The second-round matchups, the favorites and what to watch for

The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing, and it took a remarkable comeback and nearly two full overtime periods for the President’s Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets to finally complete the second-round bracket.

All four division champions are still alive, rounded out by Washington, Toronto and Vegas, as are the defending champion Florida Panthers. The first-round featured two Game 7s, with Dallas eliminating Colorado, and the Jets overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the final two minutes of regulation to defeat St. Louis 4-3 on Adam Lowry’s goal 16:10 into a second overtime.

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Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis, left, and Shayne Gostisbehere, right, congratulate Sebastian Aho (20) on his game-winning overtime goal during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis, left, and Shayne Gostisbehere, right, congratulate Sebastian Aho (20) on his game-winning overtime goal during the second overtime period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Devils in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Edmonton Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard (30) and Connor Brown (28) celebrate the win over the Los Angeles Kings during NHL playoff action in Edmonton on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates with defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) after scoring during the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey Hillesheim)

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer and the bench watch play against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Toronto Maple Leafs' William Nylander (88) reacts after scoring an empty-net goal against the Ottawa Senators during the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander (88) reacts after scoring an empty-net goal against the Ottawa Senators during the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with center Carter Verhaeghe (23) and center Aleksander Barkov (16) during the third period in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), right, celebrates his goal with defenseman John Carlson, left, in the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie, left, hugs goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) after the Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Florida Panthers center Nico Sturm (8) gets off a shot against Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and defenseman Nick Perbix (48) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) works against Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser (90), center Yanni Gourde (37) and right wing Mitchell Chaffee (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis looks on as Alex Newhook (15), Juraj Slafkovsky (20), Cole Caufield (13) and Patrik Laine (92) celebrate their win in the final minutes of play against the Carolina Hurricanes during third period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals' Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with teammate Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) after scoring an empty-net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Capitals’ Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with teammate Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) after scoring an empty-net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) stops a shot by Edmonton Oilers center Trent Frederic (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

St. Louis Blues' Jake Neighbours (63) crashes into Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) as he saves a shot by Winnipeg Jets' Brandon Tanev (73) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday, April 7, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis Blues’ Jake Neighbours (63) crashes into Blues goaltender Joel Hofer (30) as he saves a shot by Winnipeg Jets’ Brandon Tanev (73) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monday, April 7, 2025. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

And Canada’s hopes of ending the nation’s Cup drought — dating to Montreal’s win in 1993 — rests among three teams, rounded out by the Connor McDavid-led Edmonton Oilers.

The second round of four series feature all-division matchups.

All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-7 and the first team to 16 victories wins the Stanley Cup. It’s a grind that won’t end until June.

Eastern Conference:

Toronto vs. Florida. Second meeting between the two Atlantic rivals and a rematch of their 2023 second-round series, which Florida won in five games. The Panthers have won eight of their last nine playoff series after beating Tampa Bay in five games. The Leafs, coming off a six-game series win over Ottawa, are 3-11 dating to 2002, when they last advanced to the East finals. In a matchup of teams capable of producing plenty of offense, the series could come down to a goaltending dual between Florida veteran Sergei Bobrovsky and Toronto journeyman Anthony Stolarz, who was the Panthers backup last year.

Washington vs. Carolina. Second meeting between the two Metropolitan Division rivals, with the Hurricanes winning a 2019 first-round meeting in seven games. The Capitals advanced to the second round for the first time since winning the Cup in 2018. Carolina is making its sixth second-round appearance in seven years. Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen is expected back after missing Carolina’s Game 5 series-clinching win over New Jersey. And the Capitals are riding a hot goalie in Logan Thompson, who allowed just 11 goals in Washington’s five-game series win over Montreal.

Western Conference:

Edmonton vs. Vegas. Second meeting between the two Pacific Division rivals, with Vegas beating Edmonton in six games of a 2023 second-round series on the Golden Knights run to win the Cup. Oilers backup Calvin Pickard helped right the ship in winning four games after Stuart Skinner allowed 11 goals in losing Games 1 and 2 against Los Angeles. Scoring was an issue for Vegas in their six-game series win over Minnesota. The Golden Knights combined for 18 goals, while giving up 12 against the Wild.

Winnipeg vs. Dallas. The first-ever postseason meeting between the two franchises separated by nearly 1,300 miles. The Jets are making just their third second-round appearance, and have reached the conference finals just once, in 2018, when they lost to Nashville. Dallas has lost the West finals in each of the past two years. Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger allowed 20 goals in seven games against Colorado, while Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck gave up 26 against the Blues.

Every game of the Stanley Cup playoffs will be nationally televised in the U.S on an ABC/ESPN or Turner network. The NHL schedule is here and a streaming guide is here. Much of TNT’s coverage, which includes the Stanley Cup Final, will be simulcast on truTV and available on Max’s B/R Sports Add-On. In Canada, games will be showcased on Sportsnet and CBC.

