NHL Playoff Leaders: Speed, Shot Speed, and Saves
The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are off to a thrilling start, with several players and goalies standing out for their impressive performances. According to data from the National Hockey League, Dallas Stars centre Roope Hintz leads the playoffs in skating speed, reaching a top speed of 23.67 miles per hour in the third period of their Game 1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
The NHL reports that Hintz, who ranked sixth in the league in 20-plus mph speed bursts (363) during the regular season, also leads the postseason in 20-plus mph speed bursts (11) and 22-plus mph bursts (two). Hintz scored the Stars’ lone goal, which came on power play, in Game 1. He has accumulated 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 35 games during the past three postseasons combined, tied for eighth in the NHL during that span.
In terms of shot speed, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague has recorded the hardest shot attempt of the playoffs so far at 95.18 mph in the second period of their Game 1 win against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. As noted by the NHL, Hague’s shot, which was blocked, was one of eight attempts to eclipse 90 mph across the League during the postseason so far, with five of the eight attempts coming from defensemen. Hague surpassed Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who had a 93.88-mph shot in Game 1 against the Stars on Saturday, for the League lead.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews leads the NHL in high-danger shots on goal, with three in the Maple Leafs’ Game 1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. Matthews is tied with teammate John Tavares and Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche for the NHL lead in playoff shots on goal (six each); Tavares and MacKinnon are tied with each other for the League’s most midrange shots on goal (four each in Game 1) this postseason.
In goal, Avalanche netminder Justus Annunen has faced the most high-danger shots on goal (11 against Stars in Game 1 on Saturday) of any goalie through the first five series openers of the 2025 postseason and stopped them all for a 1.000 high-danger save percentage. The NHL reports that since his Avalanche debut on December 14, Colorado ranks among the NHL leaders in goals allowed per game (2.39; second fewest), shots allowed per game (25.7; third fewest) and penalty kill percentage (83.3 percent; third best) with the tandem of Annunen and Scott Wedgewood.
Other notable goalie performances include Toronto’s Anthony Stolarz, who stopped all 12 midrange shots faced and all nine long-range shots faced in their Game 1 win against the Senators on Sunday. According to the NHL, Stolarz had a breakout regular season, leading the league in save percentage (.926 in 34 games); Toronto, with the tandem of Stolarz and Joseph Woll, finished fourth in the League in team save percentage (.905).
The NHL provides further insights into player and team performances throughout the playoffs. For more information on the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, including player comparisons and statistics, visit the NHL website.
