Thursday marks the continuation of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs second round, with both home teams aiming to tie their series at one game each. The Washington Capitals, Eastern Conference top seeds, host the Carolina Hurricanes for Game 2. Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Edmonton Oilers for their Western Conference second-round Game 2.
After sweeping their first-round home games against Montreal, Washington lost a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker to the Hurricanes in Game 1 at Capital One Arena, letting a third-period lead slip away. Jaccob Slavin netted the winning goal just over three minutes into overtime for Carolina, marking their third extra-session game in the last four.
Vegas suffered a 4-2 loss at home in Game 1, dropping their T-Mobile Arena postseason record to 2-2. Despite captain Mark Stone giving the Golden Knights a quick 2-0 lead with two early goals, Edmonton responded late in the first and dominated the third period with three goals to take the series lead. This victory extended Edmonton`s winning streak to five games, a run that began after they lost the first two games of their first-round series against Los Angeles. Remarkably, the defending Western Conference champions have come from behind in each of these five wins, entering the third period tied or trailing in four of them.
Recommended Prop Bets
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals: Anytime goal scorer (+165)
Despite being the NHL`s all-time regular-season goal leader, Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet in the series opener. He hasn`t gone two consecutive games without scoring since mid-March, a rare occurrence since late January. His next goal will be his 77th in the postseason, moving him past Mario Lemieux for 12th on the all-time playoff list. The 39-year-old star scored twice against Carolina in their three regular-season meetings this season and netted four goals in their 2019 seven-game playoff series.
Dylan Strome, Capitals: 1+ assist (+100)
Strome recorded a career-high 53 assists this season and registered at least one helper in four out of Washington`s five first-round games against Montreal. The 28-year-old forward is currently tied for sixth in the NHL with seven assists this postseason, significantly more than his two assists accumulated in his first 13 career playoff contests. Strome notched two assists in four games versus the Hurricanes this season and has 11 assists in 22 career regular-season matchups against Carolina.
Connor McDavid, Oilers: Anytime goal scorer (+165)
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner contributed a pair of assists against the Golden Knights in Game 1, marking his fourth multi-point performance in seven games this postseason. However, his goal drought has reached four games, following a stretch where he scored five times over seven playoff games last year, including the Stanley Cup Final. The 2023 Maurice Richard Trophy winner scored five goals in Edmonton`s six-game loss to Vegas in the second round that year and is due to find the back of the net himself after setting up six goals in his last four contests.
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: 2+ points (+122)
Draisaitl is tied for fourth in the NHL scoring race this postseason with 12 points through seven games. The 29-year-old German recorded his fourth multi-point outing in the series opener, scoring once and adding an assist. Draisaitl has achieved multiple points in 36 of his 81 career playoff games, a feat he has accomplished in three of his seven career contests against the Golden Knights.
