HabsWorld Predicts: 2025 Playoffs – Round 1, Part 1

It’s an exciting time of the year for hockey fans! The first round of the 2025 playoffs begin Saturday, April 19 and the HabsWorld writers gave their predictions on the first-round series beginning that night.

Western Conference

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars

Kevin Leveille predicts: Avalanche in 6 games
Matt Gauthier predicts: Avalanche in 7 games
Norm Szcyrek predicts: Avalanche in 7 games
Allan Katz predicts: Avalanche in 6 games
James Turner predicts: Avalanche in 7 games
David Woodward predicts: Stars in 7 games
Brian La Rose predicts: Stars in 7 games

(Kevin) This might be the most entertaining series of the first round and one of the dumbest as two legitimate Cup contenders face off in the Rantanen-bowl. This also means that one of these two teams that spent significantly at the trade deadline is going home early. The season series was a 2-1 advantage for the Avs. Both teams have good special teams, with Colorado holding the offensive edge and Dallas the defensive one. With the changes made to both lineups, I’m not sure how much trust I would put into a deep statistical dive. What the Avalanche did at the deadline was focused on the playoffs, though it remains to be seen whether the return of Gabriel Landeskog will provide a boost or a distraction for them. For the Stars, the X-factor will be how quickly they get Heiskanen into the lineup, if at all. I really like what the Avs did at the deadline, and so I’ll make a call from the heart on this one.

(Matt) This showdown is set to take the rivalry to a whole new level. It’s going the distance—but the Avalanche find a way.

(Norm) This may be the most interesting series to watch, outside of Montreal’s. Colorado boasts superstars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in their lineup. Their mid-season trades netted them forwards Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and Martin Necas, to boost their forward lineup.  Landeskog has been sidelined by injury for three years, but after an AHL rehab assignment, he may be ready to return. Acquiring netminder Mackenzie Blackwood helped steady their shaky goaltending situation at the start of the regular season.

Dallas finished just ahead of Colorado to gain home ice advantage this round. Star defenceman Miro Heiskanen has been out with a knee injury since late January. He might return for the first round, which will be a huge boost. Although Dallas has managed without him for the last two and a half months, he will be needed if they have any chance at advancing. The Stars’ second-highest scorer, Jason Robertson, suffered a lower-body injury in the last game of the season and may not be ready to start the playoffs. Veteran forward Tyler Seguin returned from hip surgery on December 5th to play that last game of the regular season, but it’s difficult to gauge how effective he will be going forward. The Stars traded for former Avalanche Mikko Rantanen from Carolina, so he stands an excellent chance at revenge against his former team with a strong playoff showing. I like the Avalanche’s overall depth especially at centre, and they will push Dallas to a full seven games before moving on.

(Allan) The Stars are on a seven-game losing streak and might lose high scorer Robertson who was reported injured. Heiskanen is out for a number of games. Meanwhile, Colorado has the tastiest M&Ms and the two wear skates instead of high heels. Okay, that joke fell short but MacKinnon and Makar have a similar energy buzz to the Habs’ Hutson and Demidov. If Colorado goes for the kill, they could take this in four.

(James) This should be one of the biggest opening-round series. Both teams are capable of winning the Stanley Cup, but one team will be going home early. When the two squads faced each other in the second round of last season’s playoffs, it was Dallas who came away the victor. The series also comes with two blockbuster storylines: the impending return of Landeskog and the Rantanen saga. After trading Rantanen to Carolina in a shocking deal, the Canes then shipped him to Dallas after he made it clear he would not sign a long-term deal. That means there is potential for major drama in this series. Honestly, it is a toss-up for me. When in doubt, I go with the team that has the best player. In this case, that means I’ll take Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs.

(Brian) Injuries are an issue for Dallas right now but I expect Heiskanen will make it back at some point in this series.  I give the Stars the edge in goal with Jake Oettinger being better and more battle-tested than Blackwood which should allow Dallas to hang around until they get a bit healthier.  This is largely a toss-up series but even though Colorado is the healthier team, I think Dallas pulls it out in the end.

Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues

Kevin Leveille predicts: Jets in 5 games
Matt Gauthier predicts: Jets in 4 games
Norm Szcyrek predicts: Jets in 7 games
Allan Katz predicts: Jets in 6 games
James Turner predicts: Blues in 6 games
David Woodward predicts: Jets in 6 games
Brian La Rose predicts: Jets in 6 games

(Kevin) The Jets win the conference and the Presidents’ Trophy only to face the hottest team in the league. However, every good team must learn to win in the Spring, and it is my belief that the Jets learned that lesson last season. The Blues have been a wagon, but they still lack the offensive prowess of the Avalanche which was a bad match for the Jets and Hellebuyck last season. The Jets won three of four against the Blues and that includes a recent 3-1 Jets win while the Blues were red-hot. This means that even the new Jim Montgomery swagger hasn’t brought the Blues to overcome a stylistic mismatch. The Jets also hold a significant special teams advantage. I expect the Jets to roll here.

(Matt) The top regular season team makes a statement. Expect a quick series and some early rest.

(Norm) Winnipeg had the best overall record in the NHL this season, and that has gained them home-ice advantage, but that is all. It’s now a new season, and the Jets have not had much success in the postseason the past few seasons, despite icing some good teams. They boast a very strong defensive system and a Vezina candidate in Connor Hellebuyck, who led the league in wins, goals against average, and shutouts. Hellebuyck is likely to win that trophy for the second straight season. Their forward corps is led by Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele this season, their top two scorers with 97 and 87 points. They are boosted by Gabriel Vilardi, who missed the last eleven games; Nikolaj Ehlers is listed as week to week after suffering a foot injury, causing him to miss four of the last six games. Defenceman Josh Morrissey was fourth in scoring with 62 points. The Jets boast the NHL’s best power play, which should be an X-factor against the Blues.

St. Louis received a huge upgrade behind the bench, hiring head coach Jim Montgomery in November. It took some time to guide his players into a better hockey system, but it paid off with a twelve-game winning streak that spanned parts of March and April. In goal, veteran Jordan Binnington, who helped guide the Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2019. Up front, forwards Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Dylan Holloway lead the team in scoring. Thomas was very productive to end the season, scoring at least a point in the last twelve games. However, he suffered a lower-body injury in the last game, and is considered day-to-day. On the blueline, veterans Cam Fowler and Colton Parayko tied each other with 36 points. Both teams are evenly matched and ended the season very strong. I’ll give the edge to Winnipeg due to their depth and consistency, with the series going the distance.

(Allan) Despite the incredible ending to the Blues’ season, and I mean how incredible they were, the Jets in their last ten games were only one point behind the Blues and over the season, the Jets were twenty points better. In nets, the Jets have a league-wide MVP candidate in The Man Called HELL. Yet the number one reason the Jets need to win for their fans is, that when and if the Jets lose a series, their fans have to face the fact they live in Winnipeg. St. Louis fans at least can sing the Blues while eating great Barbecue. The Jets are a Cup contender and have the talent to win it all.

(James) The Jets have been fantastic all year, but the Blues have been on fire since the Four Nations break. They are simply peaking at the right time. In their last 26 games, St. Louis is 19-4-3. That includes a franchise-record 12-game winning streak. Their special teams have also been fantastic during that span (27.5% PP and 81.8% PK). I’m not discounting Winnipeg. They have the NHL’s best goalie in Hellebuyck, and that always comes with the potential to carry the team deep into the postseason. However, he has also had playoff struggles, so it could go either way. Whatever has gotten into the Blues since the Four Nations can carry them to an upset here. Personally, I think Jobu is the reason for their sudden success.

(Brian) Last postseason was a bit of a wake-up call for Winnipeg’s core group who were taken apart pretty easily by Colorado.  The Blues, despite their hot finish, aren’t anywhere near as strong as that Avs team from a year ago.  I have my doubts about the Jets but they should be able to get through this round at least.