Key Takeaways from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round

The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has now passed its halfway mark, with nearly every series having completed Game 4. What are the main lessons from the initial phase of this round? Which teams and players have been notable, either positively or negatively? How will these factors influence the remainder of the postseason?

Could Dallas` Consistency Signal Success?

If the Dallas Stars manage to win their series and advance to the Western Conference finals, it would mark their third consecutive appearance and fourth since 2020. Does this consistent high performance establish them as the top team in the West, even without a recent Cup? They face tough competition from recent Cup winners Vegas (2023) and Edmonton (2024 contender). Historically, reaching three consecutive conference finals under the post-1994 format is rare, achieved only by Detroit (twice, winning 2 Cups) and Chicago (once, winning 2 Cups). This level of consistency places Dallas in elite company.

Toronto Needs a New Approach

The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared overwhelmed in their 2-0 shutout loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 4. The reigning champions effectively stifled Toronto`s offense with relentless pressure, leading to penalties and disrupting the Leafs` flow. Despite a strong performance from goalie Joseph Woll, Toronto couldn`t find a response to Florida`s intensity. Unlike earlier in the series, where Toronto exploited rush chances, the Panthers successfully shut down the middle and improved their defensive positioning around Sergei Bobrovsky. If Florida sustains this level, they are poised for a third straight Eastern Conference Finals. Toronto must make adjustments, and their star players need to elevate their game. Mitch Marner hasn`t registered a shot since his Game 2 winner. Auston Matthews has yet to score in the second round and against Florida in his playoff history (9 games). Coach Craig Berube hinted at needing more from key players. With the series becoming a best-of-three and Toronto holding home-ice advantage for the next game, the crucial question is how they will react to Florida`s sharpened approach.

Can Hellebuyck Be Relied Upon for the Olympics?

A key decision for Team USA regarding the 2026 Winter Olympics goaltending might depend on whether games in Milan are considered `home` or `road.` Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck`s playoff road performance has become notably poor. Despite winning two Vezina trophies and being a Hart Trophy finalist (widely seen as the top regular-season goalie), his playoff record is concerning: 7-13 with an .866 save percentage and 3.90 GAA in his last 20 games. This is largely due to road struggles, where he`s lost 8 of his last 9 starts with an .835 SV% and 5.20 GAA. While he wasn`t pulled in Game 3 against Dallas, he still lost and allowed soft goals. Jets coach Scott Arniel emphasized the need for road wins. In contrast, Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger has a more stable, though not spectacular, road playoff record (12-11, .909 SV%, 2.63 GAA in his last 23). Oettinger previously backed up Hellebuyck at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Oettinger`s current performance, especially in clutch moments, raises questions about the US Olympic starting job, given Hellebuyck`s difficulties when the stakes are highest. However, Hellebuyck was excellent at the 4 Nations tournament (1.59 GAA, .932 SV%). This suggests he might perform better behind an elite international squad than his NHL team.

Oilers` Depth vs. Golden Knights` Scoring Struggles

The Edmonton Oilers` ability to rely on contributions throughout their lineup, in contrast to the Vegas Golden Knights` scoring challenges, was evident in Game 4`s 3-0 victory. This win puts the Oilers one step closer to their second straight Western Conference Finals. Notably, superstar duo Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have combined for only 3 of the Oilers` 15 goals in the series. Much of the scoring has been spread out, including Corey Perry`s first two goals in Game 3 and depth contributions in Game 4. Conversely, Vegas`s secondary scoring has dried up. Their trio of Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl, and Brett Howden (78 regular-season goals combined) have zero goals in the series. Defensemen (35 regular-season goals combined) have just one. Jack Eichel, their leading regular-season scorer (94 points), is also goalless, as is leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev since returning from injury.

A Trend of Unwanted Goals

While fans enjoy goals and players enjoy scoring them, self-inflicted `own goals` are a painful exception. This round has featured several unfortunate instances. In the Dallas-Winnipeg series (Game 3), Alex Petrovic`s shot was determined to have deflected off Connor Hellebuyck`s stick into the net. The previous night, Leon Draisaitl`s stick directed a puck past Stuart Skinner for a last-second goal for Vegas in Game 3 of their series. Morgan Rielly`s stick deflected a puck past Joseph Woll in Game 3 of the Toronto-Florida series. The timing of these plays was particularly bad. These moments highlight why the hockey cliché `just put pucks on net` persists – because unexpected things can happen.

