2025 NHL Playoff Predictions - Round 2

Round 2 of the NHL Playoffs is set, and the matchups are loaded with star power and storylines. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals go head-to-head with a tough Hurricanes squad, while the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers clash with Toronto in a high-stakes Atlantic battle.

Out West, top-seeded Winnipeg faces the red-hot Dallas Stars, and the defending Western Conference champion Oilers meet the battle-tested Vegas Golden Knights. Four series, eight teams, and a ticket to the Conference Finals on the line. Let’s break down who’s moving on.

Eastern Conference

Washington Capitals def. Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games.

It’s been 20 years of heartbreak for Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, with only one trip past the second round during his storied career. This year, that changes. Washington has looked like the best team in the league all season long—they’re deep, physical, and finally playing with the kind of discipline that wins playoff hockey. Carolina won’t make it easy. They’re arguably the most complete team in the NHL and a legitimate Cup favorite. But in this series, it comes down to leadership and moments—and nobody owns the moment like Ovechkin. In a dramatic Game 7, Ovy puts the Caps on his back with a game-winner that sends them to the Conference Final.

Florida Panthers def. Toronto Maple Leafs in 6 games.

The Panthers are built for playoff hockey. Fast, mean, and brutally efficient. Their dismantling of Tampa Bay in Round 1 was a warning shot to the rest of the league—this team isn’t done. The defending champions are playing like a group that expects to be back in the Final, and with the addition of Brad Marchand (a long-time Maple Leaf tormentor), they’ve only added more bite. Toronto, meanwhile, continues its trend of playoff letdowns. Expect them to start strong, maybe even grab a 2-1 lead in the series. But history repeats. The Leafs unravel late, and the Panthers pounce. Florida takes the series in six.

Western Conference

Dallas Stars def. Winnipeg Jets in 6 games.

Winnipeg looked vulnerable against the eighth-seeded Blues, needing every ounce of luck and offense to survive. Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t been himself, and that’s a big red flag going up against the hottest team in the playoffs. The Dallas Stars are flying. Mikko Rantanen is on another level, and this team is hungry to bring the Cup back to Dallas for the first time since 1999. They’re balanced, fast, and playoff-tested. Unless Hellebuyck finds his Vezina form fast, the Stars overwhelm the Jets and take this in six.

Vegas Golden Knights def. Edmonton Oilers in 7 games.

Yes, the Oilers have the best player in the world. But Vegas has the depth, the system, and the experience. They’re physical, smart, and never out of position. Edmonton will push this series to the edge, especially if McDavid and Draisaitl go nuclear. But Vegas is built for the grind. Expect a back-and-forth battle full of highlight-reel goals and late-game drama. In Game 7, it’s Vegas who executes better, staying calm under pressure and finding a way to bury the Oilers. Golden Knights in seven.

Conference Final Matchups Prediction:

• Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals

• Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Let the chaos continue.