More: Florida Panthers are set to defend their first Stanley Cup championship Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Nate Schmidt opened the scoring with his third goal of the ...

Hockey fans, the most wonderful time of the year has arrived: the Stanley Cup playoffs. And the 2025 version might be as good as ever, with what looks like a wide-open race going into the postseason.

The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are here. 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 ...