2025 NHL playoffs: preview of Capitals canes, Knights-Oiler

After an exciting first night, the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs continued on Tuesday with two series opening games.

In the first place is the Metro -Division’s matchup, which the Carolina Hurricanes against the Washington Capitals (Capitals (Capiters (Capitals7 p.m. ET, ESPN), while the night tongue has the Edmonton Oilers who visit the Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Read for Game Previews with statistical findings from ESPN Research, a summary of what was going on in the game on Monday and the three stars of Arda Öcal on Mondays.

Matchup notes

Carolina Hurricanes in Washington Capitals
Game 1 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

The two teams went 2-2 in their regular season series in 2024-25, whereby the Canes exceeded the Caps 14-10 overall. ESPN Bet has installed Carolina as a series favorite at -175, while Washington +150 is transferring for the final of the Eastern Conference.

In the first round of 2019, these two clubs met in Rod Brind’amour’s first series as head coach. Five current capitals – John Carlson, Nic Dowd, Lars Eller, Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson – and five current hurricanes – Sebastian Aho, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov – played in this series. Carolina won in seven games and game 7 was decided in double extension.

A newer game was remarkable for some fireworks: On April 2, the Hurricanes won 5: 1, when the two teams for 142 eleven mutations, the second most common in a single game in this NHL season.

Svechnikovs five goals in the first round scored a Whalers/Hurricanes franchise for goals in a single playoff round. The others to reach the feat Mark Hunter (1991 first round).

Carolina’s goalkeeper, Frederik Andersen, leads the playoffs with a percentage of 0.936, left the 4 of the series against New Jersey and did not play in game 5.

With four goals in the first round, Ovechkin has now connected 76 for his career, with Mario Lemieux for the 12th of all time. Next on the list, Jaromir Jagr is 78.

Logan Thompson was a magician in the capeals of the capitals for home games in round 1: He stopped 86 out of 90 shots (.

Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 1 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

Just like the sticks and caps, the Oilers and Golden Knights share the season series 2-2, but with a closer difference in target. The Oilers scored 11 to the 10 Golden Knights 10. And talk about an even Matchup! ESPN Bet has both the Oilers and the Golden Knights at -110 to win this series.

These two clubs met once in the post -season, the second round of 2023. The Golden Knights won this series in six games on the way to the Stanley Cup.

At the top of the two teams are the players who were selected at the top of the NHL design in 2015: No. 1 Connor McDavid and No. 2 Jack Eichel (selected by the Buffalo Sabres, then selected to Vegas).

McDavid (eight) and Leon Draisaitl (six) are the only active players who scored 10 or more points in a single off -season series six or more. Other players who have achieved this performance in NHL are Wayne Gretzky (21 times), Mark Messier (eight), Denis Savard (seven) and Lemieux (six).

The Oilers allowed 24 goals in the first round, which is allowed in a successful playoff series in the Franchise history in 1984 (against Calgary) and in 1985 (against Chicago) the third most frequent in franchise history.

Eichel, Mark Stone, Brayden McNabb and Ivan Barbashev were all held from the goal in the games 1-3 of the first round. These four players combined for four goals and 10 templates in the games 4-6.

In a similar way, Adin Hill set his game in the second half of the first round: he was 1-2 with a percentage of 0.825 and an average of 3.78 gate in the games 1: 3, then he went 3: 0 with a 9.18 SV% and 2.08 GAA in the games.

Öcals three stars from Monday

Nylander was the second player in the history of Leafs with three points in the first period of a playoff game with his serial opening exploits.

“Mos Knies-They Cantina” achieved an important outline destination in the third period when the Panthers urged to add an insurance target for the Leafs that they would ultimately need.

Riellly scored his 14th career playoff gate and broke a tie with Ian Turnbull the most through a defender in the history of Maple Leaf.

Monday summary

Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Florida Panthers 4
Gate leads 1-0 | Game 2 Wednesday

These two enemies of the Atlantic Division know each other well and it was the home team that was first hit. William Nylander started the torade early (33 seconds) and later added another one in the first. Seth Jones from Florida and Morgan Rielly in Toronto then exchanged goals, and the Leafs led after a 3-1.

After Chris Tannev Toronto set up in the second 4: 1, the panthers’ rally began in the third, with gates from Eetu Luostarinen and Uvis Balinskis to pull them within one. Matthew Knies achieved an insurance goal with a six -minute lead, and the cats could only raise a record of Sam Bennett, which finally fell a short case. Complete summary.

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Matthew Knies rated when Leafs regained the pillow

Matthew Knies restores Toronto’s two-goal lead over a sweet baking hand goal against Florida.