regular-season games, so Washington’s flaws may be exposed by Habs coach Martin St-Louis. 

Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault posted a .922 save percentage in April, and if he can stay hot, Montreal might frustrate the Capitals to the point a series upset becomes a reality.

Prediction: Capitals in seven games

The Canadiens went 7-1-2 in their final 10 games, so the notion they’re going to be steamrolled by the Capitals is far-fetched. However, Washington is extremely well-coached, and they’ve got a great goalie in Logan Thompson who will be the difference for them. We expect Montreal to put up a fierce fight and extend the series to a seventh game, but the Caps’ all-around depth will be enough to push them into Round 2.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Win Round 1? Expect An UpsetThe first-round matchups are finalized for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of THN.com playoff predictions. 

Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) Vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)

Season series: 3-0 Ottawa

Why Toronto will win:The Senators swept the season series with the Maple Leafs, but after Ottawa’s last win over Toronto on March 15, the Leafs went 13-2-1 to finish the regular season atop the Atlantic Division. 

The Leafs ended the year with the NHL’s seventh-best offense and the league’s eighth-best defense. The Sens had the NHL’s 18th-best offense and 13th-best defense. 

Toronto’s defense is deeper and stronger than Ottawa’s, and while the Buds have their flaws, they have many lineup options if things don’t go well for them early. Coach Craig Berube is also a stellar motivator and tactician. Advantage(s): Toronto.

Why Ottawa will win: The Senators looked like the Leafs’ equal in their three regular-season games, and all the pressure in this series will be on Toronto. 

Sens goalie Linus Ullmark was acquired last summer to give the Senators better performances in net, and with a .910 SP and 2.72 GAA in 44 appearances, Ullmark has delivered on that front. 

The Sens’ young core will be getting the first taste of playoff hockey. If their stars, including Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens, can provide enough offense, Ottawa can capitalize on Toronto’s penchant for playoff letdowns and shock the Maple Leafs into a first-round defeat.

Prediction: Maple Leafs in six games

The stakes for the Leafs couldn’t be higher, and it all starts with the incredible pressure of the Battle of Ontario. But while we think the Senators’ future is extremely bright, Toronto has never had a better back end than the one they’ve currently got, and Leafs stars Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies will be too much for the Sens to handle. It won’t be easy for Toronto, but we see a Leafs win in Round 1.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) Vs. Florida Panthers (A3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Tampa Bay will win:The Lightning and Panthers were notably different this season. Tampa Bay went a thoroughly mediocre 27-20-4 by Feb. 1, then went 20-7-4 the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Panthers went 40-21-3 by March 8 before going 7-10-1 through the end of the season. 

The Bolts clearly have the momentum advantage, and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has added tremendous depth. Tampa Bay has the better goalie in the series in Andrei Vasilevskiy, and so long as they stay healthy, the Bolts will be able to outlast Florida in a long and physically taxing series.

Why Florida will win: The Panthers have been a banged-up group, and they lost home-ice advantage to the Lightning. But Florida will get heart-and-soul left winger Matthew Tkachuk back, likely at the start of the series. Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad also will return in Game 3 of the series, giving the Panthers a far better defense corps than Tampa Bay’s group of blueliners. 

Trade acquisition Brad Marchand can and will be a difference-maker and a true thorn in the Lightning’s side. For those reasons, Florida is every bit Tampa’s equal – and then some.

Prediction: Panthers in seven games

This series will be one of the most brutal of any first-round matchup, and there’s not going to be anywhere close to a sweep for either side. But we’ve got a hunch the Panthers will have slightly more skill, grit and determination to emerge as the victors here. The Lightning will put up a terrific fight, but one of these two teams will go home bitterly disappointed, and we’re confident that Florida will find a way to outlast Tampa Bay.

NHL Playoffs 2025 First-Round Schedule: Dates, Times, Where To WatchThe schedule for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is here.

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) Vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)

Season series: 2-2 tie

Why Carolina will win:The Hurricanes knew they’d be playing the Devils for weeks now, and Carolina tried to drastically improve its roster this year. 

Once again, the Hurricanes’ defense corps is one of the NHL’s deepest and most balanced groups. Carolina is not lacking for speed and skill up front, either. 

Their consistency stands out, as the Hurricanes have the NHL’s ninth-most goals-for per game, 10th-fewest goals against per game and the NHL's very best penalty kill. Carolina desperately needs a long playoff run. Against an injury-depleted Devils team, they’re likely to start on the right foot.

