Home teams have shown strong performance in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, currently holding a 21-10 record. Will this trend continue during Monday`s games?
The early contest features Game 4 of the intense “Battle of Florida” series. The matchups have been heated; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was suspended for Game 3 after receiving a major penalty for a hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. In Game 3, Matthew Tkachuk delivered a hard hit on Jake Guentzel but did not face similar disciplinary action. What will unfold as the series continues?
In the later game, the clash between Western Conference powerhouses continues, as the Colorado Avalanche aim to build on their momentum after a dominant 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.
Below, find detailed previews for the upcoming games, including statistical insights from ESPN Research, summaries of Sunday`s results, and a look at the Three Stars selected by Arda Öcal from Sunday night`s action.
Matchup Notes
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
Game 4 (FLA leads 2-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Historically, teams holding a 2-1 lead in a best-of-seven playoff series have gone on to win the series 69% of the time. The Panthers have won two out of their three series when leading 2-1, while the Lightning have a 6-7 record when trailing 2-1.
- Jake Guentzel recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in Game 3. His 40 career playoff goals rank third among active U.S.-born players, trailing only Patrick Kane (53) and Chris Kreider (48).
- With his Game 3 win, Andrei Vasilevskiy now has 67 postseason victories, placing him second among active goaltenders (behind Marc-Andre Fleury`s 92) and just one win shy of tying Andy Moog for 11th all-time.
- Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the series in Game 3, becoming the third player in franchise history with 20 career playoff goals (joining Carter Verhaeghe with 26 and Sam Reinhart with 22). He is also the third Panther to reach 50 playoff points for the club (trailing Aleksander Barkov with 62 and Verhaeghe with 54).
- Aaron Ekblad`s return from suspension in Game 3 did not go smoothly. According to Stathletes, Ekblad and Gustav Forsling played 10:50 together at 5-on-5, during which the Lightning scored three goals.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
- With the series currently tied 2-2, history slightly favors the Stars: Colorado has an 11-12 record when a series is tied 2-2, while Dallas holds an 18-14 record in the same scenario.
- Nathan MacKinnon has accumulated 52 career playoff goals, putting him six away from tying Peter Forsberg for second place in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history. Joe Sakic holds the franchise record with 84.
- Gabriel Landeskog returned to the ice in Game 3, his first appearance since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, and scored his 28th career playoff goal in Game 4.
- Mikko Rantanen (formerly of the Avs, now with the Stars) has registered only one point (an assist) through four games, despite his efforts; he has 12 shots on goal, which is the second most on the team this postseason (behind Roope Hintz`s 13).
- Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was pulled in Game 4, marking only the fourth time in his 49 career playoff starts that he played 40 minutes or less. Since 2022, Oettinger is second in postseason wins (25), trailing only Sergei Bobrovsky (34).
Arda`s Three Stars from Sunday Night
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Andrei Svechnikov
RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Svechnikov scored a hat trick, powering the Hurricanes to a 5-2 road win against the Devils in Newark and giving his team a 3-1 series lead. Svechnikov is the only player in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history (spanning 45 seasons and 205 playoff games) to record a hat trick in the playoffs, and he now has two. -
Evan Bouchard
D, Edmonton Oilers
His two goals in the third period brought the Oilers back to tie the game at 3, setting the stage for their overtime victory that leveled the series. Bouchard is now the fourth defenseman in Stanley Cup playoff history to achieve back-to-back multigoal games. -
Jake Neighbours
LW, St. Louis Blues
After recording two points in the first three games of the series, Neighbours had a strong performance with a goal and two assists as the Blues emphatically tied the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.
Sunday`s Scores
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St. Louis Blues 5, Winnipeg Jets 1
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Wednesday
Despite being the overwhelming favorite for the Vezina Trophy as the league`s best regular-season goalie, Connor Hellebuyck has struggled this postseason. He was pulled in the third period of this loss after allowing five goals on 18 shots. Winnipeg`s Kyle Connor opened the scoring, but the Blues responded with five consecutive goals from Jake Neighbours, Tyler Tucker, Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Robert Thomas. The home team has won every game in this series so far. Will this pattern hold in Game 5 in Winnipeg? -
Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 2
CAR leads 3-1 | Game 5 Tuesday
After Carolina took a 3-0 lead, the Devils fought back with two goals in the second period. Hurricanes starting goalie Frederik Andersen left the game after a collision with New Jersey`s Timo Meier. However, the Devils couldn`t close the gap further, as Brent Burns added a goal at 14:14 of the third, and Andrei Svechnikov completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal to secure the win. -
Washington Capitals 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
WSH leads 3-1 | Game 5 Wednesday
The Bell Centre crowd was energized for this game. Washington`s Dylan Strome opened the scoring at 1:25 of the second period, but the Canadiens responded with two power-play goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield to take the lead heading into the third. The Capitals, however, proved to be the stronger team, tying the game 6:39 into the third, taking the lead 10 minutes later, and then adding two empty-net goals to put the game out of reach. -
Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Tuesday
This was another back-and-forth battle between these two teams. The Kings held a 3-1 lead entering the third period, thanks to goals from Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele, and Kevin Fiala. But the Oilers mounted a comeback fueled by two goals from Evan Bouchard (both assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) to force overtime. Draisaitl then scored the winning goal on the power play with just 1:42 remaining in the extra session.
Rupert Hartwell