Opinion: Best NHL Playoff series so far

The Stanley Cup playoffs are one of the greatest times of the year. Hockey is an already tough sport and that is amplified during the playoffs.

These playoffs have had some of the best series in a while. Let's take a look at some of the best series of these playoffs.

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars (DAL leads 3-2)

Two of the most talented teams in hockey find themselves facing off in the first round and it has led to one of the best series this playoff.

Dallas currently leads 3-2 and will look to defeat the Avs on Thursday night.

This series has turned out great thanks to outstanding players such as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, but they also have such a great storyline playing against Mikko Rantanen who they traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, who then traded him to Dallas.

These two teams have created what has been one of the greatest series in the West and we will see it end on Thursday night or continue for one more game.

Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens (WAS leads 3-1)

While you might say that oh this series doesn’t look that great the capitals are leading 3-1 but that is far from the truth.

For starters most of these games have been close; we have seen one or two-goal games throughout.

Along with this, they have also been high-scoring games that bring in some great scores.

The final reason that I love this series is because it represents what playoff hockey is supposed to be. One of the best moments from the playoffs was when Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson got into a fight on the bench. What could be better than that?

If you are in the playoffs you are a team that has a ton of skill, but to survive playoff hockey you need to be physical. It will be a shame if this series ends tonight but it was still one of the best series of the first round.

Los Angeles Kings vs Edmonton Oilers (EDM leads 3-2)

For the fourth year straight, these teams are seeing each other in the first round of the playoffs. In year one, the Oilers won the series 4-3, the following year, they won again 4-2, and last year, you got it, the Oilers capped off the three-peat with a 4-1 series win.

With so much familiarity in the playoffs and being in the same division, there is some bad blood in this series. This is the first year in a while though that the Kings seem to be favorites.

The Kings have home ice advantage, which works in their favor as they won the most games at home this season. The Kings are also playing with the strongest and deepest team they’ve had in all four matchups.

This series has shown so much firepower with 41 goals through the first five games, starting off with a riveting 6-5 Kings win in game one where the Oilers overcame a 4-0 deficit to tie it 5-5.

The talent on the ice, along with the familiarity of these teams makes this such a fun series to watch. There have been crazy goals, overtime games, and of course, big hits.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators (TOR leads 3-2)

For the first time since 2004, the battle of Ontario is returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Toronto has talent that blows most teams in the NHL away, except for in the playoffs where they have only made it past the first round once since that 2004 season.

Toronto got out to a hot 3-0 lead over the Senators winning a close game two and three in overtime and the series seemed all but over.

The Senators, who are just loaded with young talent and are fighting to keep their season alive, won in game four in overtime and shut them out in game five.

This is a classic situation where the series looks closer than the score says. Ottawa has played Toronto tightly every game and it is finally starting to pay off for them. They are looking to complete the reverse sweep and send Toronto packing once again.

Toronto is looking to win their second series in the Auston Matthews era and they have two chances left to do it. They play in Ottawa and if they can’t do it there, they get one more chance in a game seven at home.

Andrew Matz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email atm5759@psu.edu.

Tristan Kunec is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email tqk5432@psu.edu.