What is happening at the NHL Playoffs after Day Four

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, and after four days of edge-of-your-seat hockey, several series have already taken firm shape while others promise genuine drama. Here’s a closer look at how each matchup stands, where the surprises have come, and what to watch for over the coming week.

In the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs have stamped their authority on the Atlantic Division’s wild-card duel, taking a 2–0 lead over the Ottawa Senators with a 6–2 thumping in Game 1 followed by a 3–2 overtime win in Game 2. Auston Matthews has been electric, netting four goals in the series so far, and Game 3 on Thursday evening in Ottawa will be must-watch television. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers claimed a surprise 6–2 victory in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and hold a 1–0 lead as the series shifts south to Tampa Bay for Games 2 and 3.

Over in the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals have bounced back from last year’s early exit to lead 2–0 over the Montreal Canadiens, thanks to consecutive one-goal victories (3–2 OT, 3–1). With veteran netminder Darcy Kuemper in dominant form, the Caps look well-placed to close out at home this weekend. Likewise, the Carolina Hurricanes have established themselves as firm favourites against the New Jersey Devils, winning Games 1 and 2 by scores of 4–1 and 3–1 respectively. The Devils must find a spark when the series resumes in Newark on Friday.

Out West, the Winnipeg Jets have started as they finished the regular season—strong—as they head back to St Louis up 2–0 on the Blues, thanks to 5–3 and 2–1 victories. The Central Division’s second-seeded Dallas Stars have knotted their series with the Colorado Avalanche at 2–1, rallying from a 5–1 Game 1 defeat to win consecutive overtime thrillers. That rematch in Denver on Saturday promises to be a classic.

In the Pacific Division, parity rules. The Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild couldn’t be separated in Games 1 and 2, with each side taking one win apiece; the series is tied 1–1 as it returns to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 this Thursday and Saturday. Conversely, the Los Angeles Kings have raced out to a 2–0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers, thanks to back-to-back six-goal performances, and will look to complete the sweep when they visit Edmonton later this week.

Across both conferences, the next stretch of games (April 24–27) features five contests each night, televised live across ESPN2, TNT, TBS and ESPN. Key dates include:

• Thursday, April 24: Maple Leafs at Senators (7 p.m. ET), Panthers at Lightning (6:30 p.m. ET), Jets at Blues (9:30 p.m. ET), Golden Knights at Wild (9 p.m. ET)

• Friday, April 25: Capitals at Canadiens (7 p.m. ET), Hurricanes at Devils (8 p.m. ET), Kings at Oilers (10 p.m. ET)

• Saturday, April 26: Stars at Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET), Panthers at Lightning (1 p.m. ET), Maple Leafs at Senators (7 p.m. ET), Golden Knights at Wild (4 p.m. ET)

When it comes to qualification, sixteen teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs—eight from each conference. Within each conference, the top three teams from both the Atlantic/Central (for the East/West respectively) and Metropolitan/Pacific divisions qualify automatically, and two wild-card spots fill out the bracket based on the next best regular-season records. Each series is best-of-seven, with the higher seed enjoying home-ice advantage in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.