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.

Which eight teams will advance to the second round of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs? USA TODAY weighs in with first-round predictions.