Capitals, Panthers Advance in NHL Playoffs; Jets Lead Series

The Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers both advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs, each clinching their first-round series with 4-1 victories. The Capitals overcame an early offensive push from the Montreal Canadiens, with Alex Ovechkin scoring first and goaltender Logan Thompson making key saves to secure a 4-1 win. Washington's victory marks their first playoff series win since 2018, and they will now face the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round. Meanwhile, the Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3, rallying from an early deficit and pulling away with strong performances from Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and others. Florida will play the winner of the ongoing Toronto Maple Leafs–Ottawa Senators series. Both teams relied on standout individual efforts and solid defense to advance in the highly competitive Eastern Conference playoffs.