After all eyes were on Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s record in the regular season, the attention turns to the stars who put forth compelling efforts during the season and many who have disappointed in previous playoffs.

After making plenty of headlines in the regular season, the twice-traded Mikko Rantanen is following up in the playoffs with consecutive four-point outings in leading Dallas to eliminate his former team, Colorado, in the first round.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer is so far unbeatable in Game 7s, improving his career record to 9-0. Meantime, the Stars are on the verge of welcoming back leading scorer Jason Robertson, who missed the first-round series with a lower-body injury, and top defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who has been sidelined by a knee injury since January. Both are considered day to day.

Ovechkin scored a team-leading four goals, including his first career overtime goal in turning his attention to pursuing a second Cup championship.

Hellebuyck, a near-lock to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender for a second year in a row, has yet to change the narrative over his postseason struggles. After back-to-back postseason finishes with a sub-.900 save percentage, he enters the second round at .830 in stopping 127 of 153 shots.

The Toronto Maple Leafs — who have not won it all nor reached the final since 1967 — have plenty of players hoping to change the narrative around them in the playoffs, from Matthews to pending free agent Mitch Marner.

Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele missed the final two games against St. Louis, though was listed as a game-time decision for Game 7. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey’s status is uncertain after he left Game 7 with an undisclosed injury in the first period.

Through the first round, Florida has emerged as the favorite to win the Cup according to BetMGM Sportsbook. They’re followed in order by Carolina, Dallas, Edmonton, Vegas, Toronto, Winnipeg and Washington.

The playoffs began April 19 to open three rounds of seven-game series in the East and West before the final starts in early June. If the final goes the distance, Game 7 could be as late as June 23.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Competing at a tournament for the first time in more than a year, and in doubles for the first time in nearly three, Venus Williams hit a big serve on her initial delivery at the DC Open on Monday and, curiously, it was wiped out by a foot-fault call.

The 45-year-old Williams, an owner of 21 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles, smiled incredulously, as did the other three players involved in the match in front of a full crowd that eventually included NBA star Kevin Durant. And then Williams carried on, displaying her trademark power on some strokes and missing others while teaming with Hailey Baptiste for a 6-3, 6-1 victory against 2014 Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue.

“My personal goal is to have fun I think right now, and enjoy the moment, not put too much pressure on myself,” Williams said Sunday as she prepared to return to action for the first time since the Miami Open in March 2024. “Of course I love winning. I want to win. But more than anything, I just want to get the best out of myself. If I can do that, then I’ll be fine.”

She did both — winning, yes, and contributing plenty to the cause, but also having a good time, high-fiving or fist-bumping Baptiste after some of their best points, laughing after others and waving to an appreciative crowd that roared over and over for Williams. She and Baptiste hugged when it ended.

It was full at 3,000,-seat John Harris Court, where Durant showed up late in the first set, while across the way at the 7,500-capacity main stadium, only a few dozen spectators were scattered in the seats for an all-American singles match involving Reilly Opelka against Murphy Cassone.

Asked to comment about the court assignments, tournament director Daniel Vallverdú said: “The tournament works to balance full singles and doubles ATP and WTA schedules, while coordinating with broadcaster requests for court assignments.”

When Williams, wearing a white visor as she so often did, was introduced before participating in doubles for the first time since the 2022 U.S. Open — when her partner was younger sister Serena — the stadium announcer mentioned that Venus has “one of the best serves in the history of the game,” that she “turned pro in the last century” and “has won everything.”

That includes seven major singles trophies — five at Wimbledon, two at the U.S. Open — and an additional 14 in doubles with Serena, plus four Olympic gold medals.

“She’s one of the best athletes of all time. Her and her sister, they’re not only great for the women’s game, not only great for women’s sports, but they are so iconic,” said Frances Tiafoe, a two-time U.S. Open semifinalist whose twin brother, Franklin, is a coach for Baptiste. “People are going to go crazy to see her.”

They sure did Monday, standing with phone cameras raised high when Venus first appeared at the court.

There will be other opportunities to see her this week: In singles, Williams is set to face Peyton Stearns, a 23-year-old American currently ranked No. 35 who won NCAA singles and team championships at the University of Texas.

“I was surprised to see her in the draw this week,” said Emma Navarro, a U.S. Open semifinalist a year ago and seeded No. 2 in Washington. “She’s obviously a legend of the game. I saw a video on Instagram of her hitting out here on the practice courts — that backhand, you can’t miss. Good for her. She’s sticking with it at her age.”

Williams’ long absence from tennis was unwanted: She spoke in an interview with NBC earlier this month about having a procedure to remove fibroids from her uterus.

“My health journey was very scary,” she said Sunday. “This time a year ago I was preparing to go to surgery. There was no way for me to play tennis or play the U.S. Open — or those things weren’t even on my mind. I was just trying to get healthy. … Things really change in a year. They really do.”

The second-round matchups, the favorites and what to watch for

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