Updated 2025 NHL Playoff Bracket, Schedule and Top Highlights from April 28

Monday was a lighter slate in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with just two first-round games, but there was plenty on the line.

In the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers had the opportunity to seize full control of their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning by taking care of business at home in Game 4. A win would mean a 3-1 series lead, while a loss would mean everything was tied heading back to Tampa Bay.

In the Western Conference, the back-and-forth series between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars hit a major turning point with Game 5 after the two teams split the first four contests.

Here is a look at how it all unfolded.

Stanley Cup Playoffs Results: Monday, April 28

Game 4: Florida Panthers def. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2 (Florida leads 3-1)

Game 5: Dallas Stars def. Colorado Avalanche, 6-2 (Dallas leads 3-2)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule: Tuesday, April 29

Game 5: Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto leads 3-1), 7 p.m. ET

Game 5: New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (Carolina leads 3-1), 7:30 p.m. ET

Game 5: Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights (Series tied 2-2), 9:30 p.m. ET

Game 5: Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings (Series tied 2-2), 10 p.m. ET

Florida Panthers def. Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2

What a difference 11 seconds can make.

It seemed like the Lightning were going to even their series against the Panthers at two games apiece when they took a 2-1 lead into the third period and benefited from an offside call that wiped Florida's equalizer off the board.

And then chaos broke out.

Aaron Ekblad scored the tying goal with fewer than four minutes remaining before Seth Jones found the back of the net to take the lead for good a mere 11 seconds later.

Carter Verhaeghe put the game on ice with an empty-netter from there, and the sudden swing put the Lightning on the brink of elimination.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced to keep the Panthers within striking distance despite Tampa Bay goals from Mitchell Chaffee and Erik Cernak.

That set the stage for the dramatic finish and a night the Florida crowd won't soon forget.

Dallas Stars def. Colorado Avalanche, 6-2

There was far less drama in the day's second game.

Dallas wasted no time setting the tone with a Wyatt Johnston goal within the first 10 seconds. It never relinquished the lead, which expanded to 2-0 after Thomas Harley's first-period goal and 3-0 when Mikko Rantanen found the back of the net early in the second period.

Colorado battled back with the next two goals (Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon) just for the Stars to immediately answer with goals from Johnston and Mason Marchment in the second period.

The 5-2 score held for much of the third period until Roope Hintz added the exclamation mark.

While there was no shortage of offensive fireworks in the contest, Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger stood strong for most of the game and turned away 27 of the 29 shots he faced. His presence was especially important in the third period as the home team protected its lead.

Now the Stars will look to close the series out on the road in Thursday's Game 6.