The first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continued on Tuesday night with four games. Here are some key takeaways from Tuesday’s action. 

Panthers played like champions in 2025 playoff debut

The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning finally opened their first-round series on Tuesday night. The Panthers used it to deliver an emphatic message that they are still the cream of the crop in the NHL, and a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

They jumped all over Tampa Bay in a 6-2 win that was highlighted by a pair of goals from both forward Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman Nate Schmidt.

Tkachuk’s performance was especially important because he was a game-time decision all day and there was some doubt as to whether or not he would be on the ice.

He was, and he was one of the best players out there on every shift.

Florida has been the best and most successful team in hockey since the start of the 2021-22 season, winning a Presidents’ Trophy, two Eastern Conference titles and a Stanley Cup over that stretch. It is going for its third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance this season, and if Tuesday’s game is any indication of what is ahead it just might get back there. 

Max Domi’s redemption

Maple Leafs forward Max Domi did not have a great start to Tuesday’s Game 2 against the Ottawa Senators, and was looking like a player that could have been playing his way into a healthy scratch at some point in the series. But things can change rapidly in the NHL, and especially in the playoffs, and they did for both Domi and the Maple Leafs.

He went from early game liability to late game hero when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime of their 3-2 win over the Senators.