The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has entered the phase where teams are switching home ice. The previous visitors are now hosting games.
The Carolina Hurricanes are heading back to the Lenovo Center with their series against the Washington Capitals tied at 1-1. They will resume competition on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. 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 scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
What will the series count be between the Capitals and Hurricanes when it returns to Washington D.C.? And can the Golden Knights manage to win at least one game in Alberta to force a Game 5 back in Las Vegas?
Continue reading for detailed game previews including statistical insights from ESPN Research, a summary of Friday`s game results, and Arda Öcal`s three stars from the previous day`s action.
Matchup notes
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Game 3)
With the Hurricanes and Capitals series tied 1-1 shifting to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4, ESPN BET lists Carolina as the -215 series favorite. Washington is given +180 odds 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 and moves him to third all-time among American-born defensemen for playoff power-play goals. He still trails Chris Chelios (14) and Brian Rafalski (17).
Tom Wilson had a notable performance in Game 2, marking the first time in his postseason career he achieved at least 2 points, 3 shots on goal, 2 hits, and 2 blocked shots in a single game. His seven points this season are the most he has recorded in a playoff run since the team`s Cup-winning year in 2018 (15).
The Carolina Hurricanes have not held an in-game lead since Game 4 of their first-round series against the Devils. They won that series in Game 5 in double overtime and took Game 1 of the current series 2-1 in overtime after trailing 1-0. Since holding that lead in Game 4 of the first round, they have spent 89:28 trailing and 117:55 tied.
Among qualified goaltenders this postseason, Frederik Andersen leads significantly with a 1.55 goals-against average. He is also second in save percentage at .930. The only netminder with a higher save percentage is Washington`s Logan Thompson.
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers (Game 3)
Following two road victories in Vegas, the Edmonton Oilers are now heavily favored to win this series according to ESPN BET, listed at -550 favorites compared to the Golden Knights at +380. Edmonton is also currently the favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +300, just ahead of the Stars at +325. Vegas now has the longest odds among remaining teams at +1800.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid combined to score the game-winning overtime goal in Game 2. This was Draisaitl`s second overtime goal this postseason, tying him with Esa Tikkanen (1991) for the most overtime goals in a single Oilers playoff run.
McDavid ranks second among all playoff scorers with 14 points through eight games, trailing only Mikko Rantanen (15). McDavid`s 1.75 points per game pace this postseason is higher than his career playoff rate (1.58) and significantly above his rate during last year`s run to the Stanley Cup Final (1.36).
Victor Olofsson recorded two goals and an assist in Game 2, although it came in a losing effort. Both of his goals were scored on the power play, making him and Jack Eichel the only players in Golden Knights history with multiple power-play goals in a single playoff game.
Speaking of Jack Eichel, he finished Game 2 with three assists. He joins Shea Theodore and William Karlsson as the only Golden Knights players to have recorded two career playoff games with three or more assists.
Öcal`s three stars from Friday
1. Connor Hellebuyck
G, Winnipeg Jets
After a challenging first round series against the Blues, Hellebuyck was outstanding in Game 2, shutting out the Stars. He stopped all 21 shots he faced en route to his fourth career postseason clean sheet.
2. Nikolaj Ehlers
LW, Winnipeg Jets
Ehlers had his second career multi-goal playoff game and also added an assist. His significant contribution was key in a big Game 2 effort that helped Winnipeg tie their series with Dallas at 1-1.
3. Brad Marchand
RW, Florida Panthers
The former Bruin continues to trouble the Maple Leafs, this time by scoring the overtime winning goal to put the Panthers ahead 2-1 in the series. This was his fourth career playoff overtime goal, and it extends his own NHL record for the most consecutive postseasons with a game-winning goal to nine.
Friday`s recaps
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
Florida leads series 2-1
Toronto held a 2-0 series lead entering the game and also jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Matthew Knies and John Tavares. Aleksander Barkov got the Panthers on the board, but Tavares restored the two-goal lead early in the second. Florida then scored twice quickly to tie it: Sam Reinhart poked one in during a net-front scramble, followed by Carter Verhaeghe finishing a pass from Sam Bennett. Jonah Gadjovich gave Florida their first lead, but Morgan Rielly tied it for Toronto in the third. The game went to overtime, where Brad Marchand netted the winner in the final five minutes of the first extra frame.
Winnipeg Jets 4, Dallas Stars 0
Series tied 1-1
Connor Hellebuyck delivered a dominant performance in goal for the Jets, stopping all 21 shots to earn his fourth career postseason shutout. Offensively, Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers scored in the first period to give Winnipeg a lead. Adam Lowry added his fourth goal of the postseason in the second period. The 3-0 lead held until late in the third, when Ehlers sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, tying the series at 1-1.
