As the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs second round continues on Thursday, home teams aim to tie their series at one game apiece. The top-seeded Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference host the Carolina Hurricanes for Game 2, while the Vegas Golden Knights welcome the Edmonton Oilers for the second game of their Western Conference series.
Washington, after sweeping their first-round home games against the Montreal Canadiens, lost their Game 1 opener against the Hurricanes at Capital One Arena in overtime, blowing a third-period lead for a 2-1 defeat. Jaccob Slavin`s goal at 3:06 of the extra frame sealed the win for Carolina, marking their third overtime game in their last four.
The Golden Knights` postseason home record dropped to 2-2 following a 4-2 loss on Tuesday. Captain Mark Stone quickly gave Vegas a 2-0 lead with two goals within the first 10 minutes. However, the Oilers narrowed the gap late in the first period and scored three times in the third to take the initial lead in the series.
Edmonton enters Game 2 on a five-game winning streak, rebounding from losing the first two games of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. Impressively, the defending Western Conference champions have overcome deficits in all five wins, heading into the third period either trailing or tied in four of them.
Here are some valuable player prop bets to consider for Thursday`s playoff contests.
Recommended Player Props
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals: Anytime Goal Scorer (+165, bet365)
Despite being the NHL`s all-time regular-season goal leader, Ovechkin didn`t score in the series opener. He hasn`t gone consecutive games without a goal since mid-March and has only done so twice since late January. His next goal will be his 77th in the postseason, surpassing Mario Lemieux for 12th place on the all-time playoff list. The 39-year-old scored twice in three regular-season games against Carolina in 2024-25 and netted four goals during their 2019 seven-game playoff series.
Dylan Strome, Capitals: 1+ Assist (+100, FanDuel)
Strome achieved a personal best in 2024-25 with 53 assists and registered at least one in four out of five first-round games versus Montreal. The 28-year-old center is currently tied for sixth in playoff assists with seven, a significant jump from his two assists in his first 13 career playoff games. He recorded two assists in four regular-season meetings with the Hurricanes in 2024-25 and holds 11 assists in 22 career regular-season games against Carolina.
Connor McDavid, Oilers: Anytime Goal Scorer (+165, bet365)
The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner contributed two assists in Game 1 against the Golden Knights, marking his fourth multi-point game in seven postseason appearances this year. However, his goalless streak extends to four games, following a period last year where he scored five times over seven playoff games leading up to the Stanley Cup Final. The 2023 Maurice Richard Trophy recipient scored five goals in Edmonton`s six-game loss to Vegas in the second round last year and is seemingly due for a goal after setting up six over his last four outings.
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers: 2+ Points (+122, FanDuel)
Draisaitl is tied for fourth overall in the NHL with 12 points through seven playoff games this season. The 29-year-old German recorded his fourth multi-point effort in the series opener, scoring one goal and adding an assist. Draisaitl has achieved multiple points in 36 of his 81 career playoff games, including three of his seven contests against the Golden Knights.
