The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 19. The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL's top overall seed, having finished the regular season with the most points in the standings, and the Washington Capitals earned the No. 1 seed in the East.

But this time there's a twist. In 2021 and 2022, the Lightning were the defending Stanley Cup champion; this time the Panthers are. Each time the two teams have faced each other, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

The first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs is still underway with us having just over a week of games in the books. The first chance for series to be wrapped up is on Tuesday, with Toronto and Carolina having the opportunity to shut the door and move on.