Florida Panthers claw back, Winnipeg Jets in shambles, and Toronto Maple Leafs on the Brink as NHL Playoffs go off the rails

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have entered chaos mode. With each of the four second-round series hanging in the balance, the narratives have swivelled from dramatic to flat-out cinematic. Underdogs are fighting back, superstars are shrinking under pressure, and goalies once considered unmatched are now fluttering. Here's a breakdown of the latest from this crazy postseason ride, where no lead is ever safe, and each game writes a new script.
Toronto Maple Leafs lose grip as Florida Panthers roar back
The Florida Panthers are showing everyone exactly why they won the Cup last year. Down 3-0 in the series to the Toronto Maple Leafs, they came storming back in Game 3 with a breathtaking 5-4 overtime victory—and followed that up with a 2-0 shutout on Sunday. The best-of-seven is now tied up at 2-2, and the onus is squarely on Toronto to halt the freefall.
Auston Matthews is still scoreless in the series, and though injuries are certainly a consideration, the Leafs can't have any more 'what ifs'.
Alex Ovechkin Mute as Carolina Hurricanes Swallow Washington Capitals
Washington's largest asset has fallen silent. Alex Ovechkin has notched zero points in the first three games of the series against Carolina, and it is telling. The Hurricanes, persistent and productive, lead 2-1 as play moves on to Raleigh for Game 4.
The Capitals' special teams have been particularly vicious, with no road power-play goals and a penalty kill in shambles. If that does not start changing soon, the top-seeded Caps might be facing an early flight home.
Winnipeg Jets grounded by Dallas Stars , Connor Hellebuyck reeling
In the West, Winnipeg's horror show persists. Even after a dominant regular season, they're behind the Dallas Stars 2-1 after allowing five goals in each of their away defeats. Vezina finalist goalie Connor Hellebuyck is anything but elite, and Dallas fans have been chanting "Otter's better!" in favor of Jake Oettinger.
Adding insult to injury: Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen is on a scoring tear with 17 points in six games. If Hellebuyck can't recover in Game 4, the Jets' record season will end in spectacular disappointment.
Edmonton Oilers hang on while chaos reigns
The Edmonton Oilers lead the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, but it hasn't been pretty. Following a fluky OT victory in Game 2 and a come-from-behind attempt that came up just short in Game 3, Edmonton is facing a Vegas team that may be missing captain Mark Stone for Game 4.
But leaky goaltending on both ends — Stuart Skinner for Edmonton and Adin Hill for Vegas — makes this the most volatile series on the board. One thing's for sure: strap yourself in for goals and drama.
Also read: NHL under fire after Mason Marchment hits referee and receives no suspension
With all series still on the table, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are giving fans everything they could dream of — and more than some teams can handle. Whether it's veterans going silent, goalies cracking under the pressure, or defending champions mounting comebacks, the next few nights hold nothing less than pure hockey chaos.