With all four second-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs now officially underway following the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets completing their first game on Wednesday, we have a clearer picture of all eight competing teams. Attention now turns to Thursday night, where two home teams look to rebound after dropping their opening games on Tuesday.
Tonight`s action begins with the Washington Capitals facing the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes took Game 1 in overtime with a 2-1 victory, putting the Capitals in an early hole. The night`s second game features the Vegas Golden Knights hosting the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers secured a 4-2 road win in Game 1, shifting the series momentum in their favor.
Read on for detailed previews of these crucial Game 2 matchups, featuring statistical insights. We also recap the results from Wednesday`s games and highlight the top three performers according to Arda Öcal.
Matchup Notes
Game 2 | Thursday
The odds for this series have significantly changed after Carolina`s Game 1 win in Washington. The initial odds favored the Hurricanes slightly (-195 vs. Capitals +165), but now the Hurricanes are strong favorites (-425 vs. Capitals +300).
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin scored the overtime winner in Game 1, marking his first career playoff winning goal. He is one of only four defensemen in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history with a playoff overtime goal, joining Niclas Wallin (three), Tim Gleason, and Ian Cole.
The Hurricanes allowed only 14 shots on goal in Game 1, the fewest by any team in these playoffs so far and the second fewest allowed by the franchise in a playoff game (12 shots allowed against the Islanders in the 2024 first round).
Alex Ovechkin was limited to just one shot on goal in Game 1, ending a streak of 18 games (regular season and playoffs) where he registered multiple shots. The last time he had one or fewer shots in consecutive games was during last year`s playoff series against the Rangers.
Pierre-Luc Dubois is currently on a 10-game goalless streak, dating back to the regular season. His last goal was scored on April 10th, coincidentally against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Game 2 | Thursday
This series initially opened as a toss-up, with both teams at -110 odds. However, after the Oilers` Game 1 victory on the road, they are now the favorites at -225, while the Golden Knights` odds have shifted to +190.
Connor McDavid`s 39 playoff goals rank seventh in Oilers franchise history. He trails Jari Kurri (92), Glenn Anderson (81), Wayne Gretzky (81), Mark Messier (80), Esa Tikkanen (51), and his current teammate Leon Draisaitl (45).
Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard scored six goals during the Oilers` run to Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. He has already accumulated four goals through the first seven games of this postseason.
With two goals in Game 1, Mark Stone now has 36 playoff goals since joining the Golden Knights in 2018-19. This total is tied with Zach Hyman of the Oilers for fifth most in the NHL over that period. Ahead of them are Nathan MacKinnon (50), Draisaitl (39), Mikko Rantanen (39), and Brayden Point (37).
According to analytics from Stathletes, the Golden Knights` line of Stone, Jack Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev has allowed more scoring chances against (seven) than they have generated (six) during these playoffs. In contrast, during the regular season, this line had a positive chance differential of 112-77 in favor of Vegas.
Öcal`s Three Stars from Wednesday
1. Mikko Rantanen
RW, Dallas Stars
Another NHL record for `Moose.` He made history by becoming the first player in NHL history with two single-period hat tricks in the same postseason. Only three other players have recorded multiple playoff hat tricks across their *entire career*: Wayne Gretzky (three), Maurice Richard (three), Tim Kerr (two).
2. Max Pacioretty
LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
The former Canadiens captain opened the scoring and added an assist on William Nylander`s goal in the second period. He is currently on a three-game point streak, his first since 2021.
3. Mitch Marner
RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Scored the crucial game-winning goal in the third period, just 17 seconds after the Panthers had tied the score. His timely goal secured the Game 2 win and gave the Maple Leafs a 2-0 series lead.
Wednesday`s Recaps
TOR leads series 2-0 | Game 3 Friday
Maintaining the theme of close contests, Game 2 between these two teams delivered another tight finish. Florida drew first blood with a power-play goal from Aleksander Barkov in the first period, which was later answered by Max Pacioretty. Brad Marchand, a familiar foe for the Maple Leafs, scored just 15 seconds into the second period, but William Nylander quickly responded. The game remained tied until Max Domi scored his first regulation playoff goal late in the second. Anton Lundell leveled the score for the Panthers early in the third, only for Mitch Marner to immediately net the game-winner just 17 seconds later, securing the win and a commanding 2-0 series lead for Toronto.
DAL leads series 1-0 | Game 2 Friday
Similar to many series openers this postseason, the first period saw both teams feeling each other out, resulting in no scoring. Winnipeg`s Nino Niederreiter broke the deadlock early in the second period, but then the Mikko Rantanen show began. The Finnish forward scored a natural hat trick – his second consecutive game with a hat trick – putting the Stars up 3-1. Mark Scheifele pulled one back for the Jets late in the second, but despite a strong push in the third period, Winnipeg could not find the equalizer, and Dallas took the crucial Game 1 victory.
