Standout players from the first round of the NHL playoffs
Photo courtesy of The AHL/Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy has emerged as a breakout force in the first-round series against Dallas, scoring key goals and totaling five points in four games to help swing momentum in Minnesota’s favor.
The first round of the 2025-26 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs is well underway, and fans have already been treated to some truly spectacular hockey. From thrilling overtime finishes to inconceivable defensive plays and devastating open-ice collisions. Needless to say, the NHL postseason is not disappointing. Even though it is so early in the postseason, there have already been several standout individual performances worth highlighting. This might seem counterintuitive, considering how far in the playoffs in hockey is almost entirely dependent on team depth and having a variety of players throughout your lineup who can contribute. However, it would be negligent not to note how vital starpower is to not just winning in the playoffs, but eventually hosting the Stanley Cup in June.
Matt Boldy (Left Wing): Minnesota Wild
Through the first four games of a series against the Dallas Stars, Boldy has proven that no moment is too big for the 25-year-old winger. In this series, which features some of the top talent in the entire league, Boldy has proven that he belongs in the discussion amongst the game's elite. The Massachusetts native had five points in the first four games. He had two goals to lead Minnesota to a 6-1 game one victory, and scored the most important goal of the Wild’s season so far in overtime in game four to knot the series at two games apiece. With his feline quickness and extraordinary stick-handling, Boldy has flat-out embarrassed the Stars’ defensive corps throughout the series. While this series has a long way to go, one thing that is for certain is Boldy’s undeniable status as one of the brightest young American stars that the game has to offer.
Jackson Lacombe (Defenseman): Anaheim Ducks
Another Team USA Olympian, Lacombe has played like the best defenseman in the world for the Ducks in their matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. Lacombe’s performance is even more impressive when you consider the fact that for most of the series, he has been deployed against the undisputed best player in the world, Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Lacombe has met that challenge and exceeded all expectations. In game three of the series, Lacombe made an unreal defensive play against McDavid as he dove to break up a 2-1 cross-crease opportunity with his stick. On top of his world-class defense, Lacombe had 6 points in just three games, while averaging 25:38 of icetime. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher's performance has not gone unnoticed in the hockey world, and it has been paramount to the Ducks taking an early 2-1 lead in the series.
Alex Lyon (Goaltender): Buffalo Sabres
Ever since he took the place of fellow goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonan late in game two, Lyon has been impeccable in-goal for Buffalo. His performance in game two earned him the starting nod in the following game, and Lyon ran with the opportunity. Facing a hostile Boston Bruins home crowd, the Minnesota native stopped 24 of the 25 shots that he faced, which came out to a .960 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average. Lyon, who has mostly been a journeyman goaltender in his career, with the Sabres as the fifth team he has suited up for in his career, has the opportunity to shed that label by leading the Sabres to their first playoff series victory in 19 years.
It has been stated many times that the NHL playoffs are almost an entirely different sport from the regular season. That might feel like hyperbole, but the intensity, physicality, and competitive spirit of the game are on a whole different scale in the playoffs. It is an opportunity for young studs such as Boldy and Lacombe to establish themselves as complete superstars. But on the other hand, it gives unsung guys like Alex Lyon a chance to play hero and deliver unforgettable playoff performances. Regardless of name value or how highly touted a certain player is, the players who rise to the occasion on hockey’s grandest stage can become legends of the sport in a matter of mere seconds.