NHL Playoffs Round 2 predictions and picks

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue following some exciting NHL action and opening round series. Two Western Conference opening round series still to be decided with Winnipeg at St. Louis for Game 6 Friday, May 2 with my sports betting Canadian colleage Sherwood suggesting Over 5.5 goals with 5 also available at BetOnline with added juice (-134). Check out the Jets-Blues game analysis, along with Game 7 on Saturday between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalance.

The Wild-Golden Knights series between Cup contenders ended with a Vegas victory in Game 6 to win the series after a pair of Knights overtime wins, and I attended the Golden Knights Game 5 overtime win in Las Vegas.

Last year, all eight opening round series favorites won to advance to the second round. This year, all four Eastern Conference opening round series favorites won and advanced with Round 2 Toronto vs. Florida (defending Cup champs) and Washington vs. Carolina to decide who will play in the Eastern Confernce Finals. The Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers is one Round 2 Western Conference matchup with both teams winning opening round series as favorites. That leaves Winnipeg and Colorado as the two remaining opening round favorites trying to advance.  

NHL Series Odds

NHL playoff series odds and daily game odds from BetUS refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. 

- Carolina Hurricanes (-165) vs. Washington Capitals (+142) - Pick Hurricanes in less than 7 games
- Florida Panthers (-180) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+155) - Pick Maple Leafs
- Edmonton Oilers (-115) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (-105) - Pick Golden Knights
- Dallas Stars (-173) vs. Winnipeg Jets (+152)

Check back for more picks, and note some significant adjustments in series odds following opening round action. Despite being the top seed and most points during the regular season in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals are a sizable underdog in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes. So is Toronto with home ice against defendinding Cup champions Florida. Note too that 15 of the 16 NHL.com writers picked the Panthers to defeat the Maple Leafs. Also, Vegas opened a slight underdog with home ice advantage over last year's Western Confernce champions Edmonton. The Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup two years ago. 

BetUS will have more prop bet options in the four Round 2 series and on players. So check back, along with odds on the final series to be determined in the Western Conference.  

Watch for a tactical preview of the Edmonton-Vegas series from OilersNation insider. The Vegas Golden Knights have won the Pacific Division in five of their eight years since entering the NHL. 

Series leaders from opening round to watch in Round 2 

Edge stats insights Maple Leafs-Panthers, who played played four times this season with Florida going 3-1 and outscoring Toronto 13-7 in goals. 

Toronto William Nylander led the Maple Leafs scoring 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists). Other members of the “Core 4” for the Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner had 8 points (1/7), Auston Matthews had 7 points (2/5) and John Tavares had 5 points (3 goals, 6 assists).

Between the pipes, Anthony Stolarz went 4-2 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

Florida - Matthew Tkachuk returned from a stint on the NTIR to notch 5 points (3/2). Other players tied for team lead with 5 points in opening round win includes Sam Bennett (3/2), Eetu Luostarinen (1/4), Anton Lundell (2/3) and Aleksander Barkov (1/4).

Sergei Bobrovsky went 4-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .901 save percentage manning the net for the Panthers in Round 1.

Washington - Dylan Strome led the Capitals with 9 points (2/7) in the first round. Next with 5 points were Alex Ovechkin (4/1), Tom Wilson (2/3), Connor McMichael (3/2) and Anthony Beauvillier (1/4).

Logan Thompson went 4-1 in the first round with a 2.23 goals-against average and .923 save percentage for Washington. Charlie Lindgren played some for an injured Thompson in Game 3 and allowed one goal on four shots.

Carolina -  Sebastian Aho had 8 points (3/5) to lead the Hurricanes in the shortest series win (5 games) over New Jersey. Andrei Svechnikov topped the 'Canes in with 5 goals and 1 assist Seth Jarvis (2/3).

Frederik Andersen went 3-1 and was leading the Stanley Cup Playoffs in goals-against average (1.59) and save percentage (.936) before sustaining an injury in Game 4. Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves in the Game 5 win in relief. 

The Capitals went 2-2-0 against the Hurricanes this season. 

Vegas - The Golden Knights have a stronger defensive core, goaltending and deeper more balanced offense. Vegas scoring leaders Round 1 included Jack Eichel 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists), Tomas Hertl (3/2), Mark Stone (2/2), Shea Theodore (2/2) and Brett Howden (3 goals).

Adin Hill was 4-2 with a 2.83 goals-against average and .880 save percentage in six games. Akira Schmid made nine saves in his lone appearance, in relief. 

Edmonton - Connor McDavid (2/9) led the Oilers in the first round with 11 points. Leon Draisaitl had 10 points (3/7) and Evan Bouchardhad 7 points (4/3). 

Calvin Pickard, who took over as the starter for Game 3, had a .893 save percentage while going 4-0 with a 2.93 GAA. Stuart Skinner was 0-2 with a 6.11 GAA and .810 save percentage, allowing 11 goals on 58 shots in two games. 

The Golden Knights went 2-2 vs. the Oilers this season. Adin Hill was 2-2 with a 2.82 GAA, .901 in those four games. 

More updates including the final Round 2 series to be determined.

Dallas - Mikko Rantanen led the Stars in Round 1 with 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points including a third period hat trick in Game 7. Roope Hintz (4/3) and Wyatt Johnston (3/4) each had seven points. Tyler Seguin and Thomas Harley each had two goals.

Jake Oettinger was 4-3 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in seven games. Backup Casey DeSmith made 13 saves on 14 shots in one relief appearance. The Stars went just 1-3 vs. the Jets this season scoring a total of 5 goals. 

Winnipeg - Kyle Connor led the Jets in the first round with 12 points on 4 goals and 8 assists. Mark Scheifele had 6 points (2/4) in five games missing the final two games with injury. Neal Pionk (1/4) and Cole Perfetti (3/2) each had five points. 

Connor Hellebuyck was 4-3 with a 3.85 GAA and .830 save percentage. Eric Comrie made 12 saves on 13 shots in three relief appearances. Hellebuyck led the NHL in wins (47), goals-against average (2.00), and shutouts (8), while also ranking second in save percentage during the regular season, but struggled more in Round 1 of the playoffs. 

You can bet on it. 

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