The second round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is heating up, and some of the league's biggest stars are either rising to the occasion or fading when it matters most. Let's take a look at who's been sizzling—and who's gone ice cold—over the past week.
🔥 Hot: Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
Mitch Marner has finally shed the narrative of playoff inconsistency. After recording 63 points in 70 career postseason games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 29-year-old often went quiet when his team needed him most. But since joining the Vegas Golden Knights this season, Marner has been a different player entirely.
Over the past week, Marner has been one of the NHL's hottest skaters, racking up three goals and six points in just three games—tying for the league lead in both categories. In Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth, with a chance to close out the series, Marner assisted on the opening goal, scored the game-winner, and added an insurance tally. He followed that up with a goal and an assist in Game 1 of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks.
Now riding a four-game point streak (3 goals, 4 assists), Marner has nine points in seven playoff games. If the Golden Knights hope to reach a Western Conference final showdown with the Colorado Avalanche, they'll need even more from their star forward.
🔥 Hot: Other Key Contributors
Marner isn't the only player lighting the lamp. Several skaters have stepped up their game in the second round, providing the kind of secondary scoring that wins championships. Whether it's a physical forward crashing the net or a defenseman jumping into the rush, the playoffs always reveal new heroes.
❄️ Cold: Who's Struggling?
Not every superstar has found their groove. One notable name has been held off the scoresheet entirely, watching from home as his team's playoff hopes evaporated. When the pressure mounts, production can dry up quickly—and for some players, the postseason has been a struggle to find any offensive rhythm.
As the second round continues, keep an eye on which players can stay hot and which ones might finally break out of their cold streaks. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, momentum is everything—and right now, Mitch Marner has plenty of it.