A pair of teams with 2-0 leads take to the road Thursday as the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues with a four-game slate. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, who won both of their home games, attempt to put strangleholds on their series when they visit the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues, respectively, for Game 3 showdowns.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild host the Vegas Golden Knights for Game 3 of their matchup, which is even at 1-1. And the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers face off against the Lightning in Tampa Bay for Game 2 of the “Battle of Florida” after cruising to victory in the series opener.
Toronto dominated Ottawa 6-2 in Game 1 of the “Battle of Ontario” but squandered a two-goal lead in the second game before Max Domi scored at 3:09 of overtime for a 3-2 triumph. John Tavares and defenseman Morgan Rielly scored in each of the first two contests for the Maple Leafs, who dropped a 2-1 decision in their only regular-season visit to Canada’s capital.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Blues in the opener of their Western Conference series and escaped Game 2 with a 2-1 triumph. After scoring eight game-winning goals during the regular season, Kyle Connor has recorded both in this matchup for Winnipeg, which won both of its contests at Enterprise Center in 2024-25.
Minnesota bounced back from a 4-2 loss in the series opener with a 5-2 victory in Game 2. Matt Boldy followed a two-goal performance in the first game with the first tally of Tuesday’s contest and Kirill Kaprizov scored twice for the Wild, who have lost five straight home meetings with the Golden Knights, including both this past regular season.
Despite registering only 17 shots in Game 1 against the Lightning, the Panthers went 3-for-3 on the power play and rolled to a 6-2 victory. Captain Matthew Tkachuk was in Florida’s lineup for the first time since Feb. 8 and made his presence felt, scoring a pair of man-advantage goals and assisting on another.
After five best bets connected for a goal over the previous three days, here are some players with value to consider when making prop bets for an anytime goal scorer on Thursday.
Best bets
Sam Reinhart, Panthers (+225, bet365)
Reinhart may have finished with 18 fewer goals in 2024-25 than the career high he had the previous season, but he still led Florida with 39. The 29-year-old skater scored twice against the New York Rangers in his final regular-season contest and also netted a tally in the Panthers’ Game 1 win. That goal gave him three in four overall meetings versus the Lightning this campaign, and he also converted three times in Florida’s five-game triumph over Tampa Bay in the first round last postseason. Reinhart has 23 goals in 44 career contests against the Lightning, including playoffs, and 22 in 56 overall postseason games.
Brayden Point, Lightning (+160, DraftKings)
There weren’t many bright spots for Tampa Bay in the series opener, but Point was one of them. The 29-year-old, who finished sixth in the NHL in 2024-25 with 42 goals, netted one of the Lightning’s two tallies in the embarrassing defeat. Point scored three times in four with the Panthers during the regular season and has seven goals in 12 career playoff games against Florida. Overall, he has netted 43 tallies in 88 postseason contests.
William Nylander, Maple Leafs (+220, FanDuel)
Nylander led Toronto and was second in the league this season with a career-high 45 goals, marking the third consecutive campaign he reached the 40-goal plateau. The 28-year-old son of former NHL forward Michael Nylander, he scored just once in his final six regular-season contests but tallied in the Game 1 triumph over Ottawa, giving him 21 goals in 56 career postseason contests. That goal came on the power play, where he converted 12 times in 2024-25 to grab a share of the team lead, so he will be a major threat if and when the Senators find themselves in the penalty box.
Matt Boldy, Wild (+210, FanDuel)
Boldy fell four goals shy of his career high in 2024-25 but still led Minnesota with 27. The 24-year-old has been an offensive force for the Wild in this series thus far, netting both of the team’s tallies in the opener and kicking off the scoring in the Game 2 victory. That made Boldy responsible for four straight goals for Minnesota, as he also scored the overtime winner against the Anaheim Ducks in the club’s regular-season finale. Only three other players have managed to tally for the Wild in the series thus far, so it’s reasonable to think Boldy will have his opportunities on Thursday.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Jako v Naganu. Hokejistům má úspěch na MS přinést podobný talisman
Slon je tradičním symbolem štěstí pro české hokejisty už od zimních olympijských her v Naganu, kde jej hráči hladili při cestě na ledě. „Ivan Hlinka měl na slavném naganském turnaji svého slona, který se stal součástí jednoho z největších úspěchů českého hokeje. Věřím, že nám letošní slon pro štěstí, jenž vznikl po nápadu našeho partnera, opět pomůže k úspěchu,“ přibližuje obchodní a marketingový ředitel Českého hokeje Ondřej Šnaidauf.Handlová v tomto duchu navrhla artefakt, který má přinést pozitivní energii a podporu českému týmu obhajujícímu zlato. „Slon váží zhruba 6 kg a má 30 cm na délku a vytvářel se jako originál pouze v jednom kuse technikou ručně foukaného a tvarovaného křišťálového skla ve sklárně v Desné v Jizerských horách. Celý proces tvarování slona ze žhavého skla trval několik hodin, dva dny se pak sklo chladilo v chladicí peci. Následoval finiš a broušení ve sklárně Rückl v Nižboru,“ vysvětluje designerka.Foto: Český hokej/Fortuna, Český hokejVizualizace speciálního talismanu hokejistů pro nadcházející […]
Patriots 53-man roster projection: Vrabel transformed the depth chart. Now who makes it?
