NHL Playoffs 2025: Key Players Under Pressure Amid Ongoing Games

The opening weekend of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs featured dominant performances, major upsets, and intense scrutiny on star players and coaches. The Dallas Stars suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche, highlighting their struggle to contain Nathan MacKinnon's line, while the absence of key players like Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen raised questions about their playoff prospects and put pressure on new additions like Mikko Rantanen to prove their value (Deadspin, SI). Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, expected to win his third Vezina Trophy, continued to display inconsistency under postseason pressure, despite the team's Presidents’ Trophy win (SI, Deadspin). Toronto's top players, particularly Mitch Marner, led a convincing Game 1 victory, intensifying expectations on the Maple Leafs’ core to finally deliver playoff success (SI, Deadspin). Meanwhile, off the ice, hockey’s cultural significance was on display as playoff fever influenced political schedules and campaign activity in Canada, underlining hockey’s role as a unifying force and escape from political tensions (CBC). Coaching changes for non-playoff teams like the Ducks and Rangers signaled a desire for fresh starts, as both franchises look to rebuild after disappointing seasons (Bleacher Report).