Stanley Cup Playoffs Day 9: Oilers, Blues tie series; Capitals, Hurricanes go up 3-1

Scott Maxwell
Scott Maxwell(scotmaxw)
Apr 28, 2025, 01:33 EDT
The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Leon Draisaitl (29) during overtime against the Los Angeles Kings in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place.
Credit: © Perry Nelson

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are back, which means that for the next two months, we’ll get non-stop exciting action in the NHL as we witness history in another team looking to win a championship. Here at Daily Faceoff, we’ll be keeping you in the loop of everything that happened in the playoffs, every day until the Stanley Cup is hoisted in June.

Blues light up Hellebuyck again

Okay, so maybe those overblown criticisms of Connor Hellebuyck’s playoff performances wasn’t so overblown. At the very least, he seems to not have fun playing in St. Louis. As the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues faced off in Game 4, the Jets looked like they were in better shape getting the game’s opening goal.

But Jake Neighbours tied the game later in the first period, and then the Blues got three more goals in the second and an additional in the third to put the game in blowout territory once again to even up the series with the 5-1 win, and the series is now tied going back to Winnipeg. Neighbours had two assists in addition to the goal for three points, while Hellebuyck stopped just 13 of 18 shots for a .722 save percentage before he was pulled once again.

Svechnikov’s hat trick holds off Devils rally

After the New Jersey Devils got back into the series with a double overtime win in Game 3, the Carolina Hurricanes had things back under control to start Game 4. Andrei Svechnikov and Jaccob Slavin scored in the first period to make it 2-0, and then Svechnikov added to that lead 42 seconds into the middle frame. But it didn’t take long for the Devils to chip away at that lead. Just two minutes later Hischier scored, and then five minutes after that Timo Meier made it a one-goal game.

But that was as close as the Devils were going to get. Brent Burns gave the Canes some breathing room again with six minutes left in the game, and then Svechnikov completed the hat trick with an empty net goal to give Carolina a 5-2 win and a 3-1 lead in the series. In addition to Svechnikov’s hat trick, Burns, Sebastian Aho, and Jackson Blake all had two-point nights.

Late goal from Mangiapane pushes Habs to brink

After an electric Game 3 in Montreal featuring a raucous crowd and a fight in the benches, what would Game 4 gives us? Apparently just a really close hockey game, but we aren’t complaining! After a scoreless first period, the Washington Capitals took a 1-0 lead just 85 seconds into the second thanks to Dylan Strome. But the Montreal Canadiens responded before the end of the frame, as Juraj Slafkovsky tied it almost halfway through the period and Cole Caufield gave Montreal the 2-1 lead in the final two minutes.

It seemed like the Canadiens were going to use the momentum of home ice to tie the series, but the Capitals had other plans. Brandon Duhaime tied the game early in the third, and with 3:37 left in the game, Andrew Mangiapane beat Jakub Dobes for the late go-ahead goal. Duhaime and Tom Wilson finished off the game with empty net goals, and the Capitals got a 5-2 win to take a 3-1 series lead.

Draisaitl’s OT winner completes comeback

This first round matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers continues to entertain. The Kings once again got off to a strong start, as Trevor Moore opened the scoring in the first period, and then Warren Foegele made it 2-0 early in the second. Corey Perry cut the lead in half a few minutes later, but then a few more after that, Kevin Fiala made it 3-1.

But leads have never really been safe in this series, and much like Game 3, Evan Bouchard played a big role in that comeback. An even bigger one, in fact, as he scored both goals, including the tying goal with 29 seconds left and we needed overtime. After nearly a full period of overtime, an Oilers power play lead to Leon Draisaitl burying the winner in the final two minutes, and Edmonton has tied the series. Draisaitl had three assists in addition to his goal in the game, while Connor McDavid assisted on all three goals in the rally.

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