When he took over as coach, Mike Vrabel hinted that change was coming to the New England Patriots’ roster.It started with a defensive overhaul during free agency. Then he spent the first day of the NFL Draft addressing the team’s biggest need, Day 2 adding explosiveness on offense, and the third day plugging the Patriots’ remaining holes.AdvertisementNow it’s about time to hit the field for some actual practices.But before the Patriots do, let’s take stock of where they stand by offering our first roster projection. Whenever there’s a new coach or regime, change typically follows. So there will be some surprise cuts come the end of August. This projection tries to take an early guess at where those surprises might be (including three undrafted free agents making the team) and examines what the 53-man roster might look like when the […]
Cowboys’ undrafted free agents: Most likely to least likely to make Dallas’ final 53
Entering this year’s NFL Draft, there were three positions that were unlikely for the Dallas Cowboys to target on the first two days: quarterback, tight end and safety. Not only did the Cowboys not spend an early pick on any of those positions, they didn’t use any of their nine picks in the entire draft in those areas.AdvertisementHowever, two of them were addressed after the seventh round in undrafted free agency.Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in the post-draft news conference Saturday that they were “fired up” to have added five college free agents who were on their draft board. Jones did not share the names of those players.“That’s huge,” he added. “One of them was at the top of our board at the end of the draft. Those things, obviously they’re up there for a reason. We think […]
Mirtle: The NHL playoffs and identifying one burning question for every series
Tuesday marks Day 11 of the NHL playoffs, and thanks to the Ottawa Senators’ dramatic overtime win in Game 4 on the weekend, all 16 teams are still alive.Not only that, but every Western Conference series is guaranteed to go to at least six games, which almost ensures we’re likely to get extra Round 1 drama through the weekend.AdvertisementThere are eight Game 7s scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, so don’t make any big plans with the in-laws. My guess is that, with the level of parity in this year’s postseason at one of its highest points ever, we end up getting at least three or four series that go the distance.With every series now past the four-game mark and seven massive Game 5s coming on Tuesday and Wednesday, I thought it would be a fitting time to take a spin around […]
Nick Cousins speaks, Tyler Kleven’s emergence and more: Senators notebook
OTTAWA — Unsung heroes can come from anywhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And they aren’t limited to overtime goal scorers or top-billing players.Consider the case of Tyler Kleven, the towering 23-year-old North Dakota defenceman whose game has caught some onlookers by surprise this postseason. The 6-foot-5 rearguard has imposed himself physically while showing off his defending and mobility as the Senators’ No. 5 defenceman.AdvertisementKleven saved goalie Linus Ullmark by batting the puck out of midair after the latter made a big save in Game 4. In overtime, he got the primary assist on Jake Sanderson’s winner after skating into the offensive zone and nearly beating Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz with a shot of his own.“I just tried to get a shot on net,” Kleven said. “The puck got whacked up to (Sanderson). He just made a nice shot on […]
Where has the ‘Soto Shuffle’ gone? Mets star says, ‘I just gotta feel it’
WASHINGTON — Watching Juan Soto in the batter’s box without him performing his signature “Soto Shuffle” is akin to seeing Superman without his cape.The movement is part of Soto’s aura. The routine is unmistakable. Between pitches, he squats low, keeps his legs spread wide, wiggles his hips, sweeps his feet, sometimes grabs his crotch, and always stares intently at the pitcher.AdvertisementSo, where is it?After officially passing one month into the Mets’ season, The Athletic needed to know whether the shuffle is coming back.“It’s going to come out one day,” Soto said with a smile during a brief exchange before Monday’s game. “It just depends — I just gotta feel it.”The response only led to more questions. What would prompt a shuffle? How much does it have to do with feeling comfortable at the plate? What does it take?“It takes a lot,” […]
Related
Jako v Naganu. Hokejistům má úspěch na MS přinést podobný talisman
Slon je tradičním symbolem štěstí pro české hokejisty už od zimních olympijských her v Naganu, kde jej hráči hladili při cestě na ledě. „Ivan Hlinka měl na slavném naganském turnaji svého slona, který se stal součástí jednoho z největších úspěchů českého hokeje. Věřím, že nám letošní slon pro štěstí, jenž vznikl po nápadu našeho partnera, opět pomůže k úspěchu,“ přibližuje obchodní a marketingový ředitel Českého hokeje Ondřej Šnaidauf.Handlová v tomto duchu navrhla artefakt, který má přinést pozitivní energii a podporu českému týmu obhajujícímu zlato. „Slon váží zhruba 6 kg a má 30 cm na délku a vytvářel se jako originál pouze v jednom kuse technikou ručně foukaného a tvarovaného křišťálového skla ve sklárně v Desné v Jizerských horách. Celý proces tvarování slona ze žhavého skla trval několik hodin, dva dny se pak sklo chladilo v chladicí peci. Následoval finiš a broušení ve sklárně Rückl v Nižboru,“ vysvětluje designerka.Foto: Český hokej/Fortuna, Český hokejVizualizace speciálního talismanu hokejistů pro nadcházející […]
Patriots 53-man roster projection: Vrabel transformed the depth chart. Now who makes it?
