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The second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is off to a ferocious start, and the Central Division series has yet to begin.

What should fans expect out of the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)? Will there be any fallout from Game 1 of Florida PanthersToronto Maple Leafs in the next clash Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)? And what should we make of the initial showdowns in the other two series that transpired Tuesday night?

Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, a recap of what went down in Tuesday’s games and the three stars of Tuesday from Arda Öcal.

Matchup notes

Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN

In Stanley Cup playoff history, teams that have won Game 1 in a best-of-seven series have won the series 68% of the time, including a 6-2 mark in Round 1 this year. The Maple Leafs specifically have won a best-of-seven series 57% of the time when winning Game 1.

William Nylander‘s two goals in Game 1 made him the first Toronto player with consecutive multigoal games in the same postseason since Wendel Clark in 1994.

The big question looking ahead is the availability of goaltender Anthony Stolarz. The New Jersey native made eight saves on nine shots before being knocked out of the game after contact from Sam Bennett. Joseph Woll allowed three goals on 20 shots in relief.

With two assists in Game 1, Brad Marchand is up to 31 career playoff points against the Maple Leafs, tied for fourth most with Maurice Richard and Ted Lindsay.

Sergei Bobrovsky didn’t have his best night in Game 1, allowing five goals on 29 shots. In four regular-season games against the Leafs, he had a 1.77 goals-against average.

Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets
Game 1 | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

The Jets won the regular-season series between the two teams 3-1, with an aggregate score of 13-5. The Stars are favored to win the series (-175) by ESPN BET, while the Jets are +150 to win.

These two franchises have never met in the postseason, and the Jets 1.0/Arizona Coyotes never met the North Stars/Stars franchise either.

Dallas’ Jake Oettinger and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck are the top candidates to be Team USA’s goalie at the 2026 Olympics, and both are among the most-used goalies in the NHL. Since 2021-22, Oettinger is third in games played (including regular season and playoffs) with 274, trailing only Andrei Vasilevskiy (277) and Sergei Bobrovsky (275). Hellebuyck is tied for fourth in that span with Igor Shesterkin (270).

Mikko Rantanen set a few new benchmarks for his heroics late in Round 1, becoming the first player in Stanley Cup playoffs history with a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7 and the first player in history with a hat trick against his former team in a Game 7. He also became the first player in NHL history (regular season or playoffs) to have a four-point period in consecutive games.

Stars captain Jamie Benn now has 28 career playoff goals, which is tied with Dino Ciccarelli and Neal Broten for fourth most in North Stars/Stars history, behind Mike Modano (58), Steve Payne (35) and Brian Bellows (34).

Kyle Connor‘s 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in the first round set a Thrashers/Jets 2.0 franchise record for points in a single postseason series. The previous high was 11, set by Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele in 2018 vs. Nashville.

Playing in his franchise-record 56th career postseason game, Adam Lowry scored his first career overtime goal to win Game 7 against the Blues. He is one of two captains in Stanley Cup playoff history to score an OT goal in Game 7; Steve Yzerman (1996, also against St. Louis) is the other.


Öcal’s three stars from Tuesday

Slavin scored his first career playoff game-winning goal in his 77th career playoff game as the Canes outlasted the Capitals to take Game 1.

In defeat, Thompson made 31 saves, giving his team a chance to win the entire way until the very end.

Hyman scored the game winner as Edmonton pulls off its third third-period comeback this postseason, and fifth straight comeback win overall.


Tuesday’s recaps

Carolina Hurricanes 2, Washington Capitals 1 (OT)
CAR leads 1-0 | Game 2 Thursday

Like two prizefighters, the Canes and Caps measured one another out in a scoreless first period before Aliaksei Protas notched his first goal of the postseason to get Washington on the board first in the second. Logan Stankoven notched his third goal of the playoffs midway through the third period, and neither club could score the decisive goal in the final regulation frame. The overtime period did not last long, however, as Hurricanes defensive whiz Jaccob Slavin scored his second postseason goal 3:06 into OT to send the D.C. faithful home unhappy and give his squad a 1-0 lead in the series. Full recap.

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Hurricanes score early in OT to claim Game 1

Jaccob Slavin scores his second goal of the playoffs to give the Hurricanes the win over the Capitals.

Edmonton Oilers 4, Vegas Golden Knights 2
EDM leads 1-0 | Game 2 Thursday

The game started off well for the host Golden Knights, with captain Mark Stone scoring two goals within the first 9:03 of the first period. Thereafter, though, the scoring was all Edmonton. Corey Perry brought the Oilers within one goal with 3:34 left in the first, before Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Connor Brown all scored in the third. The win was an NHL record fifth straight comeback playoff victory for the Oilers. Full recap.

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Oilers pull ahead with two late goals in the 3rd

Zach Hyman and Connor Brown score in quick succession to give the Oilers a late two-goal lead vs. the Golden Knights.

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Marlins’ Myers heckled at Fenway before hitting HR

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Marlins' Myers heckled at Fenway before hitting HR

BOSTON — Marlins right fielder Dane Myers felt like a fan at Fenway Park was heckling him beyond what was appropriate, verbal abuse that began before he hit a tying homer in the ninth inning to help Miami rally past the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

Myers said the heckling began in the eighth when the Red Sox led 3-2 and continued in the ninth after he homered and rookie Jakob Marsee followed with a two-run shot to put the Marlins on top.

