Wednesday features a three-game schedule in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both the top-seeded Washington Capitals and the defending champion Florida Panthers are aiming to close out their Eastern Conference first-round series. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets, winners of the Presidents` Trophy, seek to take control in their Western Conference matchup against the St. Louis Blues.
Washington is trying to secure its first playoff series win since 2018, hosting Montreal in Game 5 holding a 3-1 lead. In Game 4, the Canadiens were close to tying the series, leading late, but Washington scored four goals in the third period, including two by Brandon Duhaime, to win 5-2 and take a commanding lead.
Florida travels to Tampa Bay hoping to eliminate the Lightning in Game 5, mirroring last year`s first-round result. The Panthers also mounted a third-period rally in Game 4, scoring three quick goals late to overcome a deficit and win 4-2.
However, Florida will again be without defenseman Aaron Ekblad. After returning from a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, Ekblad played in Game 4 but received a new two-game ban from the league for elbowing Tampa Bay`s Brandon Hagel in the head.
The series between the Jets and Blues has seen the home team prevail so far. Winnipeg won the first two games at home, while St. Louis took the next two on their ice. In Game 4, after conceding the first goal, St. Louis dominated, scoring five goals and chasing goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (two-time Vezina winner and 2025 finalist) for the second consecutive game en route to a 5-1 victory. St. Louis has significantly outscored Winnipeg (13-5) in the last three games after losing the opener 5-3.
Building on a five-day streak of successful postseason prop bets, here are some player props worth considering for Wednesday`s playoff contests.
Recommended Player Props for Wednesday
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals – Anytime goal scorer (+110, bet365)
Despite Washington scoring five times in Game 4 against Montreal, Ovechkin didn`t find the net. The NHL`s all-time leading regular-season goal scorer had already scored twice in Game 1 and once in Game 3 of the series. The 39-year-old nine-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner rarely goes consecutive games without a goal, having scored 14 times in his last 19 outings. As the Capitals look to close out the series, expect Ovechkin to be a key factor and likely score.
Sam Reinhart, Panthers – Anytime goal scorer (+200, DraftKings)
Reinhart has a history of scoring multiple goals in each series, including three goals in last year`s five-game first-round series against Tampa Bay. He scored in the first game of the current series but hasn`t found the net since. With Florida aiming to advance on Wednesday, Reinhart is a strong candidate to break through against Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Aleksander Barkov, Panthers – 1+ assist (+106, FanDuel)
The Panthers captain has been setting up teammates consistently, recording at least one assist in 11 of his last 11 games, dating back to the regular season. He last failed to register an assist in back-to-back games in March. In the current series, his only game without an assist was Florida`s 5-1 loss in Game 3. Barkov has a strong track record against the Lightning, with 45 assists in 66 career games, including 14 in 19 playoff matchups.
Cam Fowler, Blues – 1+ assist (+146, FanDuel)
Fowler is having an excellent series for St. Louis, currently tied for fifth in the NHL with eight points this postseason. He had a standout performance in Game 3`s 7-2 win over the Jets, recording a goal and four assists, becoming the eighth defenseman to achieve at least five points in a playoff game. Fowler is on a five-game assist streak, starting from the last regular-season game, and has accumulated nine assists in this span and 14 over his last 17 playoff contests.
