Following two dramatic Game 7 victories that wrapped up Round 1, the field for the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is now set. Eight teams remain, each battling fiercely for the chance to hoist hockey`s most coveted trophy. Over the next couple of weeks, these contenders will clash head-to-head to determine the Eastern and Western Conference Finalists.
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, have proven they are still a team to contend with, but they face a formidable challenge against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals, who secured the East`s best regular-season record, will go head-to-head with the Carolina Hurricanes in a tough Metropolitan Division matchup.
Out West, the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets narrowly avoided an upset in the opening round but are now up against an even stronger opponent in the Dallas Stars. The Stars demonstrated resilience by overcoming a 2-0 Game 7 deficit against the Colorado Avalanche and are now favored to advance past the Presidents` Trophy winners.
The other Western Conference series features the Vegas Golden Knights taking on the Edmonton Oilers in what is anticipated to be a thrilling confrontation. Vegas progressed to the second round by eliminating the Minnesota Wild in six games, while Edmonton dominated the Los Angeles Kings, sweeping their series in four straight games.
Before the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs gets underway, here are our expert picks and predictions for the outcome of each series.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs
Series odds: Panthers -184, Maple Leafs +150 (Odds provided via FanDuel)
Bengel: I made the mistake of picking against the Panthers in the first round, but I won`t be making the same error this time. The Panthers looked incredibly sharp in their five-game dismissal of the Lightning. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk returned to the lineup and immediately showcased his importance to Florida`s dynamic offense. The Panthers displayed a balanced attack with contributions from key players like Sam Reinhart, Tkachuk, and Aleksander Barkov. Their advantage is further bolstered by a reliable playoff goaltender in Sergei Bobrovsky, who posted a 2.21 goals-against-average in the first round.
Conversely, the Maple Leafs will require stellar performances from their core group of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares if they hope to overcome the Panthers. They must find ways to generate significant offense to stand a chance against Florida. While I expect an entertaining series, the Panthers` offensive depth and status as defending champions give them the edge. Pick — Panthers def. Maple Leafs 4-2
Nivison: The Maple Leafs managed to navigate a slight challenge from the Senators and are back in the second round for the second time in three years. Their last second-round appearance ended in a five-game loss to these same Panthers. For a different outcome this year, the core four forwards, plus Matthew Knies, must maintain their strong play; this group accounted for 12 goals and 20 assists against the Senators.
However, their opponent is considerably more formidable now. What the Panthers did to Tampa Bay last round was truly impressive. Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov effectively neutralized Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel throughout the series. Florida has a proven track record of shutting down elite offensive talent, and their forwards can score with the best. While Toronto will put up a good fight, Barkov`s presence and defensive impact will likely be the deciding factor again. Pick — Panthers def. Maple Leafs 4-2
Hurricanes vs. Capitals
Series odds: Hurricanes -160, Capitals +140 (Odds provided via DraftKings)
Bengel: It`s worth noting that the Capitals faced a decent test from the Canadiens despite finishing the series in five games. Washington demonstrated significant offensive power during the regular season, finishing second in goals per game (3.49). While they can be explosive, I believe they might rely too heavily on Alex Ovechkin, whereas the Hurricanes boast greater scoring depth with players like Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and others.
