The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continue on Monday with two critical Game 5 matchups. The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the reigning champion Florida Panthers aiming to tie their Eastern Conference first-round series, while the Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche in their Western Conference clash, which is also currently tied.
Tampa Bay dropped the first two games of the `Battle of Florida` at home but found their footing on the road with a dominant 5-1 victory in Game 3. A go-ahead goal in the second period and three goals in the third allowed the Lightning to pull away and avoid a daunting 3-0 series deficit.
The Avalanche experienced back-to-back overtime losses after a strong start to their series against Dallas. However, they demonstrated resilience with a convincing 4-0 shutout win in Game 4. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood earned his first career postseason shutout with 23 saves, and captain Gabriel Landeskog contributed a goal and an assist in just his second game back since Colorado`s 2022 Stanley Cup win.
With a successful track record of best bets in these playoffs, here are some players worth considering for prop wagers in Monday`s playoff games.
Best Bets
Jake Guentzel, Lightning – Anytime Goal Scorer (+210)
Guentzel netted his second goal of the series and added two assists in Tampa Bay`s Game 3 victory. Despite taking a hard hit late in the contest, the veteran forward appeared unfazed in postgame interviews. Given the incident and his recent production, Guentzel is likely motivated to make a significant impact, potentially scoring to help the Lightning even the series.
Brayden Point, Lightning – 1+ Assist (+158)
Brayden Point has scored in two of the first three games but has yet to record an assist in this series. However, the skilled center is a consistent playmaker, reaching the 40-assist mark for the third consecutive season in 2024-25. He also registered three assists against Florida in last year`s playoffs. Point is a key offensive driver for the Lightning and is expected to be involved in their scoring plays on Monday.
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche – Anytime Goal Scorer (+125)
Nathan MacKinnon is tied for the playoff lead in goals, having scored in three of Colorado`s first four games this postseason. The Hart Trophy winner has already matched his goal total from 11 playoff games last year. MacKinnon has a strong history against the Stars in the playoffs, with 11 goals in 17 career postseason contests versus Dallas. Three of his goals in this series have come on the power play, highlighting his threat with the man advantage.
Best Longshot
Cale Makar, Avalanche – 2+ Assists (+400)
Cale Makar has had a relatively quiet series offensively with just two assists through the first four games. However, the dynamic defenseman has a proven track record of big offensive performances in the postseason, recording multiple assists 12 times in his playoff career. While Dallas has limited him in recent matchups, the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, with 61 career playoff assists, is due for a significant offensive contribution for the Avalanche in this pivotal game.
