NHL Daily – Let The Playoffs Begin!

NHL News and Notes from Saturday, April 19th, 2025

News

• The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have fired head coach Greg Cronin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIodkzTpeob/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The New York Rangers announced that they have fired head coach Peter Laviolette and associate coach Phil Housley.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIottY8pBLI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Jersey Tracking and Mini Recaps

St. Louis Blues v. Winnipeg Jets – 6p ET – Game 1

• In Winnipeg to kick off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the President’s Trophy winning Jets hosted the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their series, and in the first period Robert Thomas opened the scoring while on the powerplay for the Blues to take the 1-0 lead. Moments later Mark Scheifele tied the game at one for the Jets with a powerplay tally and Jaret Anderson-Dolan scored his first career playoff goal to give the Jets the 2-1 lead. However, late in the first period Oskar Sundqvist scored to tie the game at two for the Blues.
  
  In the second period the scoring continued as Jordan Kyrou scored on the powerplay to retake the lead for the Blues, but this time, the Jets had no response, and went into the second intermission down 3-2. Then in the third period The Jets offense came alive as Alex Iafallo, Kyle Connor, and Adam Lowry (empty net) all scored to give the Jets the 5-3 lead. However, before the Jets could secure the victory, things would explode as 8 players received misconduct penalties as tempers began to flare.
  
  With the 5-3 victory, the Jets take the 1-0 series lead over the Blues.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIph-UUzIi-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Colorado Avalanche v. Dallas Stars – 830p ET – Game 1

• In Dallas, the Stars played host to the Colorado Avalanche for Game 1 of their First Round series, and in the first period neither team would get on the board as both Mackenzie Blackwood and Jake Oettinger kept things scoreless, despite the Avalanche having a two-man advantage early in the period. In the second period Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring with a crazy play that saw the puck bounce off of him and into the net to give the Avalanche the 1-0 lead. Later in the second period Nathan MacKinnon scored while on the powerplay to grow the Avalanche’s lead to two.
  
  Then in the third period Roope Hintz scored while on the powerplay to get the Stars back within one. However, with 7 minutes left in regulation, Devon Toews’s tally would give the Avalanche the 3-1 lead, and then MacKinnon recorded his second goal of the game when he scored on the empty net and a Charlie Coyle tally provided the Avalanche the 5-1 victory to take Game 1 over the Stars.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIp0bzjMUPH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Today’s Games

• NJ v. CAR – 3p ET – Game 1
• OTT v. TOR – 7p ET – Game 1
• MIN v. VGK – 10p ET – Game 1

Noteworthy in Hockey

• 32 Thoughts Podcast: Exit Interviews & Playoff Entrances (SportsNet)

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