Although I favor the Hurricanes in this matchup, I anticipate a lengthy series given how evenly matched these two teams appear. Both teams were among the league`s best defensively in the first round, featuring the lowest goals-against averages. The Hurricanes are expected to benefit significantly from the return of starting goaltender Frederik Andersen from injury at the start of the series. Ultimately, the series could hinge on which team`s defense and goaltending perform better under pressure, and I`m backing Carolina in a tight battle. Pick — Hurricanes def. Capitals 4-3
Nivison: Both teams entered their respective first-round series as clear favorites and played up to that expectation. Beyond their strong offensive showings, the goaltending has been particularly noteworthy. Logan Thompson and Frederik Andersen rank among the top goalies in goals saved above average this postseason, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The crucial question for this series is which goaltender will falter first or most often. If Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov continue their Round 1 form, it will likely be Thompson. Svechnikov rediscovered his scoring touch, and Aho reaffirmed his status as one of the league`s premier two-way centers. For Washington, Alex Ovechkin`s four goals against Montreal showed he can still be a playoff threat. Unfortunately for Ovechkin and the Capitals roster, Carolina`s defensive structure is vastly superior to Montreal`s. Goals will be harder to come by for Washington, leading to a Hurricanes series victory. Pick — Hurricanes def. Capitals 4-2
Stars vs. Jets
Series odds: Stars -165, Jets +140 (Odds provided via BetMGM)
Bengel: Both teams provided plenty of late-game drama in the first round but ultimately survived challenging tests. For Dallas, forward Mikko Rantanen delivered exceptional performances in Games 6 and 7, propelling the Stars past the Avalanche. After a slow start, Rantanen exploded for an incredible four goals and four assists across the final two games. Perhaps even more impressively, Dallas managed to win the series despite not having star forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen at full strength. Given their impressive depth down the middle, the Stars appear to be the team to beat in this series, and I predict they will emerge victorious.
Winnipeg`s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, a favorite for the Vezina Trophy, did not play like one of the league`s top netminders in the opening round. Hellebuyck recorded a surprisingly high 3.85 goals-against-average and a .830 save percentage over seven games against the Blues. He allowed at least three goals in six of the seven contests, including five or more in three games. Hellebuyck absolutely must elevate his play if the Jets hope to compete with the potent Dallas offense, but I don`t foresee that happening consistently enough. Pick — Stars def. Jets 4-2
Nivison: Both teams were in precarious positions late in the third period of their Game 7s but staged dramatic comebacks to advance. The Jets achieved this despite another troubling performance from star goalie Connor Hellebuyck in regulation. According to Natural Stat Trick, his 9.84 goals allowed above average in the playoffs rank last among all goaltenders.
My primary question for this series is whether Hellebuyck can build confidence from his solid effort in overtime of Game 7. If he can, the Jets definitely have a chance. If his struggles persist, the series could be brief. The Stars possess too much offensive firepower, especially with Jason Robertson nearing a return, for Hellebuyck to be allowing soft goals. Furthermore, Winnipeg has limited margin for error as both Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrisey are banged up after their physical series against St. Louis. Dallas is deeper, healthier, and currently benefiting from better goaltending. Pick — Stars def. Jets 4-1
Oilers vs. Golden Knights
Series odds: Golden Knights -115, Oilers -105 (Odds provided via Caesars)
Bengel: The Golden Knights had a rocky start against the Wild, but their talent ultimately propelled them into the next round. However, Vegas posted a 3.17 goals-against-average in that series, which is not ideal performance from a proven playoff goaltender like Adin Hill, especially with the Oilers up next. Hill needs to play more consistently like he did in the final three games against Minnesota. Despite a slow offensive start, the Golden Knights saw star forward Jack Eichel finish the series strongly, contributing five points over the final three games.
Meanwhile, the Oilers boasted the league`s best offense in the first round, averaging 4.5 goals per game against the Kings, scoring at least five goals in three of those contests. With superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the roster, scoring opportunities will always be abundant. However, Edmonton`s vulnerability has historically been in net. The team shifted to Calvin Pickard as the starting goaltender for the final four games against Los Angeles, all of which were Oilers victories. If Pickard can provide competent goaltending performances, Edmonton has a shot, but I believe the Golden Knights have enough to move on. Pick — Golden Knights def. Oilers 4-3
Nivison: Last round, the Oilers once again demonstrated that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can compensate for significant weaknesses. The duo combined for 21 points as Edmonton surged back with four consecutive wins after trailing the series 2-0. The Kings were arguably one of the most equipped teams to handle the Oilers` star forwards, yet they ultimately couldn`t contain them.
On paper, the Golden Knights should be up to the task, but Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin had some inconsistent moments against the Wild. If those trends continue, McDavid and Draisaitl will exploit them. On the other side, the Oilers are still missing defenseman Mattias Ekholm, which leaves them susceptible to offensive attacks from players like Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl. Add in the fact that neither team received stellar goaltending in Round 1, and this series could become a surprisingly high-scoring affair. If it does, it`s difficult to bet against McDavid and the Oilers. Pick — Oilers def. Golden Knights 4-3
