Deen’s Daily: Pete DeBoer is Back in the WCF; Heartbreak for Scheifele; Can Leafs Erase Years of Disappointment Tonight?

The Dallas Stars won Game 6 in overtime to advance to the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive year. Tonight, the Maple Leafs have a chance to round out the final four if they can win a decisive Game 7.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — May 18.

Colorado Hockey Now

We’re right in the midst of the dead part of the Avs’ offseason. But things will ramp up quickly as the playoffs continue.

The last possible day the Stanley Cup could be awarded is June 23. The NHL Entry Draft begins on June 27, and free agency is on July 1. We’re only six weeks away from all the choas.

Read More: What To Make of Artturi Lehkonen’s 2024-25 Season

Stanley Cup Playoff Recap

Game 6 — Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars: The Stars have won every home game in the postseason since the opening loss to the Colorado Avalanche. They protected home ice in Games 2, 5, and 7 the rest of the way. In Round 2, they won one on the road again and capitalized on all three home Games: 3, 4, and 6.

With yesterday’s 2-1 OT victory, they’re on their way to the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive season. Meanwhile, Pete DeBoer is heading to the third round in the West for the sixth time in seven seasons. He led San Jose to the WCF in 2019 before losing to St. Louis. The following two years, DeBoer coached Vegas to the third round and lost to Dallas and Montreal, who went on to fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.

He was out of the picture in 2022 before again reaching the WCF in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with the Stars. He has yet to compete for the Stanley Cup in any of these seasons. Will this be the year?

Also, I do want to share my respect for Mark Scheifele. His father passed away in the middle of the night right before Game 7. It was sudden. Scheifele, who wears the ‘C’ as the Jets’ captain, ended up playing and scoring the only goal for Winnipeg. He was in the box in OT when the Stars won the series. Seeing the respect he got in the handshake line was truly special. Thoughts to him and his family.

An emotional handshake line following the end of the Jets/Stars Second Round matchup 💚💙 pic.twitter.com/3zyp428Maa

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 18, 2025

Also, special shout-out to Stars fans for raising more than $30,000 to the Winnipeg Jets’ charitable foundation in memory of Scheifele’s father. After the sudden passing, word got out that Dallas fans were donating $55 for No. 55. Safe to say the word spread far and wide in the matter of hours.

Tonight’s Schedule

• Game 7: Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs (5:30 pm MT on TNT & truTV)

Around The NHL

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Team Canada keeps rolling at the World Championships. Sidney Crosby was a catalyst in Saturday’s big win. As was Nathan MacKinnon.

Philly Hockey Now: Should the Flyers consider trading back in the draft?

San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks are closing in on a massive new deal with their current home arena.

Florida Hockey Now: For the seventh consecutive game in this series, the odds are in favor of the reigning Stanley Cup champions.

Vegas Hockey Now: Do the Golden Knights need an overhaul this offseason?