The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have already delivered unexpected turns, featuring players returning from significant injuries and others battling through various physical issues.
On Thursday, two teams head into Game 3 with a commanding 2-0 series lead. Historically, this position is highly favorable: statistics show that teams with a 2-0 advantage in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 86% of the time.
Will the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets maintain their momentum? Or can the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues secure crucial wins on home ice?
Additionally, can the Florida Panthers earn another victory in Tampa Bay`s arena? And which team will seize the pivotal Game 3 lead in the series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild?
Continue reading for previews of the upcoming games, including statistical insights, summaries of Wednesday`s results, and the Three Stars from the previous night.
Matchup Notes
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 2 (FLA leads 1-0) | 6:30 p.m. ET | TBS
With the Panthers holding a 1-0 lead, betting odds for the series have adjusted, making Florida the favorite at -210, a shift from -115 before Game 1.
Matthew Tkachuk made a notable return after missing over two months, scoring two goals to help the Panthers claim Game 1 in the Battle of Florida. Both Matthew and his brother Brady scored goals on Tuesday, marking the 83rd instance in Stanley Cup playoffs history where siblings scored on the same day. The most recent prior occurrence was Marcus and Nick Foligno on April 21, 2023.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been crucial in many recent playoff wins for the Panthers. The Game 1 victory was his 45th career playoff win, placing him fifth all-time among goalies born outside North America. The leader in this category is his opponent, Andrei Vasilevskiy, with 66 wins.
Nikita Kucherov, the NHL`s leading scorer in the regular season with the Art Ross Trophy, was limited to just one assist in Game 1. The question remains whether this trend will continue.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
Game 3 (TOR leads 2-0) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
The Maple Leafs have only won one playoff series in the last two decades, but they are halfway to breaking that streak in this Battle of Ontario. This series marks the first time the Leafs have held a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series since their 2002 matchup against the New York Islanders, which they eventually won in seven games.
Max Domi scored the overtime winner for the Leafs in Game 2, marking his first playoff overtime goal. His father, Tie Domi, played 98 career playoff games without an overtime winner, though he was known more for his physical play than scoring.
Toronto`s key players, the “Core Four,” continue to lead the team. John Tavares (two goals, two assists), Mitch Marner (one goal, three assists), William Nylander (one goal, two assists), and Auston Matthews (three assists) occupy the top spots on their team`s playoff scoring sheet heading into Game 3. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz has also been strong, becoming the sixth netminder in Leafs history to win his first two playoff starts with the franchise, joining Ken Wregget, Mike Palmateer, Bernie Parent, Frank McCool, and Lorne Chabot.
A potential path for Ottawa to mount a comeback relies on goaltender Linus Ullmark delivering some standout performances. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner has allowed nine goals on 45 shots through two games, resulting in a .800 save percentage. In contrast, Ullmark was dominant against Toronto in the regular season, allowing only two goals on 50 shots in two games, both of which the Senators won.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild
Game 3 (series tied 1-1) | 9 p.m. ET | TBS
Game 3 in a tied series is historically significant: the team that wins Game 3 when the series is 1-1 has gone on to win the series 66% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history (240-123 record).
The Wild took control early in Game 2, scoring three first-period goals and maintaining their lead against the Knights. Kirill Kaprizov, a former Hart Trophy contender before his injury this season, showcased his skill with two goals and a remarkable assist on Matt Boldy`s goal. Kaprizov`s second goal tied him with Marian Gaborik for the second-most playoff goals in Wild history with 12, trailing only Zach Parise.
For Vegas, “Playoff” Tomas Hertl has made his presence felt, scoring a goal in each of the first two games. The former San Jose Shark is the fourth player to score in his first two games for the Golden Knights, joining Mark Stone, William Karlsson, and Jonathan Marchessault.
The Knights are hoping goaltender Adin Hill`s performance improves. He currently has an .833 save percentage through two games, significantly lower than his .931 mark in three games last postseason and his .932 percentage during their 2023 Stanley Cup run (over 14 starts).
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
Game 3 (WPG leads 2-0) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Another historical statistic favors the Jets: Presidents` Trophy winners who have taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win that series 95% of the time (tracked since the 1985-86 season).
The Blues will need to keep a close eye on Kyle Connor, especially in tight game situations. He has scored the game-winning goal in both games so far, giving him five in his playoff career, surpassing Paul Stastny for the most in Jets 2.0/Atlanta Thrashers history.
St. Louis rookie Jimmy Snuggerud, who played for the University of Minnesota earlier this spring, is one of two rookies to score a goal this postseason, the other being Carolina`s Logan Stankoven.
Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, who led the Blues in regular-season scoring and both registered goals in Game 1, were held pointless in Game 2.
Arda`s Three Stars from Wednesday Night
1. Gabriel Landeskog
LW, Colorado Avalanche
Sometimes, box score stats are secondary. The return of the Avalanche captain to the NHL for the first time since lifting the Cup in 2022 was a moment celebrated throughout the hockey community, transcending team loyalties. Welcome back, Gabe!
2. Adrian Kempe
RW, Los Angeles Kings
Kempe had a stellar night with two goals and two assists as the Kings decisively defeated the Oilers 6-2, securing both home games before the series moves to Edmonton.
3. Logan Thompson
G, Washington Capitals
Thompson made 25 saves, including crucial stops on dangerous opportunities in the third period, helping the Capitals defeat the Canadiens 3-1 and establish a 2-0 series lead.
Wednesday`s Scores and Recaps
Washington Capitals 3, Montreal Canadiens 1
(WSH leads 2-0)
This game proved perhaps tighter than some analysts and fans anticipated. Christian Dvorak opened the scoring for Montreal in the second period. However, the Capitals quickly responded with two goals within a minute from Connor McMichael and Dylan Strome. Washington held onto this lead, thanks in part to heroic saves by goaltender Logan Thompson. McMichael sealed the win with an empty-net goal just before the final buzzer, ensuring the Capitals head to Montreal with a 2-0 series lead.
Dallas Stars 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (OT)
(DAL leads 2-1)
The major storyline was the highly anticipated return of Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog after a three-year absence. A first-period goal by Valeri Nichushkin ignited the home crowd. However, the veteran Dallas Stars had a response of their own. Captain Jamie Benn tied the game midway through the third period, and Tyler Seguin netted the game-winning goal at 5:31 of overtime.
Los Angeles Kings 6, Edmonton Oilers 2
(LA leads 2-0)
For the past three postseasons, the Kings have been eliminated by the Oilers in the first round. Could this year finally see them overcome their challenging opponent from Alberta? Scoring six goals per game, as they did here, would certainly help their chances. Brandt Clarke opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period. Other Kings scorers included Quinton Byfield, Andrei Kuzmenko, Adrian Kempe (with two), and Anze Kopitar. The Kings` power play has been exceptionally effective in the series, converting five of their ten opportunities with the man advantage.
