Following a tight end-of-season race for the last wild card spots, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have started off strong, with multiple overtime winners, dominant performances and thrilling last-minute finishes.
Compared to other major league sports, the format of the NHL playoffs is the most similar to the NBA playoffs’ pre-implementation of the play-in. However, there are some notable differences, the most significant of which is the seeding. Playoff teams are separated by conference, then seeded, one to three, according to where they finished within their division. The remaining two best-performing teams get the wild card spots. The second and third seeded teams in each division are matched up, and the division winners are matched with the wild card teams based on their records. Teams play in a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to the next round. One consequence of this format is that repeat matchups are very common.
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1) (Toronto wins 4-2)
Despite consistently performing well in the regular season and holding the longest active playoff streak, the Leafs have only had one series win to show for it during those postseasons. With playoff failure year after year, pressure continues to mount on their “Core Four” players to make a run. Conversely, Ottawa last made the playoffs in 2017 before clinching a wild card spot this season.
Ottawa’s inexperience quickly showed in Game 1 as they played recklessly and Toronto capitalized, winning 6-2 in dominant fashion. While Games 2 and 3 were much closer, with both going to overtime, the Senators failed to secure either of the two games. Ottawa put up a valiant effort to try to become the fifth team ever to win a series after being down 3-0 but ultimately fell after a William Nylander empty net goal sealed Game 6.
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3) (Florida wins 4-1)
For the fourth time in five years, the “Battle of Florida” rages on in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For much of the season, these two teams were in a three way race with Toronto for the Atlantic Division crown, before ultimately falling short. After winning back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021, and making it to the finals in 2022, the Lightning have fallen short in the first round the last two years. In that same time frame, the Panthers have gone on a run of their own, reaching the finals the last two years and winning it all in 2024.
The Panthers limped into the playoffs while missing key players due to injuries and suspension. However, once Game 1 began, things began to click. They rushed out to a commanding 5-1 lead by the middle of the second period – including two power play goals by Matthew Tkachuk in his first game back from injury – and cruised to a comfortable 6-2 win. Things looked much better in Game 2 for Tampa, but Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky proved to be an insurmountable wall. The Lightning’s play continued to improve, and they were four minutes away from evening the series in Game 4. However, after two goals in 11 seconds and a back-and-forth Game 5, the Panthers were ultimately able to close out the series.
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2) (Washington wins 4-1)
The Capitals were one of the most surprising teams this season, finishing with the second best record in the league after squeaking into the playoffs last season and getting swept. Montreal, after having three previous chances to secure the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, finally did so in their last game of the season.
Washington jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game 1 before the Canadiens eventually tied it in the third period, sending the game to overtime. Alex Ovechkin, who became the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer this season, scored his first ever overtime playoff goal to put the Capitals 1-0 in the series. In Game 2, Washington took a 2-1 lead and managed to hold on, winning 3-1 after the Canadiens were ultimately unable to capitalize on multiple scoring chances. Although their top players performed well throughout the series, Montreal’s depth was too big a problem to overcome, as the Canadiens lost in five games.
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3) (Carolina wins 4-1)
Despite a solid start to the season, the Devils have been plagued by the inability of their depth players to score since December. Their struggles, combined with an injury to their best player Jack Hughes, meant that it was going to be a hard hill to climb to beat Carolina. The Hurricanes — despite concerns at the start of the season due to roster turnover — comfortably locked up the second seed in their division.
New Jersey’s goalscoring struggles carried on into the playoffs, as they only managed to score one goal in both Game 1 and 2. Injuries have not been kind to them either, as more starters missed games. Despite admirable performances from goaltender Jacob Markstrom and improved scoring from their forwards, the Devils were elimated after blowing a 3-0 lead in Game 5.
Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2) (Series tied 3-3)
After a strong regular season that ended in disappointment in the first round last year, Winnipeg played even better this season and finished with the best record in the league for the first time in franchise history. The Blues also broke a franchise record of their own this season, rattling off 12 straight wins from the middle of March to April as they stormed into a playoff spot.
