Insights from the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs So Far

By Multiple Contributors

The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has now surpassed the halfway mark, with Game 4 having been completed in all but one series.

What key lessons have emerged during this initial phase of the second round? Which teams and individual players have stood out, for better or worse? How will these developments potentially shape the remainder of the postseason?

ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton, and Greg Wyshynski offer their analysis:

Could Recent Playoff Trends Favor the Stars?

Certainly, much can still change in the series between the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars. However, should the Stars win the series and advance to the Western Conference finals, it would mark their third consecutive appearance and fourth since 2020. While they haven`t yet claimed the Stanley Cup during this period, does this sustained level of consistency position them as the leading team in the West?

There are strong contenders, notably the Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Cup in 2023, and the Edmonton Oilers, who came within a game last season. If Dallas reaches the next round, they will face either Vegas or Edmonton.

What makes the Stars` potential situation noteworthy is its comparison to other teams since the NHL adopted the Eastern/Western Conference format in 1994. Defeating the Jets to reach a third straight conference finals would make Dallas only the fourth team under the current format to achieve this feat. The Detroit Red Wings first did so from 1995 to 1998, winning two Stanley Cups. They repeated this from 2007 to 2009, securing another title in 2008.

Most recently, the Chicago Blackhawks accomplished this from 2013 to 2015, also winning two Cups.

Toronto Needs a New Strategy

The Maple Leafs appeared lost in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, suffering a tough 2-0 shutout loss where the defending champions were in peak form. Florida effectively stifled Toronto with persistent offensive zone pressure, forcing the Leafs into multiple penalties and generally killing any offensive momentum they attempted to build.

Were it not for an exceptional (though ultimately wasted) performance from goaltender Joseph Woll, the final score would have been much worse, as Toronto had no answer for Florida`s intensity.

Unlike earlier in the series, when the Leafs capitalized on rush opportunities and literally had Sergei Bobrovsky spinning, the Panthers tightened their defense, keeping Toronto opportunities to the outside and improving their net-front coverage against Bobrovsky. If they can maintain this approach and the Leafs fail to adapt, the Panthers are well-positioned for a third straight Eastern Conference finals appearance.

For Toronto to reach the conference finals themselves, adjustments are needed, and their top players must perform. Mitch Marner hasn`t registered a shot on goal since scoring the winner in Game 2. Auston Matthews is still searching for his first goal of the second round and hasn`t scored against Florida in nine career playoff games against them.

After Sunday`s loss, Toronto coach Craig Berube mentioned that certain players needed to contribute more, without naming names. The message was clear. Both teams have successfully defended home ice so far in the series. Toronto still holds the home-ice advantage as the series becomes a best-of-three. The crucial question now is what counter-strategy the Leafs will employ now that Florida has sharpened its attack.

Can Hellebuyck Be Relied Upon for the Olympics?

The first major decision for Team USA`s management ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic men`s hockey tournament will be whether the games in Milan should be considered home or road contests. This distinction could significantly influence their starting goaltender choice.

At this point, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck`s difficulties on the road in the Stanley Cup playoffs have become almost unbelievable. He has won the Vezina Trophy twice and is expected to win it again this season. He`s also a Hart Trophy (MVP) finalist. There`s little debate, statistically or based on observation, that he is the top goaltender in the world… during the regular season.

In his last 20 playoff games, Hellebuyck holds a record of 7-13 with an .866 save percentage and a 3.90 goals-against average. A significant portion of these poor numbers stem from road games, where Hellebuyck has lost eight of his last nine starts, posting an .835 save percentage and a 5.20 goals-against average.

Following the first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, the minimum expectation for Hellebuyck was simply `can he complete a road game without being pulled?` The positive news from Game 3 against Dallas was that he managed this. The negative news is that he still lost and didn`t play particularly well, allowing a fluttering shot from Roope Hintz for Dallas` first goal and then scoring what the NHL ruled was an own goal when Alex Petrovic`s kicked puck deflected in off him in the third period.

“He had to make some big saves. Him and [Dallas goalie Jake] Oettinger were going toe to toe,” Jets coach Scott Arniel commented after the game. “But we`re going to be judged — and not just Connor — by our performance on the road. We need to win.”

Oettinger, conversely, has a playoff road record of 12-11 with a .909 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average in his last 23 appearances. While not spectacular, it`s significantly better than being pulled three times in the first round.

The U.S. possesses considerable goaltending depth, but Oettinger seems to be next in line, having backed up Hellebuyck at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. His performance in this series and in other crucial moments – such as the Stars` Game 7 victory against Colorado in Round 1 – should prompt a discussion about the American Olympic starting goaltender, given Hellebuyck`s difficulties when the stakes are highest.

However, it`s worth noting that Hellebuyck was outstanding at the 4 Nations tournament, with a 1.59 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage over three games. This raises the question: Perhaps he is more reliable playing behind an All-Star team roster than the Winnipeg Jets, regardless of game location?

Oilers` Depth vs. Golden Knights` Struggles

Watching Adam Henrique net the first two goals in Game 4, followed by Evander Kane`s tally, did more than give the Oilers a 3-0 victory that puts them one win away from a second consecutive Western Conference finals trip. It reinforced how the Oilers can rely on a level of depth that, in comparison, is lacking for the Golden Knights.

The most telling statistic is that the Oilers` superstar duo of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have combined for just three of the team`s 15 goals. Draisaitl scored in Game 1, but the game-winner and other contributions came from elsewhere in the lineup. Draisaitl did score the game-winner in Game 2, but his teammates netted the previous four goals. In Game 3, Corey Perry scored the first two goals.

Now, consider the Golden Knights. The forward line of Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl, and Brett Howden combined for 78 regular-season goals. They have been unable to score through the first four games of this series against the Oilers. Vegas` six primary defensemen collectively scored 35 regular-season goals, with Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore accounting for 17 of those. This group has managed only one goal in the series so far.

This lack of scoring depth is further compounded by the fact that Jack Eichel, who led the Golden Knights with 94 points in the regular season, has not scored in the series. Similarly, leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev, who missed the first two games due to injury, has also been shut out since his return.

A Spate of Own Goals

Fans love seeing goals scored, just as players enjoy scoring them – unless it`s into their own net. And this round has featured some rather unfortunate instances of the latter.

There was the own goal in Game 3 between Dallas and Winnipeg on Sunday, when Petrovic`s go-ahead goal was determined (after a lengthy official review) to have deflected off Hellebuyck`s stick into the net. The night before, it was Draisaitl`s stick that sent a puck past Stuart Skinner, giving Vegas a buzzer-beating goal (with just 0.4 seconds left) and their first win of the series.

Morgan Rielly`s stick directed a puck past Woll in Game 3 of Toronto`s series against Florida, narrowing the Leafs` 2-1 lead. Toronto eventually lost 5-4 in overtime.

While there`s never a good time for an own goal, could the timing of any of these have been worse? If you`ve ever wondered why “just put pucks on net” is a classic hockey cliché, these examples provide a clear answer: because truly anything can happen.

Is Mikko Rantanen the Playoff MVP Frontrunner?

In his 10th postseason as a head coach, Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer has witnessed some remarkable individual playoff performances from his players. Think of Ilya Kovalchuk`s 19 points in 23 games for the Devils in 2012, or Joe Pavelski`s 14 goals in 24 games for the Sharks in 2016.

But none quite compare to the postseason Mikko Rantanen is having for the Stars.

“It`s the best performance I`ve gotten to witness from my position,” DeBoer said after Dallas` Game 3 win. “But for me, he`s just getting started. He`s just warming up. I believe he`s on a mission.”

Through 10 games, Rantanen leads the playoffs with nine goals and 18 points. At one point, he had either scored or assisted on 15 out of 16 goals for the Stars, dating back to the first round. He is the first player in Stanley Cup playoffs history to record five three-point games within a team`s first 10 playoff contests.

“A huge pickup at the deadline. He`s been tremendous for us,” defenseman Alexander Petrovic stated. “He`s a great presence in the locker room. He`s been on fire.”

He has achieved all this after a turbulent season that saw him traded twice – from Colorado to Carolina and then to Dallas – before signing a significant contract extension with the Stars. He has silenced doubts about his offensive capabilities even without playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon. He entered the playoffs already recognized as one of the NHL`s best postseason scorers over the past few seasons. He has far exceeded those expectations and is currently the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy (postseason MVP).

Despite this scoring surge, the Jets managed to keep him off the scoreboard in their Game 2 shutout victory in Winnipeg.

