NHL Playoffs 2023: Top Storylines for April 25 Schedule

There weren't any sweeps during the first round of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. So no team has yet punched its ticket to the second round. But that could change Tuesday night.

The Carolina Hurricanes will look to become the first team to win a first-round series when they host the New York Islanders for a Game 5 matchup. Carolina took Games 1 and 2 at home and moved one win from advancing with its Game 4 victory on the road.

Two other Game 5 contests are also set to take place Tuesday, with both series tied at 2. The Dallas Stars are hosting the Minnesota Wild, while the Edmonton Oilers are hosting the Los Angeles Kings. The winners of those matchups will take 3-2 leads.

Here's everything else you need to know about Tuesday's NHL action.

April 25 Playoff Schedule

Jaylynn Nash

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 04: NHL logo on a goal net prior to the first period the game Carolina Hurricanes against the Ottawa Senators at PNC Arena on April 04, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)*

Game 5: New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Game 5: Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. ET, TBS

Game 5: Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Hurricanes Looking to End Series at Home

Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 19: Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal and celebrates with his teammates against the New York Islanders during the third period of Eastern Conference Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 19, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have won a playoff series each of the previous four years. It's not a surprise they're one win away from again advancing to the second round, as they finished first in the Metropolitan Division and have been favorited over the Islanders.

Still, Carolina needed to take care of business, and that's what it has done so far. The offense has been a bit inconsistent, but the Hurricanes are coming off a five-goal performance in Game 4 (which featured a pair of goals from Seth Jarvis) so they'll look to keep the momentum on that end of the ice going.

With three chances (if needed) to win just one game, Carolina is in a great spot. It would be a surprise if New York reels off three straight victories, something it hasn't done in more than a month. The Isles' last three-game winning streak came March 15-21.

Each of the past two years, the Hurricanes lost in the second round. They should get back there with an opportunity to go deeper this postseason.

Can Stars Keep Momentum Against Wild?

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DALLAS, TX APRIL 19: Joel Kiviranta #25 and Roope Hintz #24 of the Dallas Stars celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center on April 19, 2023, in Dallas, Texas (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Stars and Wild have alternated wins through the first four games of their series. Minnesota has won Games 1 and 3, while Dallas has taken Games 2 and 4. But with the Stars returning to their home ice for Game 5, they have an opportunity to seize the momentum.

An encouraging sign for Dallas in Game 4 was the bounce-back performance by goaltender Jake Oettinger. After the 24-year-old allowed four goals in the Stars' Game 3 loss, he had a 32-save performance in Game 4 in which he gave up only two goals, each of which came in the third period when Dallas already had a lead.

The Wild have scored 13 goals through the first four games, so the Stars likely will need another solid showing by Oettinger if they hope to take their first lead of the series. If he struggles early, Minnesota may run away with Game 5, like it did in its 5-1 win in Game 3.

The Wild haven't won a playoff series since 2015. If they fall behind 3-2 to the Stars, then there's a decent chance that drought will continue.

Will Oilers and Kings Need OT Yet Again?

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EDMONTON, ALBERTA - APRIL 19: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in Game Two of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 19, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Paul Swanson/NHLI via Getty Images)

Through the first four games of their first-round series, the Oilers and Kings have played a good bit of extra hockey. Three contests have needed overtime to decide a winner. Could there be a fourth in the Game 5 matchup?

Edmonton won 5-4 in OT on the road in Game 4, and it will now have an opportunity to take its first lead of the series on its home ice. Thus far, the two teams have alternated wins, with each of Los Angeles' victories coming in overtime.

There's also been a lot of offense in this series. Every game has had five or more goals, and both teams have scored multiple goals in each of the contests.

Plenty more scoring could occur Tuesday night. And perhaps the Oilers and Kings will once again need OT in this high-scoring, back-and-forth, entertaining series.