The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs has reached the stage where teams switch venues for the middle games of their series.
The Carolina Hurricanes have returned home to the Lenovo Center with their series against the Washington Capitals tied at one game apiece. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday evening. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers head back to Rogers Place holding a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights; Game 3 of that series is also on Saturday night.
Key questions for Saturday are: will the Hurricanes take the series lead heading back to Washington, and can the Golden Knights secure a win in Edmonton to force a Game 5 back in Las Vegas?
Below, find detailed previews for these crucial Game 3 matchups, featuring insights from statistics. Also included are recaps of Friday`s playoff games and the top three players from those contests.
Matchup Notes
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes
Game 3 | Saturday Evening | TNT
Entering Game 3 with the series tied 1-1 and shifting to Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes are favored at -215 to win the series according to ESPN BET, with the Washington Capitals listed at +180.
Capitals defenseman John Carlson`s power-play goal in Game 2 was his 13th career playoff power-play goal. This moves him into a tie for third place among American-born defensemen for such goals, trailing only Chris Chelios (14) and Brian Rafalski (17).
Tom Wilson achieved career playoff highs in Game 2 by reaching thresholds of 2 points, 3 shots, 2 hits, and 2 blocked shots. His seven points this postseason mark his highest total since their 2018 Cup-winning run (when he had 15 points).
Interestingly, the Hurricanes have not held an in-game lead since Game 4 of their first-round series against the Devils. Despite winning Game 5 of that series in double overtime and Game 1 against the Capitals in overtime after trailing, they have been trailing or tied for significant periods since holding that lead in the first round.
Among qualifying goaltenders this postseason, Frederik Andersen of the Hurricanes leads by a wide margin in goals-against average (1.55) and ranks second in save percentage (.930). The only goaltender ahead of him in save percentage is Washington`s Logan Thompson.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers
Game 3 | Saturday Night | TNT
After winning the first two games in Vegas, the Edmonton Oilers are now heavy favorites (-550) to win this series, with the Golden Knights at +380. Edmonton is also the current favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +300, slightly ahead of the Stars (+325). Vegas now has the longest odds among remaining teams at +1800.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid collaborated on the game-winning overtime goal in Game 2. This was Draisaitl`s second overtime goal this postseason, tying Esa Tikkanen`s 1991 record for most in a single Oilers playoff run.
McDavid is second in playoff scoring with 14 points in eight games, just behind Mikko Rantanen`s 15. His current rate of 1.75 points per game is higher than his previous playoff performances (1.58) and well ahead of his rate during last year`s run to the Stanley Cup Final (1.36).
Victor Olofsson contributed two goals and an assist in Game 2 despite the loss. Both goals were power-play tallies, making him one of only two Golden Knights players with multiple power-play goals in a single playoff game, alongside Jack Eichel.
Speaking of Eichel, he recorded three assists in Game 2, joining Shea Theodore and William Karlsson as the only Golden Knights players with two career three-assist playoff games on their résumé.
Öcal`s Three Stars from Friday
1. Connor Hellebuyck
G, Winnipeg Jets
After a challenging first round against the Blues, Hellebuyck delivered a shutout performance in Game 2 against the Stars. He made 21 saves en route to his fourth career postseason shutout.
2. Nikolaj Ehlers
LW, Winnipeg Jets
Ehlers had a strong Game 2 performance with two goals and an assist, helping Winnipeg tie their series with Dallas at 1-1. This was his second career multigoal playoff game.
3. Brad Marchand
RW, Florida Panthers
Marchand continued his history of strong performances against the Maple Leafs, scoring the overtime winner in Game 3 to give the Panthers a 2-1 series lead. It was his fourth career playoff OT goal and extends his own NHL record for most consecutive postseasons with a game-winning goal (nine).
Friday`s Recaps
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (OT)
TOR leads series 2-1 | Game 4 Sunday
Toronto entered Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead and took an early 2-0 lead in the game itself with goals from Matthew Knies and John Tavares, before Aleksander Barkov got Florida on the board. Tavares added a power-play tally early in the second period, but the Panthers quickly scored two goals from Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe to tie the game. Jonah Gadjovich put the home team up 4-3, but Morgan Rielly tied things up midway through the third. The game was decided in overtime when Brad Marchand scored in the final five minutes of the first extra frame.
Winnipeg Jets 4, Dallas Stars 0
Series tied 1-1 | Game 3 Sunday
Connor Hellebuyck delivered a crucial performance for the Jets in Game 2, stopping all 21 shots for his fourth career postseason shutout. Winnipeg`s offense was powered by Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers in the first period. Adam Lowry added his fourth goal of the postseason in the second, and Ehlers sealed the 4-0 victory with an empty-net goal in the third, evening the series at 1-1.
