2025 NHL Playoff Game Previews for Monday

Home teams have been dominant in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, currently boasting a 21-10 record. Will this strong home performance continue on Monday?

The early game features Game 4 of the heated Battle of Florida series. Tensions rose after Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel received a major penalty and subsequent suspension for a hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. In Game 3, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a hard hit on Jake Guentzel but did not face similar disciplinary action. Anticipation is high for what will unfold in Game 4.

In the later contest, the clash between Western Conference powerhouses continues as the Colorado Avalanche aim to maintain their momentum after a decisive 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.

Read on for previews of these upcoming games, featuring statistical insights from ESPN Research, summaries of Sunday`s action, and Arda Öcal`s Three Stars of the Night.

Matchup Analysis

Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers

Game 4 (FLA leads 2-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

Historically, teams holding a 2-1 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 69% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Panthers have a 2-1 record when leading a series 2-1, while the Lightning are 6-7 all-time when trailing 2-1.

Jake Guentzel contributed three points (one goal, two assists) in Game 3. His 40 career playoff goals rank him third among active U.S.-born players, behind Patrick Kane (53) and Chris Kreider (48).

Andrei Vasilevskiy`s win in Game 3 marked his 67th career postseason victory, placing him second among active goaltenders (trailing Marc-Andre Fleury with 92) and one win shy of tying Andy Moog for 11th on the all-time list.

Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the series in Game 3, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach 20 career playoff goals for the Panthers (Carter Verhaeghe 26, Sam Reinhart 22). He is also the third Panther to record 50 playoff points for the club (Aleksander Barkov 62, Verhaeghe 54).

Aaron Ekblad`s return from suspension in Game 3 was challenging. According to Stathletes, Ekblad and Gustav Forsling played 10:50 together at 5-on-5, during which the Lightning scored three goals.

Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Game 5 (Series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

With the series knotted at 2-2, historical trends slightly favor Dallas: Colorado`s record is 11-12 when a series is tied 2-2, whereas Dallas holds an 18-14 record in this scenario.

Nathan MacKinnon has accumulated 52 career playoff goals, putting him six away from tying Peter Forsberg for second place in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history. Joe Sakic leads with 84 goals.

Gabriel Landeskog returned to the ice in Game 3 for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and scored his 28th career playoff goal in Game 4.

Stars forward Mikko Rantanen (formerly of the Avs) has registered only one point (an assist) through four games despite his efforts, tallying 12 shots on goal, which is second-most on the team this postseason (Roope Hintz has 13).

Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was pulled in Game 4, marking just the fourth time in his 49 career playoff starts that he has played 40 minutes or less. Since 2022, Oettinger ranks second in postseason wins (25), trailing only Sergei Bobrovsky (34).

Arda`s Three Stars from Sunday Night

1. Andrei Svechnikov

RW, Carolina Hurricanes

Svechnikov recorded a hat trick, powering the Hurricanes to a 5-2 win against the Devils in Newark and giving Carolina a 3-1 series lead. Svechnikov is the only Hurricanes/Whalers player in franchise history (over 45 seasons and 205 playoff games) with a playoff hat trick (he now has two).

2. Evan Bouchard

D, Edmonton Oilers

His two goals in the third period brought the Oilers level at 3, setting the stage for their overtime victory and tying the series. Bouchard is now the fourth defenseman in Stanley Cup playoff history to have back-to-back multi-goal games.

3. Jake Neighbours

LW, St. Louis Blues

After collecting two points in the first three games, Neighbours scored a goal and added two assists as the Blues convincingly tied the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.

Sunday`s Game Results

St. Louis Blues 5, Winnipeg Jets 1

Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Wednesday

Despite being the strong favorite for the Vezina Trophy as the regular-season`s best goalie, Connor Hellebuyck struggled in this loss, being pulled in the third period after allowing five goals on 18 shots. Kyle Connor of Winnipeg opened the scoring, but the Blues responded with five consecutive goals from Jake Neighbours, Tyler Tucker, Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Robert Thomas. The home team has won every game in this series so far. Will this pattern hold for Game 5 in Winnipeg?

Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 2

CAR leads 3-1 | Game 5 Tuesday

After Carolina took a 3-0 lead, the Devils narrowed the gap with two second-period goals. Carolina`s starting goalie, Frederik Andersen, left the game after a collision with New Jersey`s Timo Meier. However, the Devils couldn`t get any closer. Brent Burns added a goal at 14:14 of the third period, and Andrei Svechnikov completed his hat trick with an empty-netter to secure the win.

Washington Capitals 5, Montreal Canadiens 2

WSH leads 3-1 | Game 5 Wednesday

The Bell Centre crowd was electric for this contest. Washington`s Dylan Strome scored first at 1:25 of the second period, but the Canadiens answered with two power-play goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield to take the lead heading into the third. The Capitals demonstrated their dominance in the final period, tying the game 6:39 in, taking the lead 10 minutes later, and adding two empty-net goals to seal the 3-1 series lead.

Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)

Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Tuesday

This series continued its back-and-forth nature. The Kings held a 3-1 lead entering the third period, thanks to goals by Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele, and Kevin Fiala. But the Oilers mounted a comeback, with Evan Bouchard scoring two goals (both assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) to force overtime. Leon Draisaitl then scored the game-winner on the power play with just 1:42 remaining in the extra frame.