Seven out of the eight opening-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have already begun, with the final series kicking off today, Tuesday, April 22.
The highly anticipated “Battle of Florida” between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers commences (scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN). Both teams are widely seen as legitimate contenders for the Stanley Cup.
The Panthers-Lightning clash is the third of four games scheduled for Tuesday across the ESPN networks. The action starts with New Jersey facing Carolina (6 p.m. ET on ESPN), followed by Ottawa against Toronto (7:30 p.m. on ESPN2), and concluding with Minnesota battling Vegas (11 p.m. ET on ESPN).
As we head into Tuesday`s matchups, what are the major storylines to watch? Which players are expected to make a significant impact?
Below you`ll find previews for each game, including statistical insights from ESPN Research, summaries of the results from Monday night, and the top three performers from Monday as selected by Arda Öcal.
Tuesday`s Matchup Previews
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes
Game 2 (Carolina leads series 1-0) | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 1 was certainly not ideal for the Devils. Winning in the notoriously loud Lenovo Center was always going to be challenging, but losing Brenden Dillon, Cody Glass, and Luke Hughes to injury made it even tougher.
New Jersey will aim to bounce back tonight before the series moves to Newark. Improving the shot differential could help, as the Hurricanes, known for their strong possession game, significantly outshot the Devils 45-24 in Game 1.
For years, a common criticism of Carolina was the lack of a single elite goal scorer capable of driving them deep into the playoffs. Many believed the Hurricanes addressed this need by acquiring Mikko Rantanen in January. Interestingly, it was Logan Stankoven, the player acquired from Dallas in the subsequent trade involving Rantanen, who scored two goals in Game 1. Can he replicate that performance tonight?
Historically, the Devils have overcome a 0-1 series deficit 11 out of 26 times (42%). However, that percentage drops significantly to 20% if they fall behind 0-2. The Hurricanes have won six of their last seven series after securing a Game 1 victory.
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 2 (Toronto leads series 1-0) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 1 featured an intense atmosphere, and Toronto`s “Core Four” were instrumental in their win. Mitch Marner (one goal, two assists), William Nylander (one goal, one assist), John Tavares (one goal, one assist), and Auston Matthews (two assists) all contributed significantly to the score sheet. Continued production from these key players will be crucial for Toronto to maintain their advantage over their provincial rivals.
According to Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk, slowing down the high-powered Maple Leafs offense will depend on discipline. “We took too many penalties, they scored on [them] and that`s the game,” Tkachuk commented after Game 1. “So that`s on us. We`ve got to be more disciplined.”
The Senators also need to improve their finishing. Stathletes data showed Ottawa created five high-danger scoring opportunities in the first game but managed only two goals.
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
Game 1 | 8:30 p.m ET | ESPN
This marks the fourth time these two Florida rivals have faced off in the postseason, with all encounters occurring since 2021.
In each previous series, the winning team advanced to the Stanley Cup Final – Tampa Bay in 2021 and 2022, and Florida in 2024. Furthermore, the 2021 Lightning and 2024 Panthers went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Not surprisingly, Nikita Kucherov leads all Tampa Bay scorers against Florida with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 15 playoff games. Aleksander Barkov is the top scorer for the Panthers in playoff games against the Lightning, accumulating 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) over 15 contests.
The teams split their four regular-season meetings this year, with Tampa Bay winning the most recent game 5-1 on April 15th.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 2 (Vegas leads series 1-0) | 11 p.m. ET | ESPN
The underdog Wild established a physical presence in Game 1, significantly outhitting the Golden Knights 54-29, but Vegas ultimately secured a 4-2 victory. Tomas Hertl, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Brett Howden (twice) found the net for Vegas, while Matt Boldy scored both goals for Minnesota.
Brett Howden, who recorded double-digit goals for the first time this season with 23, received praise from coach Bruce Cassidy after Game 1. “He didn`t change his game,” Cassidy noted. “He played physical. He`s part of our penalty kill. He`s always out when the goalie`s out, typically one of the six guys we use a lot because of his versatility. He can play wing. He can take draws as a center. He`s been real good for us all year and good again tonight.”
Sunday`s game marked the NHL debut for 2024 first-round pick Zeev Buium, who recently finished his collegiate season with the University of Denver. He skated for 13 minutes and 37 seconds and registered one shot on goal.
Arda Öcal`s Three Stars from Monday Night
1. Alex Ovechkin
LW, Washington Capitals
The NHL`s all-time leading goal scorer continues to find the back of the net. He scored two goals, including the overtime winner, helping the Capitals secure a 3-2 victory despite a late push from Montreal to tie the game.
2. Kyle Connor
LW, Winnipeg Jets
Connor netted the game-winning goal in the third period for the second consecutive game, as Winnipeg won both home games to take a 2-0 series lead over the Blues.
3. Connor McDavid
C, Edmonton Oilers
Further demonstrating the Oilers` offensive capability, McDavid contributed a goal and three assists to help erase a 4-0 deficit. However, their comeback effort fell short after a late goal gave the Kings a thrilling 6-5 Game 1 win.
Monday`s Game Results
Capitals 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Series Lead: Washington leads 1-0
Alex Ovechkin, already the focus during the regular season for his pursuit of the all-time goal record, thrives in the playoff spotlight. The Capitals captain scored the opening goal and then the overtime winner – his first ever in the postseason – allowing Washington to survive Game 1 after Nick Suzuki tied the game late in the third period.
Jets 2, Blues 1
Series Lead: Winnipeg leads 2-0
Game 1 of this series was tight before Winnipeg pulled away in the third period, a pattern that continued on Monday. The score was tied 1-1 entering the third until Kyle Connor scored for the Jets early in the frame. Connor`s linemate Mark Scheifele assisted on the winning goal and also scored Winnipeg`s first goal, giving him a league-leading five points so far this postseason.
Stars 4, Avalanche 3 (OT)
Series Status: Series tied 1-1
The series widely expected to be the most competitive in the first round didn`t look that way in Game 1, with the Avalanche dominating the Stars in a 5-1 win. Game 2, however, was much closer to expectations, requiring overtime to decide the winner between these two Western Conference powers. Colin Blackwell was the hero for Dallas, scoring with just over two minutes remaining in the extra frame.
Kings 6, Oilers 5
Series Lead: Los Angeles leads 1-0
Monday`s late game was a treat for fans who enjoy high-scoring hockey. The Kings built a commanding four-goal lead late in the second period before Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl scored just before the buzzer to cut the deficit to three. The teams then exchanged goals to start the third, followed by the Oilers scoring three straight, culminating in Connor McDavid`s tying goal with under two minutes left. However, Kings fans celebrated victory after Phillip Danault immediately answered with only 42 seconds remaining.
