Following the conclusion of Round 1 with two decisive Game 7s, the pairings for the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are now confirmed. Eight remaining teams will continue their pursuit of hockey`s top trophy. Over the coming fortnight, these teams will compete head-to-head, determining the participants in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.
In the Eastern Conference, the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, have shown they are still a formidable force but face a significant challenge against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals, who led the East in the regular season standings, are set to battle the Carolina Hurricanes in a Metropolitan Division showdown.
Moving to the Western Conference, the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets narrowly avoided an early exit in the opening round but now face an even tougher opponent in the Dallas Stars. The Stars also needed a Game 7 comeback, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Colorado Avalanche, and are now considered favorites to beat the Presidents` Trophy winners.
Lastly, the Vegas Golden Knights will take on the Edmonton Oilers in what promises to be a thrilling series. Vegas advanced by defeating the Minnesota Wild in six games, while Edmonton swept the Los Angeles Kings in four consecutive games to reach the second round.
Before the puck drops on the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, here are our experts` predictions for the winner of each series.
Panthers vs. Maple Leafs
Series odds: Panthers -184, Maple Leafs +150
Bengel: I made the mistake of picking against the Panthers in the first round and won`t repeat it. Florida appeared to be a perfectly tuned machine in their five-game victory over the Lightning. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk returned and proved to be the driving force for Florida. The Panthers displayed their balanced offensive attack, with production coming from Sam Reinhart, Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and others. Their strong goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky, who had a 2.21 goals-against average in Round 1, is also a significant asset. The Maple Leafs will require outstanding performances from their core players – Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares – to overcome the Panthers. They must find a way to score heavily to stand a chance. While I anticipate an entertaining series, the Panthers possess superior offensive depth and are the defending champions for good reason.
Pick: Panthers defeat Maple Leafs 4-2
Nivison: The Maple Leafs survived a minor scare from the Senators and are back in the second round for the second time in three years. Their last appearance at this stage ended in a five-game defeat to the Panthers. For a different outcome this time, their core players plus Matthew Knies must maintain their strong play; these five combined for 12 goals and 20 assists against the Sens. Naturally, the opponent is much more formidable now. Florida`s performance against the Lightning last round was genuinely intimidating. Gustav Forsling and Aleksander Barkov effectively neutralized Tampa Bay`s top line throughout the series. Florida has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to shut down elite offensive threats, and their forward group can match anyone`s scoring output. The Leafs will compete hard, but Barkov`s impact will ultimately be the decisive factor again.
Pick: Panthers defeat Maple Leafs 4-2
Hurricanes vs. Capitals
Series odds: Hurricanes -160, Capitals +140
Bengel: It`s worth noting that the Capitals faced a tough challenge against the Canadiens despite winning in five games. Washington finished the regular season with the second-highest goals per game (3.49), showcasing a potent offense. However, while they can be sensational offensively, I believe they sometimes rely too heavily on Alex Ovechkin, whereas the Hurricanes boast more scoring depth with players like Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and many others. Although I favor the Hurricanes, I predict this will be a lengthy series, as these two teams are closely matched. Through the first round, they ranked as the top two teams in terms of lowest goals-against average. The Hurricanes are expected to have starting goalie Frederik Andersen back from injury for the start of the series, which is a major boost. This series could hinge on which team`s defense and goaltending rise to the occasion consistently, and I ultimately back the Hurricanes in a tight contest.
Pick: Hurricanes defeat Capitals 4-3
Nivison: Both teams were clear favorites in their respective first-round series and performed accordingly. Beyond their offensive play, the goaltenders have been particularly impressive. Logan Thompson (4.11) and Frederik Andersen (3.93) rank as the top two goalies in goals saved above average this postseason. The key question here is which goalie will falter first and most often. If Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov continue their Round 1 form, it will likely be Thompson. Svechnikov found his scoring touch, and Aho proved to be one of the league`s premier two-way centers. For the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin netted four goals against the Canadiens, demonstrating he can still score in the playoffs. Unfortunately for Ovechkin and the rest of the Capitals roster, Carolina`s defensive play is in a different class than Montreal`s. Goals will be harder to come by for Washington, leading to a Hurricanes series win.
