Sixteen teams to eight teams, but not the eight teams that most predicted. The first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs came to an end on Wednesday night after a third Game 7 concluded. Shockingly, all four division leaders from the regular season were eliminated in the first round, the first time that has ever happened since the NHL started the division format over 50 years ago. The most surprising upset was the Columbus Blue Jackets’ series sweep over the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were the top team in the NHL after a record-tying 62-win season. Needless to say, a lot of people’s prediction brackets were ruined after that first round.

The three Canadian teams who qualified for the postseason were all eliminated. The Toronto Maple Leafs once again fell to the Boston Bruins in seven games, just like last year and in 2013. The Calgary Flames, the number one team in the West, lost in five games to the Colorado Avalanche, and the Winnipeg Jets lost to the St. Louis Blues in six games. The streak of a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup extends another year, with the last Canadian win being the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

Another surprising series sweep was the New York Islanders over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have won two of the last three Stanley Cups. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held to just one point in the series.

In one of the craziest Game 7 comebacks, the San Jose Sharks eliminated last year’s “cinderella” team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas led 3-0 into the third period but ended up losing 5-4 in overtime in Game 7.

The other two division winners that were eliminated in the first round were the Nashville Predators and the Washington Capitals. The Predators lost to the Dallas Stars in six games, and the Capitals lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime in the third Game 7 of the round on Wednesday night.

Here’s a look ahead to the second round:

Columbus Blue Jackets (WC2) vs. Boston Bruins (A2):

The Blue Jackets surprised everyone by sweeping the Lightning in the opening round, especially after being down 3-0 in Game 1. Columbus are better than people think, although they’re in the second wild-card spot. The Bruins finished in second place in the Atlantic division and got past the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games. Boston won the season series 2-1. This series begins on Thursday.

Carolina Hurricanes (WC1) vs. New York Islanders (M2):

The Hurricanes were another team that had an upset over a division winner, they edged the Washington Capitals in overtime in Game 7. The Islanders have been waiting for their second-round opponent after sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.  The Islanders won the season series 3-1. Game 1 is on Friday in Brooklyn.

Dallas Stars (WC1) vs. St. Louis Blues (C3):

The Stars won their series against the Nashville Predators in six games, and the Blues beat the Jets, also in six games. The home team won only once in the Blues’ series. The Stars were down 2-1 in their series but won three straight to advance. Dallas won the season series 3-1. St. Louis will host Game 1 on Thursday night.

Colorado Avalanche (WC2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P2):

Colorado took down the West’s top team, the Calgary Flames in five games after being shutout in Game 1. The Sharks beat the Golden Knights after a crazy Game 7 on Tuesday night. San Jose won the season series 3-0 and will host Game 1 on Friday.

After one of the craziest opening rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we will see if the second round is just as crazy and exciting.

Sources:

-All stats/info from NHL.com