Updated 2025 NHL Playoff Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 22

The arrival of Tuesday's NHL playoff schedule means the first round is now completely underway.

The series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lighting was the final one to start and the headliner in a four-game slate. There were also three Game 2's on the docket as teams continued to jockey for early positioning in the opening round.

Here is a look at all of Tuesday's scores and action.

Tuesday's Scores/Schedule

Game 2: Carolina Hurricanes def. New Jersey Devils, 3-1 (CAR leads 2-0)

Game 2: Toronto Maple Leafs def. Ottawa Senators, 3-2 OT (TOR leads 2-0)

Game 1: Florida Panthers def. Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2 (FLA leads 1-0)

Game 2: Minnesota Wild def. Vegas Golden Knights, 5-2 (series tied 1-1)

Eastern Conference

Toronto Maple Leafs 2, Ottawa Senators 0 (Game 3 on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET)

Florida Panthers 1, Tampa Bay Lightning 0 (Game 2 on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Washington Capitals 1, Montreal Canadiens 0 (Game 2 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET)

Carolina Hurricanes 2, New Jersey Devils 0 (Game 3 on Friday at 8 p.m. ET)

Western Conference 

Vegas Golden Knights 1, Minnesota Wild 1 (Game 3 on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles Kings 1, Edmonton Oilers 0 (Game 2 on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET)

Winnipeg Jets 2, St. Louis Blues 0 (Game 3 on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET)

Colorado Avalanche 1, Dallas Stars 1 (Game 3 on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET)

Minnesota Wild def. Vegas Golden Knights, 5-2

Kirill Kaprizov had the second multi-goal game of his playoff career to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to even their Western Conference series at one game apiece.

Minnesota wasted no time taking control of things with three goals in the first 17 minutes of the opening period. Kaprizov's first point was on an incredible assist to Matt Boldy, who found the net for the third time already in the series.

The three goals turned out to be enough for the Wild, though they would tack on a goal each in the second and third periods.

Filip Gustavsson had a terrific game to help Minnesota even the series. He stopped 30 of 32 shots. It was a nice bounce-back effort after he allowed three goals in the Game 1 loss.

Carolina Hurricanes def. New Jersey Devils, 3-1

The New Jersey Devils needed a quick start after dropping Game 1, and they received just that thanks to Jesper Bratt's goal in the first four minutes.

However, that initial momentum proved to be short-lived.

The Carolina Hurricanes answered back with two goals in the second period. The first came from Shayne Gostisbehere, while the second felt like a moment that could resonate over what may prove to be a short series.

New Jersey went on the power play with the chance to take the lead just for Carolina to come away with the short-handed goal. Jordan Martinook broke free seconds into the power play and buried a shot in the back of the net to give the Hurricanes the lead heading into the third period.

The second-period goals put the onus on the Carolina defense and goaltender Frederik Andersen to preserve the narrowest of leads. The group was up to the task, as the home team turned away a third-period power play and kept the Devils off the board following the initial goal.

Andersen saved 25 of the 26 shots he faced, and the Hurricanes are now in full control of the series after Seth Jarvis' empty-netter iced it.

Toronto Maple Leafs def. Ottawa Senators, 3-2 OT

The Toronto Maple Leafs cruised to a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators in Game 1, and it looked like Game 2 would be more of the same with a lightning-quick start out of the gates.

Morgan Rielly and John Tavares each scored in the first period with the latter's goal coming on a power-play opportunity and assists from Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews. Tavares scoring a goal that was assisted by Matthews and Marner was one way for the Maple Leafs to show off their firepower, but the Senators battled back this time.

Their defense started playing better after Toronto consistently picked the blue line apart to start the series, which then led to opportunities on the offensive end.

Brady Tkachuk took advantage of one of those chances to cut the deficit in half with a second-period goal, and Adam Gaudette found the back of the net for the equalizer in the third period in front of a stunned Toronto crowd.

But Ottawa's momentum didn't carry over to the extra period.

Max Domi scored the overtime winner and sent the Toronto crowd into celebration mode as his team took a 2-0 advantage in the series.

Florida Panthers def. Tampa Bay Lightning, 6-2

Home-ice advantage proved important in the first two games on Tuesday.

Not so much in the opener in the battle for Florida.

The Florida Panthers jumped all over the Tampa Bay Lightning on the way to a 6-2 victory to both seize home-ice advantage and set the tone. Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart scored in the first period before an offensive onslaught in the second period that saw goals from Nate Schmidt and Matthew Tkachuk.

Tkachuk scored twice in the period, which was all the more impressive because it was his first game back since he suffered a lower-body injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

He looked as fresh as ever and spearheaded Florida's high-octane attack.

The Panthers weren't done, as Schmidt scored his second goal of the game in the third period just for good measure. It was a statement performance, and they surely hope it carries over to the next contest.