Why New Jersey will win: While no team that loses a superstar like Jack Hughes should be considered anything other than an underdog, New Jersey got back top D-man Dougie Hamilton, giving the Devils a competitive defense corps. 

Given that few people will be picking New Jersey to win this series, the Devils will be playing freer and easier – and perhaps, do what many believe they can’t do by sending Carolina packing.

Prediction: Hurricanes in five games

Sorry, Devils fans, but without Hughes, New Jersey can’t compete with a well-coached, well-built Hurricanes squad. Carolina needs its goalies to deliver despite massive pressure on them, but the same can be said for New Jersey’s netminding. We don’t believe Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom can outperform Frederik Andersen and/or Pyotr Kochetkov. The Hurricanes may be eliminated in Round 2, but this series should go in the Hurricanes’ favor.

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 The Hockey News Big Show is here to preview the first round of the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Your Guide To The 2025 NHL Playoffs by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Steve Warne discussed in this episode:

0:57: Will the Battle of Ontario have over or under three fights in this series?

3:01: Do the Ottawa Senators hope they can suck the Toronto Maple Leafs into playing a physical style of game? 

3:55:  What will playoff Brady Tkachuk look like?

5:45: Who will be the Maple Leafs’ X-factor for them? 

7:40: How much of a load will Jake Sanderson face against Toronto's top line? 

8:55: Predictions for the Leafs and Sens series

10:34: Do the youngsters in Montreal have enough in them to run the table against the Washington Capitals?

13:59: Prediction for the Canadiens and Capitals series

15:18: In the Battle of Florida, Vasilevskiy and Bobrosky have both been known to turn it on in the playoffs. Will this series turn into a goalie duel?

17:21: Will the physical aspect of Florida match up to the skill of Tampa? 

18:45 Predictions for the Panthers and Lightning series

21:04: Predictions for the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils series

21:49: Are there any similarities you see between this year's St. Louis Blues team and the 2019 team that won the Cup? 

24:21: Does Jordan Binnington have the edge over Connor Hellebuyck? 

25:34: Prediction for the Jets and Blues series

26:43: How do injuries affect the Dallas Stars? 

28:52: Will Mikko Rantanen be the X-factor for Dallas while facing his old team? 

30:39: How do you see this series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild shaking out? 

32:13: Are there any similarities you see between this year's Vegas team and the team that won the Cup? 

33:38: Predictions for the Knights and Wild

34:02: Are injuries still a big issue for the Edmonton Oilers? 

35:03: How will the goaltending matchup look between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings? 

37:08: Predictions for the Kings and Oilers series 

37:20: Who do you see in the Stanley Cup final? 

40:06: Which player will lead the playoffs in scoring?

41:14: Since the 2014-15 season, only three of the Stanley Cup winners have been from the Western Conference. Will this year's winner be coming from the East or West?                                                                                                                                                                                  42:16: Which team will go on a Cinderella run?

43:44: Who is an unlikely playoff hero?

44:36: Which Cup "favorite" will go out earliest?

Watch the full episode here.   

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard announced he will retire after the playoffs on Friday.

The 34-year-old told Canadiens management of his intentions a few weeks ago, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie.

In 75 games this season, Savard recorded one goal and 15 points. He has averaged 16:35 this season, his lowest ice time average since his first two seasons in the NHL.

Savard played 870 regular-season games in 14 seasons for three different clubs. The 34-year-old represented the Tampa Bay Lightning for 14 games during the 2020-21 season. He also played 10 seasons for the team that selected him 94th overall in the 2009 NHL draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

These upcoming playoffs will be the seventh and final time Savard hunts for a Stanley Cup. His last post-season appearance was with the Lightning in 2021, where the team won their second straight Stanley Cup, defeating Montreal.

Since then, Savard joined the Canadiens as a free agent in the summer of 2021 and was added to become a veteran presence for the young Habs. This will be the team’s first playoff appearance since they advanced to the final four years ago.

The St-Hyacinthe, Que., native has been known for his shutdown abilities as a defensive defenseman. Savard was a shot-blocking merchant throughout his career. He finished the season with 180 blocks, which was good enough to rank eighth in the NHL.

Since entering the NHL in the 2011-12 season, he is 13th on the blocks chart with a total of 1,624 blocked shots.

Now with a slot opening up on Montreal’s defense for next season, there is an opportunity for David Reinbacher to emerge as an NHL regular. The former fifth overall pick suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss six months of action. 

