The league's western expansion paid off in the Pacific Division where the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup and Seattle Kraken emerged as contenders in their second year of existence.
The Oakland Athletics cleared a major hurdle for their planned relocation to Las Vegas after the Nevada Legislature gave final approval on Wednesday to public funding
Mark Stone's hat trick highlighted the goal celebrations, as the Vegas Golden Knight capturing their first Stanley Cup title with a 9-3 romp over the Florida Panthers.
Seattle Kraken had a goal at the beginning of the season The team that wasn't given any respect. Now has reached higher with a team that became the foundation of future success.
Seattle is coming off a 7-2 thumping of the Stars, while the Devils, who lost the first two games in Raleigh, North Carolina, got back in their series with an 8-4 victory at the Prudential Center on Sunday.
The Seattle Kraken and Florida Panthers both had to quickly go from Game 7 victories on the road to starting their second rounds as visitors again just two days later.
Yanni Gourde scored in overtime after regathering a loose puck as the Seattle Kraken beat Dallas 5-4 in Game 1. Joe Pavelski scored all four Stars goals in his return to their lineup.
Dallas Stars' Joe Pavelski appears set to play in the series opener against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night to start the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs