MADISON, Wis. – Nine of the 11 Wisconsin Badgers taking part in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs played in Game 7s and five of the nine survived and advanced to the second round that began this week.

Wisconsin topped all NCAA schools with 11 Badgers qualifying to reach the postseason and they all looked to add to the NCAA-best 14 all-time Badgers to have their names engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup.

The five Badgers still alive who look to add to the cup-winning total include Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh and goaltender Brian Elliott. McDonagh already won the last two Cups with the Lightning.

Tampa Bay took a 1-0 series lead over Presidents' Trophy-winner Florida on Monday after defeating Toronto a seven-game series. McDonagh became the NHL's all-time leading playoffs shot blocker in the victory with 387 and counting.

The Panthers general manager Bill Zito grew up in Milwaukee and served as a graduate assistant coach while attending UW for law school.

A pair of former New York Rangers in Brendan Smith and Derek Stepan will face their old team when the Carolina Hurricanes take on the Rangers and former Badger K'Andre Miller in the second round beginning on Tuesday.

The Rangers won a Game 7 against Pittsburgh, in part to Miller drawing on overtime penalty after a steal and then an interrupted breakaway. The Rangers scored on the ensuing power play. Carolina defeated Badgers Craig Smith, Trent Frederic and the Boston Bruins in six games to advance to the second round.

Joe Pavelski and Ryan Suter of the Dallas Stars reached a Game 7, but were knocked out by the Calgary Flames.

Luke Kunin, with Nashville, and Justin Schultz, with Washington, were eliminated in the first round.

Of note, 2021 Wisconsin All-American Dylan Holloway was recalled to the Edmonton Oilers for their second-round series against Calgary. The Bragg Creek, Alberta, native, will at minimum get a front-row seat to the Battle of Alberta.