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The Ottawa Senators’ regular-season finale was quite the ride.

A Thursday night goals fest against the Carolina Hurricanes served as the final test for both clubs before the playoffs. While Carolina’s playoff streak reaches its seventh season, the Senators’ seven-year post-season drought ends when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

Taking a 3-0 lead, conceding five unanswered goals and coming back to win 7-5 was a rollercoaster game fitting for Ottawa’s rollercoaster journey back to the playoffs – even if it took longer to reach this point than captain Brady Tkachuk expected.

“Definitely not seven years,” Tkachuk said post-game. “But everything happens for a reason, and (it) just sets the stage that much better.”

The Senators scored three times in the first period Thursday night. Eight years ago, the Senators nearly won three rounds in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, ousting the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers before the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated them in overtime of Game 7. Ottawa entered the 2017-18 campaign riding high, with then-GM Pierre Dorion even acquiring center Matt Duchene in a three-team blockbuster.

Then came the fall.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored for the Hurricanes 11 seconds after Ottawa’s third goal Thursday night. The Senators lost 16 of 19 games after returning from the 2017 NHL Global Series in Sweden.

Skyler Brind’Amour cut the Sens’ lead to one with his first career NHL goal. The Senators traded Derick Brassard, Dion Phaneuf and Mike Hoffman to begin the teardown in 2018.

Andrei Svechnikov tied the game 50 seconds into the second period. With Erik Karlsson’s contract expiring at the end of the 2018-19 season, Ottawa traded its captain to the San Jose Sharks before training camp even began that year.

Jack Roslovic gave Carolina the lead. An Uber driver posted footage of Sens players criticizing a former assistant coach in November 2018, saying they haven’t paid attention in meetings and that there were no fixes for the penalty kill.

Tyson Jost took advantage of a giveaway to increase the Senators’ deficit. In 2019, the team traded Mark Stone, Duchene and Ryan Dzingel.

Ottawa finished near or at the bottom of the NHL standings for five straight years. Attendance fell to an average of 12,618 fans in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Sens got to within six points of a playoff spot in 2022-23 before finishing 26th in 2023-24 – and learning they must forfeit a first-round pick for their role in a 2021 Evgenii Dadonov trade that led to a 2022 Dadonov trade being invalidated.

The franchise underwent major changes during this time. 

In 2023, Michael Andlauer bought a majority stake in the Senators from the estate of Eugene Melnyk, who passed away in March 2022. Melnyk’s two daughters, Anna and Olivia, retained a 10-percent stake.

Steve Staios became president of hockey operations ahead of the 2023-24 season. He took over GM duties from Dorion in November 2023 following the announcement of the Dadonov trade penalty.

D.J. Smith, who coached the team for most of the rebuild, was replaced by interim coach Jacques Martin and, in 2024-25, new coach Travis Green.

By the time they joined the fold, many of the pieces were in place to set the stage.

The fall in 2017-18 led to Tkachuk. The Karlsson trade led to Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris (moved to Buffalo at this year’s trade deadline for Dylan Cozens.) The rebuilding led to Jake Sanderson, Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig and Tyler Kleven, all who recorded at least a point on Thursday.

The years of resetting gave much of those players, as well as Thomas Chabot (18th overall in 2015) and Drake Batherson (121st overall in 2017), time to develop.

Then came the rise.

Adam Gaudette cut the deficit to one on Thursday night. The Senators signed Claude Giroux in 2022.

Batherson deked out Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen to tie the game. Last June, the Sens acquired Linus Ullmark from the Bruins as their new starting goaltender. He signed a four-year contract extension, and his 25 wins this season are the most of any Sens goalie since Craig Anderson’s 25 in 2016-17.

Batherson scored again to give Ottawa a new lead. The Senators clinched a playoff spot nine days earlier.

As a bonus, Stutzle stickhandled past three Hurricanes skaters and beat Andersen blocker-side for a 7-5 lead. Ric Flair “woos” popped up throughout the arena, and the crowd gave a standing ovation as the clock ticked down on the regular season.

Ottawa’s season was a rollercoaster as well – one with multiple loops. They had a five-game winless streak in November, a six-game winning streak in December, six losses in seven games from late December to early January, five wins in six games afterward, a five-game win streak, a five-game losing skid and a six-game win streak.

