The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs action continues with two significant matchups scheduled for Monday. The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to face off against the Florida Panthers in an Eastern Conference first-round contest, aiming to tie the series at two games each. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars will host the Colorado Avalanche for Game 5 of their tightly contested Western Conference series, which currently stands tied at 2-2.
Tampa Bay dropped the initial two games of the `Battle of Florida` series played on home ice but secured a crucial 5-1 road victory in Game 3 on Saturday. Nick Paul netted the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the Lightning added three more in the final frame to pull away and avoid falling into a daunting 3-0 series hole.
The Avalanche bounced back in their series after suffering two consecutive overtime defeats following a dominant Game 1 win in Dallas. Colorado demonstrated resilience with a commanding 4-0 shutout victory on Saturday. Mackenzie Blackwood achieved his first career postseason shutout with 23 saves, and captain Gabriel Landeskog contributed a goal and an assist in only his second appearance since the Avalanche claimed the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Building on a recent successful streak of prop bet picks this postseason, here are some players offering potential value to consider for wagers during Monday`s playoff slate.
Best Bets
Anytime Goal Scorer
Jake Guentzel, Lightning (Odds available)
Guentzel found the net for the second time in the series during Tampa Bay`s Game 3 win, also adding two assists. Despite taking a hard hit from Matthew Tkachuk late in that game, the 30-year-old forward appeared fine afterward. With the incident not resulting in a disciplinary hearing from the league, Guentzel may have added motivation to impact the game against the Panthers with a goal and help even the series.
1+ Assist
Brayden Point, Lightning (Odds available)
Brayden Point has scored in two of the first three games of the `Battle of Florida` but is yet to register an assist. However, the 29-year-old center hit the 40-assist mark for the third consecutive season in 2024-25. Point recorded three assists in the Lightning`s series loss to Florida last postseason and is a key offensive catalyst likely to be involved in Tampa Bay`s scoring opportunities on Monday.
Anytime Goal Scorer
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche (Odds available)
Nathan MacKinnon is currently tied for the league lead with four goals this postseason, scoring in three of Colorado`s first four games. The recent Hart Trophy recipient has already matched his goal total from 11 playoff games last year. Scoring against the Stars in the playoffs is familiar territory for MacKinnon, who has tallied 11 goals in 17 career postseason contests versus Dallas. Three of his goals this series have come on the power play, suggesting he`ll get chances when the Stars are shorthanded.
Best Longshot
2+ Assists
Cale Makar, Avalanche (Odds available)
Cale Makar has had a relatively quiet offensive series so far, recording just two assists through the first four games. The 26-year-old defenseman has posted multiple assists 12 times in his playoff career. However, Dallas has limited him to fewer than two assists in their last nine straight meetings since Game 1 of their series last year. The 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner boasts an impressive 61 assists in 76 NHL playoff games and is due for a significant offensive contribution for the Avalanche in this matchup.
