The second round series of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have reached the `venue change` stage, where teams previously on the road are now playing host.
The Carolina Hurricanes returned home to face the Washington Capitals with their series tied 1-1. Game 3 is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET Saturday. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers traveled back to Rogers Place holding a 2-0 lead over the Vegas Golden Knights; Game 3 of that series is 9 p.m. ET Saturday.
What will the series tally be in Caps-Canes when it heads back to D.C. — and will the Knights win at least one game in Alberta so they even see a Game 5 back in Las Vegas?
Read on for game previews with statistical insights, a recap of what went down in Friday`s games, and the three stars from Friday.
Matchup notes
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes
With the Canes and Capitals tied up 1-1 heading to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4, Carolina is the -215 series favorite. Washington is +180 to win the series.
Capitals defenseman John Carlson scored a power-play goal in Game 2, his 13th career playoff power-play goal. This breaks a tie with Brian Leetch for third for such goals by an American-born defenseman. He still trails Chris Chelios (14) and Brian Rafalski (17).
For the first time in his postseason career, Tom Wilson reached all of these thresholds in a game: 2 points, 3 shots on goal, 2 hits and 2 blocked shots. His seven points this season is the most he has had in a playoff run since the Cup-winning year of 2018 (15).
The Hurricanes have not held an in-game lead since Game 4 of the first round against the Devils. They won the series in Game 5 in a double-overtime game, then won Game 1 of this series 2-1 in OT after trailing 1-0. Since that lead in Game 4 of the first round, they have trailed for 89:28 and been tied for 117:55.
Among qualified goaltenders this postseason, Frederik Andersen leads by a wide margin in goals-against average (1.55) and is second in save percentage (.930). The netminder ahead of him in save percentage is Washington`s Logan Thompson.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers
Following two wins by the Oilers in Vegas, Edmonton is the -550 favorite to win this series, with the Golden Knights at +380. Edmonton is also the current favorite to win the Cup at +300, narrowly ahead of the Stars at +325. Vegas is now +1800, holding the longest odds of any team remaining in the playoffs.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid combined to score the game-winning OT goal in Game 2. It was the second OT goal this postseason for Draisaitl, tying him with Esa Tikkanen (1991) for the most such goals in a single postseason in Oilers history.
McDavid is second among playoff scorers with 14 points through eight games, trailing only Mikko Rantanen`s 15. McDavid`s 1.75 points per game this postseason is ahead of his rate in playoff seasons past (1.58) and well ahead of his rate during last year`s run to the Stanley Cup Final (1.36).
Victor Olofsson had two goals and an assist in a losing effort in Game 2. Both goals were on the power play, making him and Jack Eichel the only players in Knights history with multiple power-play goals in a single playoff game.
Speaking of Eichel, he finished Game 2 with three assists, joining Shea Theodore and William Karlsson as the only players in Knights history with two three-assist playoff games on their résumé.
Three Stars from Friday
1. Connor Hellebuyck
G, Winnipeg Jets
After a challenging first round against the Blues, Hellebuyck shut out the Stars in Game 2. He made 21 saves to earn the fourth clean sheet of his postseason career.
2. Nikolaj Ehlers
LW, Winnipeg Jets
Ehlers had his second career multigoal playoff game and added an assist in a significant Game 2 effort that tied Winnipeg`s series with Dallas 1-1.
3. Brad Marchand
RW, Florida Panthers
The former Bruin continued to trouble the Maple Leafs, this time with the overtime winner to get the Panthers on the series board at 2-1. It was his fourth career playoff OT goal, and he extended his own NHL record for most consecutive postseasons with a game-winning goal (nine).
Friday`s recaps
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
TOR leads 2-1 | Game 4 Sunday
Toronto, holding a 2-0 series lead, also started with a 2-0 lead in Game 3. The Panthers closed the gap, but Toronto extended their lead again. Florida responded with two quick goals to tie the score. After trading goals, the game went to overtime, where Brad Marchand scored the game-winning goal in the final five minutes of the first overtime period.
Winnipeg Jets 4, Dallas Stars 0
Series tied 1-1 | Game 3 Sunday
If this is the kind of goaltending the Jets will now get from Connor Hellebuyck, the Stars (and the rest of the NHL) are in trouble. Hellebuyck stopped all 21 shots en route to his fourth career postseason shutout. On the offensive side, Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers scored in the first period. Adam Lowry added his fourth goal of the postseason in the second, and Ehlers sealed the 4-0 win with an empty-net goal in the third.
