Canadian hockey fans from coast to coast are getting more action from teams north of the 49th parallel than ever before in the salary cap era, as three teams have made the second round of the playoffs.
Not only is it the first time in the salary cap era it’s happened, it’s also the first since 2004 and second time since 2002.
First time three Canadian teams are in the 2nd round since 2004. Hard to beat that opening round, but I’m looking forward to the attempt.
— Jack Michaels (@EdmontonJack) May 5, 2025
The Toronto Maple Leafs were the first of the teams to advance in the playoffs last week, finishing off their six-game series against the Ottawa Senators on May 1st. Later that night, the Edmonton Oilers advanced through their first-round opponent, the Los Angeles Kings, dismantling them in six games after dropping the first two. And on Sunday night, the Winnipeg Jets beat the St. Louis Blues in an exciting Game 7, overcoming a 3-1 deficit with two goals in the final two minutes of regulation, before going deep into a second overtime before captain Adam Lowry scored the game-winner.
Toronto will host the Florida Panthers in the second round, with their series kicking off Monday night, as Edmonton pays visit to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Winnipeg, meanwhile, will take on the Dallas Stars in Round 2, hosting them on Wednesday.
In 2004, the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames all got through their first round opponents but just one of those three — the Flames — made it through the second round, getting to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they fell in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ten years before that, in 1994, was the last time two teams advanced to the Conference Finals, when the Maple Leafs took on the Vancouver Canucks, the latter of whom advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, falling in seven games to the New York Rangers. One year before that, of course, was the last time a Canadian time won the Stanley Cup, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Kings in five games.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