Rantanen`s Dominant Performance

Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer considers Mikko Rantanen`s current playoff performance the best he has ever witnessed from one of his players. DeBoer described it as “the best performance I`ve gotten to witness… just getting started… on a mission.” Through 10 playoff games, Rantanen leads all players with 9 goals and 18 points. At one point, he was involved in 15 out of 16 consecutive Stars goals. He is the first player in history with five three-point games in a team`s first 10 playoff contests. Defenseman Alexander Petrovic called him a “Huge pickup… awesome… great guy… on a tear.” After being traded twice and signing a major extension, Rantanen is proving his offensive skill independent of former teammate Nathan MacKinnon. Already known as a top playoff scorer, he`s exceeding expectations and is a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy. While the Jets managed to shut him out in Game 2, Rantanen responded with a goal and two assists in Game 3. Jets coach Scott Arniel noted the importance of denying him time and space. Rantanen himself stated, “I`m trying to stay in the moment… happy to help the team… keep doing that.” It is indeed Mikko Rantanen`s time.

Veteran Scorers Defying Age

Veterans Corey Perry and Alex Ovechkin, nearing their 40th birthdays (Perry soon, Ovechkin in September), are among a small group of players aged 39 or older participating in these playoffs. Their performances are not just notable for their age, but genuinely strong overall. Perry, a Stanley Cup champion ranked 38th in career playoff goals, has scored five goals this postseason. Ovechkin, also a Cup winner and tied for 12th in playoff goals, has four. Both are within striking distance of the record for most playoff goals by a 39-year-old, currently held by Jean Béliveau with six in 1971.

Carolina`s Defense Neutralizes Ovechkin

While some might characterize Alex Ovechkin`s game as predictable, his effectiveness when played well is undeniable. The Washington Capitals desperately need more contributions from him at even strength in this series. Carolina`s defense, particularly Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns, has effectively neutralized Ovechkin`s line, significantly limiting their 5-on-5 shot attempts and scoring chances. Ovechkin and linemate Dylan Strome excel at generating offense from zone entries, a tactic the Hurricanes are successfully preventing. Although Ovechkin leads the Capitals in even-strength shots, these haven`t translated into points; his only goal came on the power play in Game 4. Following decisive losses in Game 3 and Game 4, the Capitals require consistent offensive output. Ovechkin needs to find ways to be productive at even strength. Washington was fortunate in Game 2, winning despite being outshot. If Carolina`s offense continues to improve and challenge goalie Logan Thompson, the Capitals must find ways to create more scoring opportunities, a difficult task against the Hurricanes` suffocating defensive system.

Carolina`s Grinding Style Proves Effective

While jokes may circulate regarding the perceived entertainment value of the Carolina Hurricanes` series against the Washington Capitals compared to others, Game 4 stands out as an exception. The other games have been characterized by tight checking and low scores, including a 4-0 shutout by Frederik Andersen in Game 3. The Hurricanes operate predictably. Coach Rod Brind`Amour prioritizes effectiveness over entertainment, focusing on suffocating opponents through puck possession, disciplined defense, reliable goaltending, and elite penalty killing – a strategy that has proven successful in this round. Brind`Amour dismissed criticism of their style as merely a `shot volume` team as “lazy,” stating, “you`re not really watching the game then… there`s a method to all of it… it doesn`t irk me.” Their defensive success is reflected in limiting opponents to an average of 24.6 shots per game this postseason (3rd best among active teams). Capitals coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged the difficulty of getting pucks through Carolina`s defense. This grinding, defensive style is the Hurricanes` identity and is likely to continue unless the Capitals mount an exciting comeback. However, the Hurricanes aim to avoid excitement. As winger Seth Jarvis put it regarding Game 5, their goal is to avoid giving Washington “any life or give them any hope.”