The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs begin on April 19. The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL's top overall seed, having finished the regular season with the most points in the standings, and the Washington Capitals earned the No. 1 seed in the East.

But this time there's a twist. In 2021 and 2022, the Lightning were the defending Stanley Cup champion; this time the Panthers are. Each time the two teams have faced each other, the winner of the series has gone on to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

There are two NHL games today. The puck drops on Monday’s NHL playoffs schedule at 7:00 PM ET with the Tampa Bay Lightning vs Florida Panthers on ESPN. Closing out the NHL games tonight, it’s the Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN.