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After a tough 6-2 loss in Game 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning are heading into Thursday’s matchup with a renewed sense of urgency. With the Florida Panthers having snatched home-ice advantage in dominant fashion, Game 2 becomes a critical opportunity for the Lightning to reset, respond, and prevent a daunting 2-0 series hole. Before you bet on Game 2 or any NHL playoff clash, elevate your strategy with the most reliable NHL expert picks and playoff predictions. Tampa Bay was stunned by the Panthers in the opener — not so much by volume, but by efficiency. Florida scored six goals on just 17 shots, including three power-play tallies, turning a tightly contested series opener into a lopsided result. The penalty

The Toronto Maple Leafs are inching toward a milestone that has long eluded them: winning a playoff series with relative ease. With a 2-0 series lead against the Ottawa Senators, Toronto now holds a golden opportunity to solidify their grip on this first-round matchup as Game 3 shifts to Ottawa. It’s no secret that playoff success has been scarce for the Maple Leafs over the past two decades. Since 2005-06, they’ve advanced beyond the opening round just once — in the 2022-23 campaign, when they overcame the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. That ended a near 20-year drought dating back to their last series win in 2003-04, with the 2004-05 season lost to a lockout. Now, Toronto appears poised

With the series now tied 1-1, the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild are setting their sights squarely on Game 3 — a crucial matchup that could tip the balance in this fiercely contested first-round clash. As the series shifts to Saint Paul, both teams are pledging to remain focused on the immediate challenge rather than the bigger picture. After splitting the opening games in Las Vegas, the series now transforms into a best-of-five showdown, with the Wild holding home-ice advantage moving forward. For Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, the message to his team is simple — stay in the present. The emphasis is on precision and discipline — and most importantly, avoiding costly mistakes with the puck. For the

The New York Knicks head into Game 3 of their first-round series against the Detroit Pistons looking for answers — and more offense — after a disappointing Game 2 loss. With the series tied 1-1 and shifting to Detroit on Thursday night, the Knicks will need Karl-Anthony Towns to find his rhythm and help Jalen Brunson, who has carried the scoring load thus far. Karl-Anthony Towns scored just 10 points in Game 2 on limited touches — taking only three shots in the second half and none in the fourth quarter. Coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t worried about the shot count but acknowledged adjustments are needed. The Knicks’ offense has been heavily reliant on Brunson, who scored 37 points in Game