The 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, as everyone guessed, were the most thrilling. Flashing teams have played like powerhouses, powerhouse teams have toughed it out during brutal games, and teams that nobody thought would go have gone where they weren’t expected to go. After the conclusion of the first round of playoffs, the second round began. Within each of the two series in the second round there are also great tales and moments that alter the course to hockey’s biggest and most important prize. The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again, like last year, facing the Florida Panthers in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Toronto bested their fellow Ontarian team, the Ottawa Senators, in six games. The win was indicative of the power of Toronto’s lineup and goaltending. The Florida Panthers let the Tampa Bay Lightning take care of them in five games though. For the Panthers, not only did they have elite players, but they were also looking forward to having their best player return to the lineup, Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers are favored in six games in most predictions. Yet
the Leafs’ possess offensive power in their stars, such Matthews and Marner. Which also makes them a very tough opponent to deal with in this series.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals square off in the other Eastern series. Washington defeated the higher-seeded Montreal Canadiens in five games, while Carolina easily defeated the New Jersey Devils. While the Capitals, led by a revitalized Alex Ovechkin, are relying heavily on timely scoring and veteran presence, the Hurricanes come into the series with a deep, organized lineup and playoff experience. According to experts, this matchup is the most evenly matched of the round and could last all seven games.
The Edmonton Oilers will once again play the Vegas Golden Knights out west. The dynamic combination of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl helped Edmonton overcome a 0–2 deficit and defeat the Los Angeles Kings in six games. With depth on all four lines, the reigning champion Golden Knights easily defeated the Minnesota Wild in six games, demonstrating their continued threat as a postseason contender. Although Vegas is predicted to win in six, this series is unpredictable due to the Oilers’ explosive offense.
The Dallas Stars play the Winnipeg Jets in the final Western Conference game. After exhausting seven-game series, both teams advanced: Winnipeg defeated the St. Louis Blues in a thrilling Game 7 double-overtime, and Dallas defeated the Colorado Avalanche. With Jason Robertson possibly making a comeback from injury and Mikko Rantanen finding his scoring touch, the Stars are predicted to dominate this round. Despite their tenacity, the Jets have a formidable task against the evenly matched Stars.
The 2025 NHL Playoffs are continuing to provide fans with everything they could possibly want as the second-round heats up: talent, perseverance, drama, and moments that will never be forgotten. The road to the Stanley Cup is still open—and excitingly uncertain—because there isn’t a clear favorite and every series is fiercely contested.
