With two thrilling Game 7s concluding the opening round, the matchups are now set for the second stage of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eight teams continue their quest for hockey`s most coveted trophy. Over the next fortnight, intense head-to-head series will unfold to determine the Eastern and Western Conference finalists.
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers have demonstrated they remain a formidable force, though they face a significant challenge from the Toronto Maple Leafs. In another compelling East matchup, the Washington Capitals – who finished the regular season with the best record in the conference – will square off against the Carolina Hurricanes in a Metropolitan Division clash.
Out West, the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets narrowly escaped disaster in their first-round series. Now, they face an even tougher test against the Dallas Stars. The Stars themselves showed remarkable resilience, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in Game 7 to eliminate the Colorado Avalanche. Despite their lower seed, Dallas is currently favored to defeat the Presidents` Trophy-winning Jets.
Finally, anticipation is high for what could be a classic battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas advanced to the second round by defeating the Minnesota Wild in six games, while Edmonton punched their ticket by winning four consecutive games against the Los Angeles Kings.
Before the puck drops on Round 2, here are expert predictions for the winner of each series.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs Preview
I regret picking against the Panthers in the first round and won`t make that mistake again. Florida looked like a well-oiled machine dismantling the Lightning in just five games. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk`s return was crucial; he`s the engine driving Florida`s offense. The Panthers showcased a balanced attack with contributions from Sam Reinhart, Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and others. Their advantage is further solidified by the reliable playoff goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, who posted a 2.21 goals-against-average in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will need extraordinary performances from their talented core – Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares – to overcome the Panthers. They must find ways to generate significant offense to stand a chance. While I anticipate an entertaining series, the Panthers possess too much firepower and are the defending champions for good reason.
Pick: Panthers defeat Maple Leafs 4-2
The Maple Leafs navigated a minor scare from the Senators to return to the second round for the second time in three years. Their last second-round appearance ended in a five-game loss to these same Panthers. For a different outcome this time, their `Core Four` plus Matthew Knies must continue their strong offensive production. Those five combined for 12 goals and 20 assists against Ottawa.
However, their opponent is significantly more formidable now. What the Panthers did to the Lightning last round was truly impressive. Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov effectively neutralized Tampa Bay`s elite trio of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel throughout the series. Florida has a proven track record of shutting down top offensive threats, while their forward group can score with the best. Toronto will put up a good fight, but Barkov`s two-way dominance will be the deciding factor again.
Pick: Panthers defeat Maple Leafs 4-2
Hurricanes vs. Capitals Preview
It`s worth noting that the Capitals faced a tough test against the Canadiens despite winning the series in five games. Washington thrived offensively in the regular season, finishing second in goals per contest (3.49). While they can be sensational offensively, I believe they rely too heavily on Alex Ovechkin. The Hurricanes, conversely, boast superior scoring depth with Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and many others.
Though I favor the Hurricanes, I predict this will be a lengthy series due to how evenly matched these teams are. Through the first round, they ranked as the top two teams in terms of the lowest goals-against-average. The Hurricanes are expected to welcome back starting goaltender Frederik Andersen from injury, which will be a significant boost. This series could hinge on which team`s goaltending and defense rise to the occasion, and ultimately, I`m backing the Hurricanes in a tight affair.
Pick: Hurricanes defeat Capitals 4-3
Both teams entered their respective first-round series as clear favorites and performed accordingly. While their offenses were effective, the goaltending was particularly impressive. According to Natural Stat Trick, Logan Thompson (4.11 GSAA) and Frederik Andersen (3.93 GSAA) were the top two goalies in Goals Saved Above Average in the postseason so far.
The key question in this series is which goalie will falter first or most often? If Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov maintain their Round 1 form, it`s likely to be Thompson. Svechnikov found his scoring touch, and Aho reaffirmed his status as one of the league`s premier two-way centers. For Washington, Alex Ovechkin scoring four goals against Montreal demonstrated he can still be a playoff threat. Unfortunately for the Capitals roster, Carolina`s defense is on a different level compared to Montreal`s. Goals will be harder to come by for Washington, leading to a Hurricanes series win.
Pick: Hurricanes defeat Capitals 4-2
Stars vs. Jets Preview
Both teams demonstrated a flair for the dramatic in the first round, surviving incredibly tough tests. Forward Mikko Rantanen delivered exceptional performances in Games 6 and 7, powering the Stars past the Avalanche. After a quiet start, Rantanen exploded for an astonishing four goals and four assists in the final two games. Perhaps even more impressive was Dallas`s ability to win the series without key players like forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Given the Stars` depth, particularly down the middle, they appear to be the team to beat in this matchup, and I believe they will emerge victorious.
Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the likely Vezina Trophy winner, certainly did not play up to his usual standard in the opening round. Hellebuyck registered a concerning 3.85 goals-against-average and a .830 save percentage across seven games against the Blues. He allowed at least three goals in six games and five or more goals in three contests. Hellebuyck must significantly improve if the Jets hope to compete with the high-powered Stars offense, but I don`t see that happening.
Pick: Stars defeat Jets 4-2
These teams both seemed on the brink of elimination in the third period of their respective Game 7s, only to mount dramatic comebacks and advance. The Jets achieved this despite another challenging performance from star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, at least through regulation time. According to Natural Stat Trick, his 9.84 Goals Allowed Above Average ranks dead last among playoff goalies.
My main question for this series is whether Hellebuyck can build confidence from his strong performance in Game 7 overtime. If he can, the Jets definitely have a chance. If his struggles continue, the series will be brief. The Stars simply have too much offensive firepower, especially with Jason Robertson potentially nearing a return, for Hellebuyck to be allowing soft goals. Furthermore, Winnipeg has limited room for error as both Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrisey are reportedly banged up after their physical series against St. Louis. Dallas is deeper, healthier, and currently getting better goaltending.
Pick: Stars defeat Jets 4-1
Oilers vs. Golden Knights Preview
The Golden Knights had a rocky start against the Wild, but their talent ultimately carried them through to the next round. However, Vegas posted a 3.17 goals-against-average in that series, which is not ideal performance from a veteran playoff goaltender like Adin Hill, especially with the Oilers looming. Hill will need to perform more like he did in the final three games against Minnesota. Despite a slow start offensively, key forward Jack Eichel finished the opening round strongly with five points in the last three games.
Meanwhile, the Oilers averaged an NHL-best 4.5 goals per contest in their first-round series against the Kings, scoring five or more goals in three of those games. With superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, scoring opportunities are always abundant. However, goaltending has historically been the Oilers` Achilles heel. Edmonton turned to Calvin Pickard as their starting netminder for the final four games against Los Angeles, all of which were victories. If Pickard can provide serviceable performances, the Oilers have a chance, but I believe the Golden Knights have enough to advance.
Pick: Golden Knights defeat Oilers 4-3
Last round, the Oilers proved once again that the brilliance of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can compensate for many weaknesses. That superstar duo combined for 21 points as Edmonton rattled off four consecutive wins after falling behind 2-0 in the series. Even a team as defensively structured as the Kings couldn`t contain them for long.
On paper, the Golden Knights should be better equipped to handle the Oilers` stars, but defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin had inconsistent outings against the Wild. If that continues, McDavid and Draisaitl will thrive. On the other side, the Oilers are still missing defenseman Mattias Ekholm, which makes them vulnerable to offensive rushes from players like Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl. Considering neither team received spectacular goaltending in the first round, this series could unexpectedly turn into a high-scoring affair. If it does, it`s hard to bet against McDavid and the Oilers.
Pick: Oilers defeat Golden Knights 4-3
