The President's Trophy winners forced themselves to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period to win in double overtime against the St. Louis Blues, 4-3, and win the last series of the first round 4-3 as well.

The Jets* go into the second round against the Dallas Stars on shakey ground after almost choking to the 14th best team in the NHL this year. There are questions about their goaltending, Connor Hellebuyck posted a .815 sv% in the first round. There are questions about injuries to Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele. And there are questions about their offense, which scored the 12th most goals per game in the first round.

Stanley Cup chances after the first round

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn.bsky.social) 2025-05-05T03:21:47.918Z

The Montreal Victoire, having won the PWHL regular season, have chosen to play the third seed Ottawa Charge in the best-of-five first round. This leaves the Toronto Sceptres, who finished second, to play the fourth seed Minnesota Frost, who are the reigning Walter Cup champtions.

So they meet again... 👀 Following Montreal's selection, @pwhlsceptres.bsky.social will have a rematch with their 2024 Semifinal opponent and reigning Walter Cup Champions - @pwhlfrost.bsky.social.

— PWHL (@thepwhl.com) 2025-05-04T22:11:03.596Z

Toronto almost quadrupled their average attendance from last season thanks in part to their new home. CCC's capacity for hockey is 8,140. Toronto exceeded that thanks to their special tour games, but also from selling out 14/15 home games. Will we see another venue upgrade in Toronto for next year?

TORONTO LOVES THEIR HOCKEY ‼️ Thank you to every single one of our fans for bringing the energy and showing up and showing out all season long! Can’t wait to do playoffs with you 🫶

— Toronto Sceptres (@pwhlsceptres.bsky.social) 2025-05-04T20:33:11.066Z

Congratulations to Stephanie and Mitch Marner! Hard to believe he's a dad.

Leafs announce that Mitch Marner and his wife, Stephanie, welcomed the arrival of a baby boy this morning.

— James Mirtle (@mirtle.bsky.social) 2025-05-04T14:55:31.778Z

Crosby and MacKinnon will be joining Team Canada at the Men's World Championships.

Sidney Crosby to Represent Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship | Pittsburgh Penguins
PITTSBURGH, PA \- Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby will represent Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, it was announced today by Hockey Canada. Crosby joins Pittsburgh’s Kyle Dubas, who is serving as Team Canada’s General Manager. This year’s World Championship will be held from May 9-25 in Herning, Denmark
PPGPittsburgh Penguins

Reports are flying that the NHL (after a decision by the board of governors) will be scrapping the decentralized draft (aka Zoom Draft) and will be going back to a centralized draft.

Alexander Plesovskikh keeps scoring in the playoffs for Spartak.

#Leafs prospect Alexander Plesovskikh with a goal and an assist in Spartak's 4-3 loss today. He has 6 goals and 10 points in 13 playoff games so far. Spartak are still up 3-2 in the series and have another chance to punch their ticket to the MHL finals on Tuesday.

— Bastard Treliving (@brigstew.bsky.social) 2025-05-05T01:26:39.213Z

Here are the dates for the OHL Finals, between Easton Cowan's London Knights in the West and Ben Danford's Oshawa Generals in the East.

From The Branches