Following an exciting start to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, two more opening games are scheduled for Tuesday.
Tuesday`s action begins with the Metropolitan Division clash between the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals, followed by the Western Conference showdown featuring the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights.
Below, find detailed previews for each game, including key statistics, a summary of Monday`s results, and the top performers from that night.
Matchup Notes
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals
Game 1 | Tuesday 7 p.m.
Carolina and Washington split their 2024-25 regular-season series 2-2, with the Hurricanes holding a 14-10 edge in total goals. Carolina is favored to win the series, while Washington is given odds to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.
These teams previously met in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, which was Rod Brind`Amour`s coaching debut series. Several players from both current rosters participated in that series, which Carolina won in a dramatic seven games, decided in double overtime of Game 7.
A recent regular-season game on April 2, won 5-1 by the Hurricanes, was notable for its intensity, featuring a combined 142 penalty minutes, the second highest total in an NHL game this season.
Andrei Svechnikov`s five goals in the first round matched a franchise record (Whalers/Hurricanes) for goals in a single playoff round. Other players to achieve this mark include Sebastian Aho (2021), Eric Staal (2009), Ray Sheppard (1999), and Mark Hunter (1991).
Carolina`s goaltender, Frederik Andersen, boasts a leading .936 save percentage in the playoffs so far, although he left Game 4 against New Jersey and missed Game 5.
Alex Ovechkin`s four goals in the first round brought his career playoff total to 76, tying Mario Lemieux for 12th on the all-time list. He is two goals shy of tying Jaromir Jagr.
Goaltender Logan Thompson was outstanding for the Capitals in their home games during Round 1, stopping 86 of 90 shots for a .956 save percentage and allowing no more than two goals in each of the three games played in Washington.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1 | Tuesday 9:30 p.m.
Similar to the other series, Edmonton and Vegas also split their regular-season matchups 2-2. The goal differential was tight, with the Oilers scoring 11 goals to the Golden Knights` 10. This series is seen as very evenly matched.
Their only previous playoff meeting was in the second round of 2023, where the Golden Knights defeated the Oilers in six games on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.
Headlining this series are the top two picks from the 2015 NHL draft: Connor McDavid (No. 1 overall) for Edmonton and Jack Eichel (No. 2 overall) for Vegas.
Connor McDavid (eight times) and Leon Draisaitl (six times) are the only active players with at least six playoff series scoring 10 or more points. Historically, only Wayne Gretzky (21), Mark Messier (eight), Denis Savard (seven), and Mario Lemieux (six) have achieved this mark as often.
Edmonton allowed 24 goals in their first-round victory, which is the third most they`ve allowed in a winning playoff series in franchise history, trailing only the 1984 series against Calgary (27 goals) and the 1985 series against Chicago (25 goals).
Key Vegas players Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Brayden McNabb, and Ivan Barbashev were held without points in the first three games of their first-round series but combined for four goals and 10 assists across Games 4-6.
Similarly, goaltender Adin Hill`s performance improved significantly in the latter half of the first round. After going 1-2 with an .825 save percentage and 3.78 GAA in the first three games, he finished 3-0 with a .918 save percentage and 2.08 GAA in the final three games.
Monday`s Three Stars
1. William Nylander
RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nylander became the second player in Maple Leafs history to record three points in the first period of a playoff game with his performance in the series opener.
2. Matthew Knies
LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthew Knies scored a crucial breakaway goal in the third period while the Panthers were pressing, adding an insurance marker that the Maple Leafs ultimately needed.
3. Morgan Rielly
D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Rielly registered his 14th career playoff goal, surpassing Ian Turnbull to become the defenseman with the most playoff goals in Maple Leafs history.
Monday`s Recap
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Florida Panthers 4
TOR leads series 1-0 | Game 2 Wednesday
These familiar Atlantic Division rivals met, with the home team gaining an early advantage. William Nylander started the scoring just 33 seconds into the game and added a second goal later in the first period. After goals were exchanged by Florida`s Seth Jones and Toronto`s Morgan Rielly, the Maple Leafs held a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.
Toronto extended their lead to 4-1 in the second period with a goal from Chris Tanev. Florida mounted a comeback attempt in the third period, with goals from Eetu Luostarinen and Uvis Balinskis narrowing the gap to one. However, Matthew Knies scored an insurance goal with six minutes remaining, and despite a late goal from Sam Bennett, the Panthers could not find the equalizer.
