Tuesday marks the start of two intriguing second-round series in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, featuring appearances by two of the NHL`s biggest stars. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are set to host their Metropolitan Division rivals, the Carolina Hurricanes, in the opening game of their series. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will visit the Vegas Golden Knights for the first game of their matchup between Pacific Division adversaries.
Ovechkin, who recently became the NHL`s all-time goal-scoring leader, played a key role in helping the top-seeded Capitals eliminate the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. This victory represents Washington`s first playoff series win since their 2018 Stanley Cup Final triumph over the Golden Knights. Washington and Carolina, who advanced by defeating the New Jersey Devils in six games, split their four regular-season contests in 2024-25, with the home team winning each time. However, in their only previous playoff meeting in 2019, the Hurricanes prevailed in seven games.
McDavid, the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy last season when Edmonton came just one win shy of the championship, accumulated 11 points in the first round as the Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings for the fourth consecutive year. Vegas secured their spot in the second round by overcoming the Minnesota Wild in six games, winning the final three matches of the series, including two decided in overtime. The Oilers and Golden Knights also split their four-game regular-season series in 2024-25, while Vegas won their only previous playoff encounter in 2023.
Here are some players worth considering when looking at prop bets for Tuesday`s playoff matchups.
Best Bets
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals – Anytime Goal Scorer (+135, FanDuel)
Ovechkin has found the back of the net in 10 of his last 14 games, a streak that includes the end of the regular season. The nine-time winner of the Maurice Richard Trophy, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky`s record for regular-season goals, scored in three of Washington`s five games against Montreal in the first round. His next goal will be the 77th of his playoff career, which would move him past NHL legend Mario Lemieux into 12th place all-time in postseason goals. The 39-year-old Russian scored twice in three games against Carolina in the 2024-25 season and netted four goals during their seven-game playoff series in 2019.
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers – Anytime Goal Scorer (+130, DraftKings)
Draisaitl reached the 50-goal milestone for the fourth time in his career this season, and the third time in four years, finishing with 52 goals to earn the Maurice Richard Trophy. The 29-year-old German scored in three of Edmonton`s first four games against Los Angeles in the opening round but was held off the score sheet in the Oilers` final two contests. However, Draisaitl scored twice in four games against the Golden Knights during the past season and tallied six times in the Oilers` six-game loss to Vegas in the second round of the 2023 playoffs.
Evan Bouchard, Oilers – 1+ Assist (+110, DraftKings)
Bouchard has accumulated 48 assists over 59 career playoff games, including three in the first game against the Kings. However, the 25-year-old defenseman has gone five consecutive games without an assist, marking his longest drought since starting the 2024-25 season with six games without a point. His longest assist drought in the playoffs occurred in 2022, spanning nine consecutive games. Despite scoring two goals in two separate games since his last assist, it seems improbable that Bouchard won`t record an assist in a sixth straight game.
Connor McDavid, Oilers – 2+ Assists (+190, DraftKings)
A five-time recipient of the Art Ross Trophy, McDavid has amassed 89 assists in 80 career playoff games, with 28 multi-assist performances in his last 67 contests. Three of these multi-assist games came during Edmonton`s six-game victory over Los Angeles in the opening round. The 28-year-old recorded two assists twice when the Oilers lost to the Golden Knights in their 2023 matchup and had more than one assist on nine occasions last postseason, when he set the NHL record for the most assists in a single playoff year with 34 in 25 games.
