This year's first-round matchups feature some key rematches from last season, including the defending champion Florida Panthers facing in-state rival Tampa Bay Lighting and last year's runner-up Edmonton Oilers facing the Los Angeles Kings for the fourth year in a row.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have secured their first win of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. At first, the Florida Panthers looked on track for a third straight dominant win when Matthew Tkachuk opened scoring less than three minutes into the first period. The Lightning answered late in the first thanks to a slick setup from Nikita Kucherov.

NHL Playoff Predictions 2025: Which West Teams Win Round 1? Expect An Upset The first-round matchups are finalized for the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of THN.com playoff predictions.