The ride now leads to the first round against the Atlantic Division winners, the Maple Leafs. They, too, recovered from a two-goal deficit to win on Thursday night. (And yes, fans in Ottawa chanted “Leafs suck” on more than one occasion and had signssaying the same.)

Brady Tkachuk said he’ll be good to go for Game 1. He played his first game since March 30 but left the game early as a precaution after getting high-sticked.

“I worry in advance for some of the defense on Toronto,” older brother Matthew Tkachuk told Carol Schram on Monday. “I think Brady is going to have a lot of built-up anger over not playing in playoffs for the last few years, so he's going to be ready to go. Him when he's at his best, when he's physical and that skilled, he's a nightmare to play against.”

As for how Brady Tkachuk thinks this series will go down after Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz predicted it to be a “blood bath…”

“We’ll just have to wait and see,” Tkachuk said.

The Senators, the Leafs and the rest of the NHL will just have to wait and see whether there’s higher ground for this rollercoaster to climb.

Maple Leafs Are NHL's Hottest Team Entering The Playoffs, But Senators Are No Slouches EitherThe Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators faced the prospect of playing nothing games on Thursday night.

Both had every reason to simply mail it in and avoid injuries facing two-goal deficits in the third period, but both roared back for victories.

Now bring on the Battle of Ontario. In order to win, the Senators will have to hope their pre- and regular-season mastery of the Maple Leafs over the course of the regular season continues. The Leafs must ensure their stars don't get pushed out of the series and are rendered invisible, something that has had a history of happening.

The Leafs are the NHL's hottest team down the stretch, and only the St. Louis Blues had more points after the 4 Nations Face-Off.

But that and 12 dollars will get you a coffee at Starbucks. As Chris Tanev and Scott Laughton said, "Now the fun starts."

Today's video column has more.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The NHL's scoring and goal-stopping races wrapped up as awards season begins.

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl won the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy for the first time in his career. Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov is also now a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner, while Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won the William M. Jennings Trophy for the second time.

Draisaitl, 29, scored the most goals in the NHL in 2024-25, with 52 in 71 games. He finished seven goals ahead of second place, Toronto Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander, who had 45.

Of Draisaitl's total goals, 36 came at even strength, 16 were on the power play, six were scored in overtime and 11 overall counted as game-winners.

But while this is Draisaitl's first time winning the 'Rocket' Richard Trophy, 52 goals is not his career high. He scored 55 times in 2021-22, when Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored 60. Draisaitl also had 52 goals in 2022-23, when teammate Connor McDavid potted 64.

Fifty-two goals are the lowest total for the 'Rocket' Richard winner since Matthews scored 41 in the 56-game 2020-21 season. They're also the fewest in an 82-game season since 2018-19, when Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had 51.

Draisaitl sat alone in first place in the goal-scoring race from Dec. 16 onward despite missing 11 of the Oilers' 51 games remaining, the NHL said in Thursday night's announcement.

Kucherov, meanwhile, only got up to a tie for first place on March 29.

He and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a late-season Art Ross Trophy race, with MacKinnon ending the campaign on an eight-game points streak. But with Kucherov recording five points in his final three games, he won the Art Ross with 121 points, five more than MacKinnon's 116.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion is the 10th player in NHL history to win the Art Ross Trophy at least three times since it was first presented in 1947-48. 

Kucherov, 31, recorded a point in 65 of his 78 games played this season, according to the NHL. He also produced three points or more in 17 games, which ranked him first in the league.

On Wednesday, the NHL acknowledged Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for clinching the 2024-25 William M. Jennings Trophy, presented annually to the goaltender or goaltenders who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. 

The Jets finished with 190 goals against – 191 including shootout-deciding goals – while the second-place Los Angeles Kings had 203 goals against and 206 including shootout-deciders.

Hellebuyck, 31, conceded 125 goals in 63 games this season. He finished the regular season with a 47-12-3 record, .925 save percentage, 2.00 goals-against average and eight shutouts. Jets backup Eric Comrie played 20 games and had a .914 SP, 2.39 GAA and two shutouts.

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The Edmonton Oilers might be missing Mattias Ekholm for their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, but Connor McDavid insisted that last year's Stanley Cup finalists are not limping into the playoffs.

If anything, the team might be healthier than it appears.

“We have this like aura about us that we’re the walking wounded, but we’re just fine,” McDavid told reporters. “Everybody’s going to be ready to roll. Everybody is doing whatever they can. I don’t like this whole notion that we’re the walking wounded here. We’re ready to roll.”

