With all four second-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs now officially underway, we`ve had a chance to see all eight competing teams in action. After Game 1 on Tuesday night saw both home teams fall, the question is whether they can rebound in Thursday`s Game 2 matchups.
Thursday`s schedule features two crucial Game 2 contests. First, the Washington Capitals host the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET, hoping to even their series after a Game 1 overtime loss. Later, the Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Edmonton Oilers at 9:30 p.m. ET, aiming to bounce back after the Oilers took the series opener.
Below are previews for both of Thursday`s games, offering key statistical insights. We also recap the results from Wednesday`s action and highlight the three top performers as selected by Arda Öcal.
Matchup Notes
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals
Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET
- The odds for this series have significantly shifted since the Hurricanes claimed Game 1 in Washington. The initial series odds were Hurricanes -195, Capitals +165. They now stand at Hurricanes -425, Capitals +300.
- Jaccob Slavin netted the overtime winner in Game 1, marking his first career playoff game-winning goal. He is one of only four defensemen in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a playoff overtime goal, joining Niclas Wallin (three), Tim Gleason, and Ian Cole (one each).
- Carolina allowed just 14 shots on goal in Game 1, the fewest by any team in the playoffs this season and the second fewest in franchise playoff history (behind 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 his streak of 18 consecutive games (regular season and playoffs) with multiple shots. The last time he had one or fewer shots in back-to-back games was during last year`s playoff series against the Rangers.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois is currently on a 10-game goalless streak, extending back to the regular season. His last goal was scored on April 10, fittingly against the Hurricanes.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 2 | 9:30 p.m. ET
- This series opened as a coin flip, with both teams at -110 odds to win. Following the Oilers` Game 1 victory, they are now favored at -225, while the Golden Knights are listed at +190.
- Connor McDavid`s 39 career playoff goals rank seventh in Oilers franchise history, trailing 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 recorded four goals in just seven games 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 ties him with Zach Hyman of Edmonton for fifth in the NHL over that period, behind Nathan MacKinnon (50), Draisaitl (39), Mikko Rantanen (39), and Brayden Point (37).
- According to analytics from Stathletes, the line featuring Stone, Jack Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev has allowed more scoring chances against (seven) than it has generated (six) during these playoffs. In contrast, during the regular season, that line had a positive differential of 112 chances generated to 77 allowed.
Wednesday`s Highlights
Öcal`s Three Stars
1. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars: Another NHL record for `Moose.` He became the first player in league history to achieve two single-period hat-tricks in the same postseason. Only three other players have recorded multiple playoff hat-tricks over their entire career: Wayne Gretzky (three), Maurice Richard (three), and Tim Kerr (two).
2. Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: The former Canadiens captain scored the game`s first goal and added an assist on William Nylander`s goal in the second period. He is now on a three-game point streak, his longest since 2021.
3. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs: Scored the crucial third-period goal just 17 seconds after the Panthers had tied the game, securing the win for the Leafs and giving them a 2-0 series lead.
Wednesday Game Recaps
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Florida Panthers 3
TOR leads series 2-0 | Game 3 Friday
Matching the tight nature of the series, Game 2 was another close affair. Florida opened the scoring with a first-period power-play goal from Aleksander Barkov, which was answered later in the period by Max Pacioretty. Brad Marchand put the Panthers back ahead just 15 seconds into the second, but William Nylander quickly equalized at 4:18. The tie held until Max Domi scored his first non-empty-net playoff goal with under three minutes left in the second. Anton Lundell leveled the score at 3-3 early in the third, but Mitch Marner, a new father, scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds later to give Toronto the win.
Dallas Stars 3, Winnipeg Jets 2
DAL leads series 1-0 | Game 2 Friday
Similar to many Game 1s this postseason, the opening period was scoreless as the teams felt each other out. Winnipeg`s Nino Niederreiter broke the deadlock 3:30 into the second period, but then Mikko Rantanen took over. The Finnish forward scored a natural hat trick – remarkably his second straight game with a hat trick – to put the Stars ahead 3-1. Mark Scheifele scored his third goal of the postseason late in the second period, but despite a strong push in the third, the Jets couldn`t find the equalizer, giving Dallas the Game 1 victory.
