Viewfinder: Stanley Cup Playoffs

Before the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begin this Wednesday, we decided to look back at some of the best photographs from the first round.

SI Staff | Apr 24, 2017

Viewfinder: Stanley Cup Playoffs /

Viewfinder: Stanley Cup Playoffs

Washington Capitals v Toronto Maple Leafs: Game Six

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals checks Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Washington Capitals v Toronto Maple Leafs: Game Four

T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals blocks a puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on April 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Capitals defeated the Maple Leafs 5-4 to even series 2-2.

Washington Capitals v Toronto Maple Leafs: Game Four

Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is hit in the face by the skate of Andre Burakovsky #65 of the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 19, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Washinton Capitals at the ACC

Richard Lautens/Toronto Star/Getty Images

In second period action, Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) keeps his eyes on a face-off in the Leafs zone. The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Washington Capitals in game 4 of the first round of NHL hockey playoffs at the Air Canada Centre.

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins: Game Five

Josh Anderson #34 of the Columbus Blue Jackets tries to get a shot off between Ron Hainsey #65 and Nick Bonino #13 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on April 20, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins: Game Five

Olli Maatta #3 of the Pittsburgh Penguins knocks a puck out of the air in the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena on April 20, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins: Game Five

Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) puts a hit on Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman Ian Cole (28) along the boards during the third period. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-2 in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 20, 2017, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.

Columbus Blue Jackets v Pittsburgh Penguins: Game Five

Pittsburgh Penguins' Carter Rowney (37) and Columbus Blue Jackets' Alexander Wennberg (10) battle for the puck in the corner during the second period in Game 5 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 20, 2017.

Blackhawks v Predators: Game 4

Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya (27) anticipates the shot of Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) as Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher (12) blocks the view of Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) during game four of Round One of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks, held on April 20, 2017, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Blackhawks v Predators: Game 4

Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks pile in front of the net after Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, blocked a shot during the second period in Game 4 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn.

Anaheim Ducks v Calgary Flames: Game Four

Troy Brouwer #36 of the Calgary Flames faces-off against Nate Thompson #44 of the Anaheim Ducks in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on April 19, 2017 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Anaheim Ducks v Calgary Flames: Game Four

Anaheim Ducks' Nick Ritchie, left, checks Calgary Flames' Dougie Hamilton into the bench during the third period of Game 4 in a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in Calgary, Alberta.

Minnesota Wild v St Louis Blues: Game Four

Ryan White #21 of the Minnesota Wild tussles with Patrik Berglund #21 of the St. Louis Blues as Matt Dumba #24 of the Minnesota Wild puts David Perron #57 of the St. Louis Blues in a headlock in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scottrade Center on April 19, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Minnesota Wild v St Louis Blues: Game Four

Jake Allen #34 of the St. Louis Blues makes a save against the Minnesota Wild in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scottrade Center on April 19, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri.

San Jose Sharks v Edmonton Oilers: Game Five

Drake Caggiula #36 of the Edmonton Oilers battles for the puck against Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

San Jose Sharks v Edmonton Oilers: Game Five

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Matthew Benning (83) trips up San Jose Sharks right wing Joel Ward (42) as they vie for control of the puck during the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series, Thursday, April 20, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Edmonton Oilers v San Jose Sharks: Game Six

Logan Couture #39 of the San Jose Sharks tries to get the puck by Cam Talbot #33 of the Edmonton Oilers as Kris Russell #4 of the Edmonton Oilers defends in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose on April 22, 2017 in San Jose, California.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Boston Bruins Vs Ottawa Senators At Canadian Tire Centre

John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

A fan is surrounded by towels on the seats as he arrives early for Game Five of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ONT on Apr. 21, 2017.

Boston Bruins v Ottawa Senators: Game Five

Viktor Stalberg #24 of the Ottawa Senators pins Frank Vatrano #72 of the Boston Bruins to the ice as the two get tangled up behind the play in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 21, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Ottawa Senators v Boston Bruins: Game Six

Bobby Ryan #9, Mike Hoffman #68 and Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Ottawa Senators celebrate an overtime win and elimination of the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens: Game Five

Andrew Shaw #65 of the Montreal Canadiens collides with Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 20, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Montreal Canadiens v New York Rangers: Game Six

Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers tends the net as Dan Girardi #5 and Ryan McDonagh #27 defend against Artturi Lehkonen #62 of the Montreal Canadiens in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2017 in New York City.

Montreal Canadiens v New York Rangers: Game Six

Alex Galchenyuk #27 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on as members of the New York Rangers celebrate an empty net goal in the third period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 22, 2017 in New York City.

Published Apr 24, 2017

SI STAFF