Those comments come days after Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch gave an extensive injury report that made it sound like Edmonton might indeed be dressing a "B squad" for the playoffs. However, you might want to wait before counting out the Oilers just yet.

McDavid is healthy. And by the sounds of it, he is anticipating another long playoff run.

“I just don’t like the theory that people are counting us out," he said. "We’re a great team here; bumps and bruises along the way. We’re a great team when we’re healthy. And we are healthy."

The Oilers And Kings' Bad Blood Returns: That's Why The NHL Playoff Format Hasn't ChangedYou can say what you want about the NHL’s current Stanley Cup playoff format, but it ignited the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings’ rivalry.

Unfortunately for the Oilers, injuries have plagued the team at the worst possible time of the year.

Ekholm isn't expected to be available in the first round. McDavid, who has appeared in 63 games, recently missed eight games with an undisclosed injury. Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman are banged up. Same goes for Jake Walman, Troy Stecher and Trent Frederic.

The bodies have been piling up to the point where the team was forced to play a game against the Kings earlier this week with what Phillip Danault described as a "B-squad."

"They just have their B-squad in trying to hurt us." 😳

Phillip Danault soudned off in the midst of a chippy Kings-Oilers game last night. pic.twitter.com/JkpeRlJv3n

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 15, 2025

However, don't expect the Oilers to pack it in when they face the Kings in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, don't be surprised if McDavid uses the injuries as a way to further motivate the Oilers, who many believe are the underdogs despite having defeated the Kings in each of the past three playoffs.

“Maybe it's good. Everyone's going to be rested,” said McDavid of having so many players miss so much time in the past month. "Would it have been nice to get some games with a full lineup? Sure, but like I said, not everything is as it seems.

“I've felt, personally, night and day better from before the injury, just in terms of rest. Not getting a break there with the Four Nations — which I'm not complaining about at all — I feel night and day better since the injury. I'm sure Leon's going to feel the same way.”

Welcome to the latest episode of The Hockey News Wraparound, featuring rapid-fire analysis of the NHL and hockey.

What Role Will The Canadiens Give Ivan Demidov Against Washington? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: How strong of a chance do the Montreal Canadiens have of upsetting the Washington Capitals?

4:12: What to make of the Dallas Stars’ injuries heading into their first round series against the Colorado Avalanche

9:04: With Dougie Hamilton returning for the New Jersey Devils, could they have a tight series with the Carolina Hurricanes?

12:09: Have the Winnipeg Jets avoided some internal distractions heading into the playoffs by extending Neal Pionk and Alex Iafallo?

15:01: Did Corey Perry and Phillip Danault's exchange in the media set the Oilers and Kings up to be the most entertaining first-round series?

18:50: Will Logan Couture go down as one of the best San Jose Sharks of all-time?

21:36: Will Ivan Demidov play in a depth role or top-six role for the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs?

24:26: Could Jet Greaves earn a full-time position with the Columbus Blue Jackets next season?

26:37: Breaking down the NHLPA player poll results

29:19: Should the Detroit Red Wings be concerned that their current core has peaked?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Podbean

iHeartRadio

Amazon

The Ottawa Senators came up with a plan to limit a flood of Toronto Maple Leafs fans from attending the Canadian Tire Centre for Games 3, 4 and potentially 6 of their first-round series. 

When the Maple Leafs visit the Senators, the crowd often features a lot of blue and white competing with Ottawa’s red and black.

The Senators organization took a step-by-step approach to selling tickets for the Battle of Ontario and limiting Leafs fans. Their strategy to maximize Sens fans is through season ticket holders and newsletter followers.

Season ticket holders were able to purchase up to four tickets – two for them and two extra for other Sens fans. The Senators have an additional 902 season ticket holders from five weeks ago, team president Cyril Leeder told the Ottawa Citizen. The team also opened single-game ticket sales to subscribers to its newsletter on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET for two hours.

That didn’t leave many single-game tickets available for the general public when sales opened at noon.

“You won’t see much blue,” team owner Michael Andlauer told reporters at a Senators flag-raising ceremony at city hall on Wednesday.

This isn’t the first time that other teams have tried to limit Leafs fans from their rink. When Toronto faced the Florida Panthers in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, the Panthers restricted ticket access to purchasers with a U.S.-based credit card billing address.

The Senators and Maple Leafs faced off in the playoffs four times between 2000 and 2004. In 2004, the Leafs defeated the Sens in seven games. 

The Senators organization will not only hope to push out the blue-and-white noise but also win the latest edition of the Battle of Ontario. Game 1 takes place Sunday at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto.

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After falling to the Dallas Stars in the second round one year ago, the Colorado Avalanche will look to use that experience toward a different result as they start their 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs looking for revenge.

“They’ve ended our year a couple of different times since I’ve been here,” said Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar on Wednesday. “They’re a very good team. They’re very opportunistic. You’ve got to find ways to expose them on all areas of the ice.”

This spring, there’s one big change: longtime Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen is playing on the other side. The Avalanche and Stars start their first-round seriesthis weekend.

Over seven seasons, Rantanen put up 101 playoff points in 81 games and was a key cog in Colorado’s run to the Stanley Cup in 2022.

“Mikko’s a playoff player,” Makar said. “That’s what he’s born and bred to do. So it’ll definitely be tough to defend. But that team in general – they’re very good.”

Before the Avalanche won their championship three years ago, then-GM Joe Sakic shored up his team’s roster by acquiring goaltender Darcy Kuemper during the summer of 2021, then bringing in Josh Manson, Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Cogliano at the 2022 deadline.

This year, Chris MacFarland has pulled off even more extensive roster renovations. 

He handed the goaltending reins to Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood on top of adding forwards Martin Necas, Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle, along with defenseman Ryan Lindgren.

“I look back at the year we won, and they made some key additions at the deadline,” Makar said. “Those were huge to finding success in the playoffs and we've only done more of those throughout this year – what the management thinks we need. It’s definitely great that they have trust in us, and they give us the best opportunity to win.”

Two familiar faces from ’22 are also getting back in the mix: veteran blueliner Erik Johnson, who was re-acquired at the deadline, and left winger Gabriel Landeskog.

The Colorado captain, 32, hasn’t played an NHL game since he hoisted the Cup overhead after the Avalanche dethroned the Tampa Bay Lightning. But after nearly three years of rehab, Landeskog successfully suited up for a pair of AHL games with the Colorado Eagles. He also looked every bit like his usual feisty self when he joined his Avs teammates for practice on Wednesday in Denver.

“He definitely hasn’t lost a step,” Makar said. “It’s going to take some time to get back to where he was. Missing three years of gameplay is pretty crucial, but I think he’s doing the right thing, making the right steps here. Hopefully he just keeps progressing, and it’s nice to have him around the team. That’s for sure.”

Makar was part of a group that made the trek out to Loveland to take in Landeskog’s return to action last weekend. As an added bonus, he also got to see his younger brother and Avs prospect, Taylor Makar, suit up for the first-place Eagles, just two weeks after the left winger turned pro following a Hockey East championship at the University of Maine.

“Really cool experience,” Cale Makar said. “I haven't got the chance to watch my brother live since such a long time ago – probably, like, minor hockey.”

Already a past winner of the Calder, Conn Smythe and Norris Trophies, Makar just finished his most productive season yet. 

He led all NHL defensemen with 92 points while landing in the top 10 in overall scoring. He also became just the ninth blueliner of all time to score 30 goals and the first since Mike Green of the Washington Capitals tallied 31 in 2008-09. 

As he sits in pole position for his second Norris while NHL Awards voting takes place this week, perhaps the only person in the hockey world who’s not impressed is Makar himself.

“I think it just goes back to the team, and how well they've done at giving us good players to succeed,” he said. “You’re not achieving any of that without good teammates. For us, they’ve found great fits here, and I think that’s only elevated everybody’s play.”

With playoffs set to begin, Makar and Florida Panthers left winger Matthew Tkachuk are this year’s faces of the ‘Check In To Win’ sweepstakes at Great Clips, the official hair salon of the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.

From now through May 19, fans who download the Great Clips app and check in will be entered for a chance to see epic on-ice checks live from the stands at the 2025 Stanley Cup final. Other prizes include gift cards for Great Clips and NHLshop.com.

“It's pretty exciting for them to be sending one person to a Stanley Cup final game,” Makar said. “It's an honor to do a partnership with them.”

On top of a good haircut, Makar says “a lot” goes into his preparation to bring his best each game day.

“Nothing too superstitious or ritual-wise, but just making sure your body’s physically and mentally ready to get it going.”

Cale Makar and the Avalanche will start their first-round series against the Stars on the road on Saturday, April 19, at American Airlines Arena.

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