“The most important thing is time and space,” Arniel said. “I know that`s often said in hockey, but ultimately, the more time he has possession, the more comfortable he is, the harder it is to prevent whatever he tries to do next.”

However, “The Moose” was back contributing in the Stars` Game 3 win, with a goal and two assists.

“I`m focusing on staying in the moment. I`m happy to help the team and will try to continue doing that as much as possible, at both ends of the ice,” Rantanen commented.

It is undoubtedly Mikko Rantanen`s moment.

Ovechkin and Perry Defying Age

Corey Perry will celebrate his 40th birthday on Friday, while Alex Ovechkin reaches that milestone in September. Perry and Ovechkin are part of a small group of five players aged 39 or older who have played more than one game this postseason. However, suggesting that Ovechkin and Perry are merely having strong playoff runs for players their age only partially captures their achievements so far.

In fact, they are having two of the best playoff performances ever for players in their age-39 season in NHL history.

Perry, a Stanley Cup winner ranked 38th in career playoff goals, has scored five goals this postseason. Ovechkin, another Stanley Cup winner tied with Mario Lemieux for 12th in playoff goals, has four. Both are close to the record for most playoff goals in an age-39 season, according to Quant Hockey. That record is currently held by Jean Béliveau, who scored six goals in 1971.

But Have the Hurricanes Found a Way to Stop Ovi?

Some might argue that Ovechkin`s game is increasingly predictable. However, when executed effectively, it`s a potent tactic. And right now, the Washington Capitals desperately need more contributions from him, particularly at even strength.

Ovechkin`s line has been successfully contained by Carolina`s defense – specifically Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns – throughout the series. They have generated significantly fewer shot attempts and scoring chances at 5-on-5 compared to their opponents. Ovechkin and his linemate Dylan Strome typically excel at creating chances from zone entries, but the Hurricanes are allowing them very little opportunity in this regard.

Ovechkin continues to work hard to find open space and leads the Capitals in even-strength shots, but this hasn`t translated into points on the scoreboard; his only goal of the series came on the power play in Game 4.

Considering the Caps were decisively beaten 4-0 in Game 3 and 5-2 in Game 4, they are in urgent need of consistent offensive production. This is the time when Ovechkin needs to start generating offense at even strength once again.

Washington was fortunate in Game 2, managing a 3-1 victory despite being outshot 33-14 by the Hurricanes. If Carolina is now finding its offensive rhythm and starting to solve Logan Thompson, then Washington must find ways to create more scoring chances. This is challenging against the Hurricanes` suffocating team defense.

Carolina Is No Easy Opponent

If you`ve been following the second round, you`ve likely encountered jokes (perhaps more than a few) about the relative lack of excitement in the Carolina Hurricanes` series against the Washington Capitals compared to the other three playoff series. Maybe you`ve even made some of those jokes yourself.

Monday night`s Game 4 was an anomaly in what has otherwise been a physically demanding, tight-checking series where four or fewer total goals were scored in each of the first three games, including a 4-0 shutout recorded by goalie Frederik Andersen in Game 3.

The Hurricanes play a specific way. Coach Rod Brind`Amour is unconcerned with the entertainment value of this series or any series. His team`s goal is to relentlessly wear down opponents through a combination of puck possession, strong defensive zone coverage, dependable goaltending, and elite penalty killing. Through four games, they have successfully executed this mission.

Brind`Amour was asked about fans and media from other markets simplistically reducing the Hurricanes` strengths to merely being a boring “shot volume” team.

“It`s lazy. It`s lazy because you`re not truly watching the game then. You`re only focusing on a part of it,” he said. “But there`s a deliberate strategy behind everything. It doesn`t bother me.”

When the Canes don`t have the puck, they are actively preventing shots: Carolina is allowing an average of 24.6 shots per game this postseason, which is the third-best rate among the teams still playing.

“There have been moments during this series when I`ve thought to myself, `shoot the puck.` But then we still need to get that puck through [their defense],” Washington coach Spencer Carbery commented.

Again, this is the Hurricanes` identity. This is how the Hurricanes have played. And this is how they will continue to play in the Eastern Conference finals unless the Capitals mount a comeback. A comeback would certainly be exciting. But the Hurricanes aren`t focused on excitement.

“You don`t want to give them any life or give them any hope,” Canes winger Seth Jarvis said regarding Thursday`s Game 5 back in D.C.