Get Ready for Thrills: 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Kick Off This Saturday in the Western Conference!

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off this Saturday, with the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars each playing their first games in the Western Conference First Round.

Dallas, wrapping up the season with a record of 50 wins and 26 losses, will face the Colorado Avalanche at the American Airlines Center. The game starts at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on TNT, truTV, MAX, Sportsnet, SN360, and TVA Sports. An intriguing subplot is that Stars forward Mikko Rantanen will square off against his former team, the Avalanche. Rantanen was traded from Colorado to the Carolina Hurricanes in late January but then made his way to Dallas in early March.

The Avalanche are led by superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who has had an exceptional season, racking up 116 points—32 goals and 84 assists—in 79 games. His performance will be crucial for Colorado’s hopes in the series.

In the other matchup, the Jets, who bagged the Presidents’ Trophy with 56 wins, will host the St. Louis Blues, the second wild card team. This game starts at 6 p.m. ET, also available on TNT and other networks. Winnipeg’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, is a highlight here. Last season, he took home the Vezina Trophy for being the NHL’s top goalie, and his current season stats are impressive: 47 wins, a 2.00 goals-against average, .925 save percentage, and eight shutouts over 63 games.

The Blues, who won the championship in 2019, have battled their way into the playoffs after an impressive 12-game winning streak in the final stretch of the season. Their goalie, Jordan Binnington, has been another standout, finishing the season with a 2.23 GAA and a .910 save percentage.

As the playoffs approach, excitement is building among fans. A recent survey found that 68% of hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the playoffs, with many citing the unpredictability of the postseason as a top reason for their enthusiasm.

The NHL is expected to release the entire first-round schedule on Thursday, and hockey lovers can’t wait to see how these matchups unfold. As teams vie for the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, every game becomes a heart-pounding spectacle.



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