With the final game of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs done on Sunday night, hockey fans are in for a treat as the second round kicks off on Monday. The Florida Panthers are set to face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs, starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Panthers are favored to win the series, with ESPN BET putting them at -175, while the Maple Leafs are the underdogs at +150. Throughout the regular season, the Panthers dominated the Leafs, winning the series 3-1 with a score of 13-7. One key factor in their victories was the Panthers’ power play, converting 45.5% of their opportunities compared to the Leafs’ 11.1%.
This isn’t the first time these two teams have met in the playoffs. Back in 2023, the Panthers knocked out the Leafs in five games, sealing the deal with an overtime win in Game 5. Players like Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz, and Anthony Stolarz, who won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers in 2024, will be looking to continue their success in this series.
The Panthers have been on fire in the playoffs since 2021, winning 39 games compared to just 19 in their first 26 seasons. Their goal-scoring leaderboard is led by Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov, and Matthew Tkachuk. On the other hand, the Leafs are riding a nine-year postseason streak, with captain Auston Matthews climbing the franchise’s playoff goal-scoring ranks.
In the first round, players like Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals stood out as the top performers. Rantanen’s 12 points helped eliminate his former team, the Avalanche, while McDavid led the Oilers past the Kings with 11 points. Thompson’s stellar goaltending against the Canadiens earned him a .922 save percentage.
The Winnipeg Jets secured their spot in the second round after a thrilling Game 7 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite falling behind 2-0 early, the Jets clawed their way back to tie the game in the final minutes of regulation. The teams battled through two overtimes before Adam Lowry’s goal sealed the series for the Jets.
Not really sure why this matters, but the Blues got off to a strong start with goals from Jordan Kyrou and Mathieu Joseph. However, the Jets mounted a comeback with goals from Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov to force overtime. In the end, it was Lowry’s goal that sent the Blues packing and set up a showdown with the Dallas Stars in the next round.
So, as the second round of the playoffs gets underway, hockey fans are in for more thrilling matchups and unforgettable moments. Get ready for more action on the ice as the quest for the Stanley Cup continues.
