2025 Stanley Cup second-round betting guide - Props, picks, futures - ESPN

The NHL will drop the puck on the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Monday night, when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the defending champion Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs are seeking to break the longest championship drought in the NHL, while the Panthers dispatched their in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. A team from Florida has made the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past five seasons.

Elsewhere in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes head north to take on the Metropolitan Division-winning Washington Capitals. That series will start Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference semifinals.

With the matchups set, Sean Allen (East) and Victoria Matiash (West) provide their best picks in each series, along with picks for the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoffs MVP).

All times ET. Odds accurate as of time of publication. For latest odds and markets, go to ESPN BET.

Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 1: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario; Monday, 8 p.m.

Game 1 puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-265), Panthers -1.5 (+190)

Series winner: Maple Leafs (+150), Panthers (-175)

Series length: Four games (+600), five games (+270), six games (+200), seven games (+180)

Best bets: The Maple Leafs had some demons to exorcise in Round 1, and while it was touch and go for a few moments, they got there in the end. The Panthers won the season series 3-1, but this series should be about as good as we've come to expect… and the difference is going to come in the margins.

While both teams have two scoring lines that can match up well, it might be the rest of the forward group that pushes the momentum. Anton Lundell, Brad Marchand and Eetu