Pick: Hurricanes defeat Capitals 4-2
Stars vs. Jets
Series odds: Stars -165, Jets +140
Bengel: Both teams brought the drama in the first round but ultimately passed very difficult tests. Forward Mikko Rantanen delivered historic performances in Games 6 and 7 to propel the Stars past the Avalanche. After a slow start to the postseason, Rantanen tallied an incredible four goals and four assists over the final two games. Perhaps even more impressive than Rantanen`s play was Dallas`s ability to win the series without star forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Given the depth of the Stars` forward group, they are the team to beat in this series, and I predict they will come out on top. Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the favorite for the Vezina Trophy, did not play like the league`s top netminder in the opening round. Hellebuyck posted a concerning 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 seven games, including five or more in three contests. Hellebuyck simply must perform better if the Jets hope to compete with the Stars` powerful offense, but I don`t see that happening consistently enough.
Pick: Stars defeat Jets 4-2
Nivison: These teams both appeared doomed in the third period of their respective Game 7 matchups but stormed back dramatically to advance. The Jets managed this despite another problematic performance from star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, at least in regulation. His 9.84 goals allowed above average ranks last among playoff goalies. The critical question for this series is whether Hellebuyck can build confidence from his strong effort in Game 7 overtime. If he can, the Jets certainly have a chance. If he continues to struggle, the series will likely be brief. The Stars possess too much offensive talent, especially with Jason Robertson nearing a return, for Hellebuyck to be letting in soft goals. Furthermore, Winnipeg has minimal room for error because both Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey are nursing injuries after their physical series against St. Louis. Dallas is deeper, healthier, and currently has better goaltending.
Pick: Stars defeat Jets 4-1
Oilers vs. Golden Knights
Series odds: Golden Knights -115, Oilers -105
Bengel: The Golden Knights certainly had a shaky start against the Wild, but ultimately their talent carried them through to the next round. However, Vegas posted a 3.17 goals-against average in that series, which is not ideal with a proven playoff goalie like Adin Hill in net, especially with the Oilers up next. Hill will need to return to the form he showed in the final three games against Minnesota. Despite a slow offensive start, the Golden Knights` star forward Jack Eichel finished the series strong, recording five points in the last three games of Round 1. Meanwhile, the Oilers led the NHL with an average of 4.5 goals per game in their first-round series against the Kings, scoring five or more goals in three of those contests. With superstar forwards like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, scoring opportunities will always be abundant. However, goaltending has historically been Edmonton`s Achilles` heel. The Oilers switched to Calvin Pickard as their starting netminder for the final four games against Los Angeles, all of which were victories. If Pickard can provide adequate performance in net, the Oilers have a chance, but I believe the Golden Knights will do just enough to advance.
Pick: Golden Knights defeat Oilers 4-3
Nivison: In the last round, the Oilers once again demonstrated that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl can compensate for many deficiencies. That dynamic duo combined for 21 points as Edmonton rattled off four consecutive wins after falling behind 2-0 in the series. The Kings were arguably as well-equipped as any team to handle the Oilers` star forwards, but they couldn`t contain them for long. On paper, the Golden Knights should pose a significant challenge, but Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin had some inconsistent performances against the Wild. If that trend continues, McDavid and Draisaitl will thrive again. On the flip side, the Oilers are still missing Mattias Ekholm on defense, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from players like Jack Eichel and Tomas Hertl. Adding to this is the fact that neither team received stellar goaltending in the first round, suggesting this could become a surprisingly high-scoring series. If it does, it`s difficult to bet against McDavid and the high-octane Oilers offense.
Pick: Oilers defeat Golden Knights 4-3