When he took over as coach, Mike Vrabel hinted that change was coming to the New England Patriots’ roster.It started with a defensive overhaul during free agency. Then he spent the first day of the NFL Draft addressing the team’s biggest need, Day 2 adding explosiveness on offense, and the third day plugging the Patriots’ remaining holes.AdvertisementNow it’s about time to hit the field for some actual practices.But before the Patriots do, let’s take stock of where they stand by offering our first roster projection. Whenever there’s a new coach or regime, change typically follows. So there will be some surprise cuts come the end of August. This projection tries to take an early guess at where those surprises might be (including three undrafted free agents making the team) and examines what the 53-man roster might look like when the […]
Cowboys’ undrafted free agents: Most likely to least likely to make Dallas’ final 53
Entering this year’s NFL Draft, there were three positions that were unlikely for the Dallas Cowboys to target on the first two days: quarterback, tight end and safety. Not only did the Cowboys not spend an early pick on any of those positions, they didn’t use any of their nine picks in the entire draft in those areas.AdvertisementHowever, two of them were addressed after the seventh round in undrafted free agency.Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said in the post-draft news conference Saturday that they were “fired up” to have added five college free agents who were on their draft board. Jones did not share the names of those players.“That’s huge,” he added. “One of them was at the top of our board at the end of the draft. Those things, obviously they’re up there for a reason. We think […]
Mirtle: The NHL playoffs and identifying one burning question for every series
Tuesday marks Day 11 of the NHL playoffs, and thanks to the Ottawa Senators’ dramatic overtime win in Game 4 on the weekend, all 16 teams are still alive.Not only that, but every Western Conference series is guaranteed to go to at least six games, which almost ensures we’re likely to get extra Round 1 drama through the weekend.AdvertisementThere are eight Game 7s scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, so don’t make any big plans with the in-laws. My guess is that, with the level of parity in this year’s postseason at one of its highest points ever, we end up getting at least three or four series that go the distance.With every series now past the four-game mark and seven massive Game 5s coming on Tuesday and Wednesday, I thought it would be a fitting time to take a spin around […]
Nick Cousins speaks, Tyler Kleven’s emergence and more: Senators notebook
OTTAWA — Unsung heroes can come from anywhere in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And they aren’t limited to overtime goal scorers or top-billing players.Consider the case of Tyler Kleven, the towering 23-year-old North Dakota defenceman whose game has caught some onlookers by surprise this postseason. The 6-foot-5 rearguard has imposed himself physically while showing off his defending and mobility as the Senators’ No. 5 defenceman.AdvertisementKleven saved goalie Linus Ullmark by batting the puck out of midair after the latter made a big save in Game 4. In overtime, he got the primary assist on Jake Sanderson’s winner after skating into the offensive zone and nearly beating Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz with a shot of his own.“I just tried to get a shot on net,” Kleven said. “The puck got whacked up to (Sanderson). He just made a nice shot on […]
Where has the ‘Soto Shuffle’ gone? Mets star says, ‘I just gotta feel it’
WASHINGTON — Watching Juan Soto in the batter’s box without him performing his signature “Soto Shuffle” is akin to seeing Superman without his cape.The movement is part of Soto’s aura. The routine is unmistakable. Between pitches, he squats low, keeps his legs spread wide, wiggles his hips, sweeps his feet, sometimes grabs his crotch, and always stares intently at the pitcher.AdvertisementSo, where is it?After officially passing one month into the Mets’ season, The Athletic needed to know whether the shuffle is coming back.“It’s going to come out one day,” Soto said with a smile during a brief exchange before Monday’s game. “It just depends — I just gotta feel it.”The response only led to more questions. What would prompt a shuffle? How much does it have to do with feeling comfortable at the plate? What does it take?“It takes a lot,” […]
Be the first to leave a comment