The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue to deliver outstanding individual performances, and Tuesday night stood out. Jaccob Slavin was instrumental in the Carolina Hurricanes` Game 1 victory against the Washington Capitals, while the Edmonton Oilers` potent pairing ignited another impressive comeback, this time in Las Vegas.
The evening kicked off with a tight, low-scoring game in the nation`s capital, with the Hurricanes and Capitals tied 1-1 after regulation. Slavin not only anchored the defense in this hard-fought battle but also emerged as the overtime hero.
In Vegas, the Golden Knights initially took a 2-0 lead in the first period. However, the Oilers shifted momentum dramatically in the second period, largely thanks to the brilliance of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who combined for four points. When these two are clicking, even elite defensive teams struggle to keep pace.
Following another compelling night of playoff hockey, let`s highlight the top individual performances by naming the 3 Stars of the Night.
3. Leon Draisaitl | C | Edmonton Oilers
It was another comeback win for the Oilers, with Draisaitl scoring a critical goal yet again. Early in the third period, with his team trailing 2-1, Draisaitl showcased brilliant hand-eye coordination and hockey IQ.
Following a deflected Evan Bouchard shot that bounced off Adin Hill`s glove and went airborne, Draisaitl executed a backhand swat as soon as the puck hit the ice. The Oilers` forward deliberately banked it off Hill`s pad into the net to tie the game. In addition to this memorable goal, Draisaitl recorded an assist on Edmonton`s opening goal, delivering a precise cross-ice pass to Connor McDavid during a well-executed zone entry.
2. Connor McDavid | C | Edmonton Oilers
While McDavid didn`t score himself in the Oilers` Game 1 win over the Golden Knights, he was the primary catalyst for their comeback. As seen previously in the first round, McDavid elevated his game when his team trailed, fundamentally altering the game`s dynamic with a couple of exceptional plays.
He assisted on both of his team`s initial goals, making brilliant plays on each. For the first goal, McDavid delivered a perfect pass around Brayden McNabb to find Corey Perry open in front of Adin Hill. On the second, McDavid showcased his incredible speed with a coast-to-coast rush that led to Draisaitl capitalizing on the rebound from the aforementioned Bouchard shot.
1. Jaccob Slavin | D | Carolina Hurricanes
Jaccob Slavin`s performance in Game 1 against the Capitals was exceptional, combining nearly flawless shutdown defense with the decisive game-winning goal in overtime. During his 18 minutes of five-on-five play, the Hurricanes showed significant advantages in metrics like shot attempts (+23), scoring chances (+12), and high-danger chances (+5), according to Natural Stat Trick. This highlights a remarkable defensive effort against Washington, a team that ranked second in regular-season goals (286).
Offensively, Slavin was the Hurricanes` most active shooter with five shots. The fifth shot proved to be the game`s final one, slipping under the pad of Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson just 3:06 into overtime. His impact on both ends of the ice was unmatched that night.
Elton Marrow