“Maybe so,” he said when asked if the fan said something inappropriate. “I don’t really want to get into that. Probably drinking some beers out there, having a good time. It’s a baseball game. I won’t get into necessarily what I heard exactly. It’s part of the game. I think I need to be a pro and probably handle it just a little bit better.”

Myers said he yelled back at the fan in the ninth before security workers intervened. After the fan was removed, Miami wrapped up its 5-3 victory.

“I basically said: ‘Would you be saying this if you were on the field right in my face?'” Myers said. “That was basically the one guy that kind of got the whole section going.”

Myers credited security workers with handling the situation.

“Yeah, they probably had that happen before. They kind of were on it right away,” he said. “Kudos for them kind of stepping in. I wouldn’t ever go into the stands or do anything like that. Just kind of letting them know I’m a person, too. I’m a human, too, so I want some respect as well.”

When asked if the Red Sox approached him and asked what was said — with the possibility of banning the fan for a longer period — he said he wasn’t sure if he would provide details.

“It’s hard to tell. Like I said, they’re fans. They have the right to cheer and to jeer as well. I won’t necessarily … get into what was exactly said,” Myers said.

In the fourth inning, Myers went back on Wilyer Abreu‘s two-run homer and turned like he was going to make an over-the-shoulder grab, but when he crashed into the wall, the ball popped out of his glove and over the fence.

“I don’t know if that ball’s getting over or not, but to kind of have it in my glove then go over and cost two runs kind of hurt,” he said. “I got the chance to make up for it and glad I was able to.”

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Reds turn tables in extras, snap Brewers’ streak

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Reds turn tables in extras, snap Brewers' streak

CINCINNATI — Austin Hays‘ single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, ending the Brewers’ franchise-record winning streak at 14 games.

Milwaukee had barely pulled out the previous two games in Cincinnati for its longest streak ever within one season and the longest in the majors since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight from Sept. 11-28, 2021.

This time, Spencer Steer‘s sacrifice bunt in the 10th advanced designated runner TJ Friedl to third. After intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson loaded the bases, Hays laced a single down the third-base line for his second career walk-off hit.

Milwaukee, which overcame a seven-run deficit on Friday, rallied to win in 14 innings Saturday and have eight come-from-behind wins over its 14-game win streak, nearly came back again.

William Contreras hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagan, to put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the ninth. But the Reds tied it when Benson reached on a fielding error by shortstop Joey Ortiz and later scored on Jose Trevino’s single.

The first-place Brewers are 53-17 in their past 70 games. The loss accounted for just their 14th blown save this season, third fewest in MLB, according to ESPN Research.

The game was scoreless through six innings with Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Brewers lefty Jose Quintana allowing a combined six hits with 11 strikeouts.

Cincinnati scored the game’s first run when Hays led off the seventh with a double and scored on Trevino’s sacrifice fly to the wall in center.

Graham Ashcraft (7-4) earned the win for Cincinnati. Grant Anderson (2-4) took the loss.

Key moment: In the top of the 10th inning, designated runner Andrew Vaughn was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Blake Perkins‘ bunt.

Key stat: The Reds are the only team that has not been swept in a series this season. Their 40 series without a sweep is the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 1970 team that went 32 straight series. It’s the seventh time the Reds have won the final game of a series to avoid being swept.

Up next: Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90) will start Monday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. RHP Brady Singer (10-9, 4.31) will start Monday for the Reds against the Angels in Anaheim.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Phillies’ Nola hit hard in return from injured list

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Phillies' Nola hit hard in return from injured list

WASHINGTON — Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola‘s first start after returning from the injured list didn’t last long.

The right-hander allowed six runs in 2⅓ innings Sunday against the Washington Nationals, a start that ended when seven consecutive batters reached safely.

Nola struck out four in his first major league outing since May 14.

The former All-Star was one of the majors’ most durable pitchers entering the season, making at least 32 starts and throwing at least 180⅔ innings in each of the last six full seasons. But a sprained right ankle and fractured rib cost him three months this season.

His return became even more significant Saturday when Philadelphia placed ace Zack Wheeler on the injured list with a blood clot in his right arm. Nola already was scheduled to start after making three minor league rehabilitation appearances, though the Phillies scrapped their plans to use a six-man rotation.

Nola gave up Luis Garcia Jr.’s leadoff single in the first inning, then appeared to settle in. He retired the next seven batters as Philadelphia built a 6-0 lead.

The Nationals stitched together three consecutive singles in the third, the last by CJ Abrams to score a run. That led to a mound visit from pitching coach Caleb Cotham, but Nola then walked Paul DeJong before giving up Daylen Lile‘s two-run single and Dylan Crews‘ two-run double. Jose Tena followed with a tying double to end Nola’s day.

Nola allowed seven hits while throwing 53 pitches. His ERA rose to 6.92.

In addition to Nola taking Wheeler’s roster spot, the Phillies activated third baseman Alec Bohm from the injured list and optioned infielder Otto Kemp to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 40-man roster for Nola, Philadelphia released outfielder Cal Stevenson.

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