The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been pretty exciting up to this point. Heading into the second Friday of the postseason there are six series still undecided, with at least two Game 7s on the books in the first round.
Here’s a list of teams that have advanced to the second round of the 2022 NHL playoffs.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Florida Panthers
First round: Defeated WC2 Washington Capitals 4-2
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes
First round: Defeated WC1 Boston Bruins 4-3
No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
First round: Defeated No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3
No. 2 New York Rangers
First round: Defeated No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3
The Rangers were the last team to advance to the second round out of the Eastern Conference. New York knocked off the Penguins in Game 7 with an overtime goal from Artemi Panarin.
The Lightning were able to come back down 3-2 in the series to win Game 7 2-1 on Saturday night to advance to the second round. The Lightning could be without C Brayden Point after he was injured in the second period of Game 7. The Lightning face the rival Panthers.
The Hurricanes were able to get past the Bruins in Game 7 on Saturday afternoon to take the first-round series. The home team won every game in the series. Max Domi and Teuvo Teravainen led the way for the Hurricanes in the series-clinching win, combing for three goals and five points.
The Panthers were able to shake off a 2-1 hole in their series vs. the Caps, winning in six games after coming back to win 3-2 in Game 6 on Friday night. Florida entered the playoffs as the top seed in the East. The Caps gave them a bit of a scare but ultimately the best team during the regular season advances.
Western Conference
No. 1 Colorado Avalanche
First round: Defeated WC2 Nashville Predators 4-0
No. 3 St. Louis Blues
First round: Defeated No. 2 Minnesota Wild 4-2
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers
First round: Defeated No. 3 Los Angeles Kings 4-3
No. 1 Calgary Flames
First round: Defeated WC1 Dallas Stars 4-3
The Avalanche will be the only team to sweep their opponent out of the first round, which is a testament to why Colorado entered the postseason as the favorite to hoist the Cup this summer. The Avalanche will face the Blues in the conference semifinals after an impressive upset of the Minnesota Wild. St. Louis finished with a +6 goal differential in six games, and goalkeeper Jordan Binnington stopped 25 of 26 shots in the series finale.
The Flames will take on the Oilers in the Battle of Alberta. The Oilers were able to win Game 7 vs. the Kings with a shutout from Mike Smith. The Flames somehow got one past Jake Oettinger when Johnny Gaudreau scored in OT in Game 7 on Sunday night.