In Games 1 and 2, the Blues struggled during five-on-five play. Third period goals by Kyle Connor put the Jets up 2-0 in the series. Things then took a drastic turn in Game 3 as the Blues came out swinging. Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, arguably the best goaltender in the league, once again struggled in a playoff game. The team had no answers, as St. Louis cruised to a dominant 7-2 victory, cutting the series deficit to one. St. Louis remained dominant at home as they cruised to wins in Games 4 and 6, but will need to take Game 7 on the road to advance to the next round.
Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3) (Dallas wins 4-3)
The Stars stumbled their way into the playoffs after losing their last seven games to end the season, largely because of the absence of key players Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson due to injury. On the other hand, Colorado entered the playoffs as a popular pick to win it all, led by star players Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
Game 1 started off with a 5-1 win for Colorado, although the final statline was not reflective of how close the game actually was. Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made many stellar saves to limit the Dallas scoring. However, the Stars rallied in Games 2 and 3.
Despite leading for just 62 seconds across three games, the Stars took a 2-1 series lead after back-to-back overtime wins before a dominant performance by the Avalanche in Game 4 tied the series. The series pushed to seven games after Dallas and Colorado traded wins in Games 5 and 6. It was looking grim for Dallas in Game 7 after Colorado took a 2-0 lead at the start of the third period, before things suddenly shifted. Current Stars player Mikko Rantanen, a key member of Colorado’s 2022 team, which won the Stanley Cup, became the first player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7, leading Dallas to a comeback victory.
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1) (Vegas wins 4-2)
The Wild got off to the hot start in the 2024–2025 season, entering December with the best record in the league. Unfortunately, injuries to players such as Joel Eriksson Ek and MVP contender Kirill Kaprizov caused Minnesota to stumble down the stretch before clinching a playoff spot a few days before the season’s end. Vegas looked strong throughout the year and aims to bounce back from a first round exit in 2024, following their 2023 title.
After losing Game 1, Minnesota capitalized on several mistakes by the Vegas defense and jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in Game 2. The Golden Knights were able to cut the lead to two near the beginning of the third period but, ultimately, the comeback fell short as Minnesota evened the series. In Game 3, the Wild once again jumped out to a large lead, in large part due to Kaprizov who finished with two goals, winning 5-2 and taking a lead in the series. However, Vegas rallied with overtime wins in Games 4 and 5 before closing the series with a close Game 6 win.
Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3) (Edmonton wins 4-2)
For the fourth consecutive year, the Kings and Oilers face off in the first round, with L.A. looking for its first series win since hoisting the cup in 2014 and Edmonton looking to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals after rallying from a 3-0 series deficit before losing in game 7 last year.
Despite having the best player in the league — Connor McDavid — and Leon Draisaitl, another top five player, Edmonton’s poor defense – missing its best defenseman Mattias Ekholm – and goaltending immediately showed its cracks in Game 1. The Kings led 4-1 after the second period and 5-2 in the third. This was when McDavid reminded everyone why he is the best player in the world, assisting two goals before scoring the game tying goal with just over a minute to go. However, Edmonton’s goaltending let them down once again, as Stuart Skinner let in a goal a mere 46 seconds later, and the Kings denied the comeback to win in regulation. Game 2 was much less anticlimactic: The Kings continued to score in bunches, winning 6-2 without much resistance.
After a disastrous first two games from starting goalie Stuart Skinner, the Oilers opted to start backup Calvin Pickard for the rest of the series. With Los Angeles looking to take a commanding a 3-0 series lead, a questionable challenge in Game 3 shifted momentum, and Edmonton cut the series deficit to one. Following another comeback victory in Game 4, Edmonton looked like the vastly superior team in the last two games of the series, eliminating the Kings for the fourth consecutive year.
As the games continue and tensions rise, look for teams to make adjustments as they push for the ultimate prize!
