Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes as teammate defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) clears Tampa Bay center Brayden Point (21) in the first period during game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amailie Arena in Tampa Bay on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast:

#1 Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 19 shots and the Panthers went onto shutout the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in the first round of the Eastern Conference at Amalie Arena on Thursday night in game 2 of the series. The Panthers now take a 2-0 series lead.

#2 The Toronto Maple Leafs have taken a 3-0 lead in their series against the Ottawa Senators. The Leafs edged the Senators 3-2 in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night. The Leafs Simon Benoit scored at 1:19 in the overtime stanza to get the Leafs the win.

#3 The Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov scored two goals for the second consecutive game. The Wild now take a 2-1 lead in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating Vegas Golden Knights 5-2 at the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night. Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy each scored goals. Goaltender Filip Gustavsson stopped 30 shots.

#4 The St Louis Blues Pavel Buchenvich got a hat trick scoring three goals it was Buchenvich’s first career playoff hat trick who also picked up an assist as the Blues landslide the Winnipeg Jets in game 3 with a 7-2 win in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the win the Blues take a 2-1 series lead.

Len Shapiro does the NHL Playoff podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com