Stanley Cup 2021 Playoffs: Update

With the NHL betting hotting up for the Stanley Cup, two teams have already booked their place for the next round, and six teams are still slugging it out. Three of the playoffs are currently tied, promising an exciting - if nail-biting! - finish for the fans.

Here’s a look at how each of the playoffs currently stand:

Colorado Avalanche vs St Louis Blues

Result: Avalanche win series 4-0

MacKinnon became the first player in Avalanche history to hit nine points from four games in a playoff series, achieved with three assists and six goals. Craig Berube, coach for the Blues, admitted that Colorado was "better than us", conceding "you get beat four straight, they were better than us." However, not everyone was so philosophical, with Blues player Vladimir Tarasenko describing it as "embarrassing" and complaining that they "don't fight enough".

Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins

Results: Bruins win series 4-1

After starting the series with a win, the Capitals went on to suffer four straight losses to the Bruins, knocking them out of the playoffs. With an ageing core to a team that hasn’t made it past the first round of the playoffs in the last three years, there are questions being asked about the future of some of the veteran stars at the Washington club.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens

Latest: Series tied 1-1

The Maple Leafs came from behind to even up the series in their last match with just one game apiece. Power-play goals were the secret to their success, with the Canadiens forced to swallow six consecutive penalties. Montreal have been open about their desire to play the series physically. Toronto are keen to capitalise on this strategy, hoping to force more penalties and take the advantage that a subsequent power play would bring. But Canadiens players Edmundson and Kulak insisted that it was the right approach as the team could "draw more penalties than we take" and needed to "be hard on them but be smart".

Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Latest: Lightning lead 3-1

Billed as the Battle of Florida, this is looking increasingly like a one-sided fight with the Lightning all but through to the next round. Two games ahead, and with just one more victory needed, it will make a spectacular comeback from the Panthers to progress to the next round. However, with Sergachev and Kucherov potentially added to the injury list for Tampa Bay, there's a chink of hope for the Panthers to begin their fight back. 

New York Islanders vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Latest: Series tied 2-2

After taking the lead in the series, the Penguins have been brought back to Earth with a bump as the Islanders levelled the score. However, with a veteran team of players for the Penguins, they'll be shrugging off the latest defeat and focussing on what lies ahead. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan warned that his team needs to stay sharper and attempt to give away fewer penalties as the Islanders have proven they'll punish them with every possible power-play opportunity conceded.

Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets

Latest: Jets lead 3-0

This series score may make it look as if the Jets are walking all over the Oilers, but the games are balanced on a knife-edge. During the last match, the Oilers were leading by 4-1, only to go on and lose the match 5-4. Oilers scorer Leon Draisaitl admitted that his team have a problem with their defence, insisting that they are scoring enough to win but failing to defend their lead. That may be true, but the Oilers now have a mountain to climb, needing to win all four of the games left in the series.

Carolina Hurricanes vs Nashville Predators

Latest: Series tied 2-2

With reports that this series has the best atmosphere of any of the playoffs, the games between the Canes and the Predators could go either way. Trailing by one game, the Predators won the last match to even up the series for a thrilling conclusion. Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour refused to blame the rookie goalie for failing to cover a loose puck in the second, insisting that it has been the right decision to play him in all four matches and describing his performance as “great”.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild

Latest: Golden Knights lead 3-1

After taking an early lead, Minnesota Wild has gone on to lose the next three games, putting them on the brink of being knocked out. Only joining the NHL in 2017/2018, the Golden Knights have proven their resilience, coming back from the first defeat to claim a 3-1 lead in the series. This is no mean feat, as, during the regular season, the Wild didn't lose more than two games on the bounce. But with Wild goalie Fleury in outstanding form, making 35 saves for a shutout, and the offensive players all finding the back of the net, stopping the Golden Knights from winning four in a row is going to be an uphill battle.