The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, an object only the greatest of hockey teams and players have had the pleasure of winning. 32 teams in the National Hockey League play to win it all. With 16 teams left standing by the playoffs, there is no better time to watch hockey.

For any fans new to the game, the Stanley Cup Playoffs consist of four rounds total. Each round is won in a best of seven series, one team must win, and one must go home. The first of the four rounds is over and done. But for new fans, or for those who are only starting to watch now in the second round, this article should quickly sum up the events of the first round so no one is confused.

Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche:
To start off, in what was the most unbalanced matchup of the first round, the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche only met for four games out of a possible seven in the series. Ending the regular season with 119 points in 82 games – second only to the Florida Panthers – the Avalanche slid into the first round of the playoffs with confidence and composure. The Predators however, ended their regular season slightly behind many of the league’s top contenders, with only 97 points by the end of the regular season. Nashville clinched their spot in the playoffs later than most, and as the 16th seed overall, the “Preds” were the clear underdog in this first series. The Avalanche swept the Predators easily, winning 4 games in a row against their unfortunate competitors. NHL Game 4 Highlights | Avalanche vs. Predators – May 9, 2022

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings:
In one of the tightest matchups of the first round, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings clashed in a battle of elite scoring vs. exceptional goaltending. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is widely regarded as the best active hockey player in the world, if not the best of all time. On the other side of the ice, is long time Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick, a staple in the Kings lineup for years and one of the most athletically gifted goalies to ever play the game. McDavid and the rest of the Oilers lineup definitely struggled more than usual against Quick’s, well, quickness, but they still found a way past him, and earned themselves a ticket to the second round of the playoffs in the seventh game of the series. NHL Game 7 Highlights | Kings vs. Oilers – May 14, 2022

Calgary Flames vs. Dallas Stars:
When it came to the entertainment factor, there were no better games to watch than the seven between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. A goalie battle like no other, this low scoring series came down to the wire. Calgary’s top scorers were stumped by the young Stars goaltender, Jake Oettinger. After an incredible regular season, Calgary may just be the best chance to win a cup for Canada, which hasn’t been done since 1993. With their season on the line, Flames star forward Johnny Gaudreau scored the game winner in game seven sudden death overtime. Dallas was left in the dust and Calgary’s win set them up to play against their regional rivals in a second round battle of Alberta. NHL Game 7 Highlights | Stars vs. Flames – May 15, 2022

St. Louis Blues vs. Minnesota Wild:
The final Western Conference battle was between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. Despite residing in the hockey capital of America, the Minnesota Wild have yet to bring a Stanley Cup to Minneapolis, and with elite winger Kirill Kaprizov on their side, they were hoping to go far. The Blues had something else in mind. St. Louis is notably the last team to win the Stanley Cup before COVID took the sports world by storm. They had the experience and the drive to reach four wins, and that they did. In game six the blues wrapped up the series winning 5-1 at home. NHL Game 6 Highlights | Wild vs. Blues – May 12, 2022

Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers:
In the first Eastern Conference matchup, the Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers put star power vs. depth power to the test. Florida was the clear favorite in this series from the start, following a regular season in which they were first in wins and points league wide, and were seemingly able to score at whim. The Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, and came into this series hungry for a chance at a second championship as their top goal scorer and core forward group continues to age. Despite their firepower, the Capitals came up short losing the series in 6 games to the praiseworthy Panthers. NHL Game 6 Highlights | Panthers vs. Capitals – May 13, 2022

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lighting:
Stakes could not have been higher in the contest between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lighting. The Lightning, looking to win their third Stanley Cup in a row, and to prove doubters in their performance over the course of two COVID ridden seasons wrong. The Leafs, the most talented they have been in years, just trying to win their way past the first round for the first time since 2004. Unfortunately for Toronto, even at their most “stacked,” they could not conquer the reigning champions and were left heartbroken after yet another game seven loss. NHL Game 7 Highlights | Lightning vs. Maple Leafs – May 14, 2022

Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes:
The home-ice advantage became crucial early on between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes. For a team that ended the season with a franchise record 54 wins, the Hurricanes were a force to be reckoned with. The Bruins, despite being considered the underdog in this series, proved that passion alone can win games. With an aging core and rumors of their beloved captain leaving Boston at the season’s end, the Bruins were desperate to bring a cup back to Beantown. In the end it came down to the difference between home and away games. Over the course of the seven game series, each team won every game at home and lost every game on the road. The Bruins got the short end of the stick, losing game seven in Carolina. NHL Game 7 Highlights | Bruins vs. Hurricanes – May 14, 2022

New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins:
Lastly, in what might have been the most inspired series of the first round, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins faced-off in a tense seven game series. Neck and neck with each other in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers narrowly beat out the Penguins for home ice advantage. Despite the edge up on Pittsburgh, the Penguins won three out of the four first games in the series, and with a third-string goalie in net no less. Despite their significant lead, the Rangers beat all odds with a “No Quit” mentality and won the last three games knocking the Penguins out of the race for the Stanley Cup. NHL Game 7 Highlights | Penguins vs. Rangers – May 15, 2022

The first round was a rollercoaster of energy from start to finish. With five out of eight series going to seven games, it was one of the most entertaining playoff rounds in recent history. With the first round finished, the matchups are now the Colorado Avalanche against the St. Louis Blues, the Calgary Flames against the Edmonton Oilers, the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Carolina Hurricanes against the New York Rangers. With any luck, the second round will be just as exciting as the first. So far, so good.