The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have intensified, with teams on the brink of elimination. The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning faced their exit on Wednesday, while four teams, including the Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings, are poised for potential heartbreak on Thursday night, each down 3-2 in their series. Conversely, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers are one win away from advancing to the next round.

In game previews, the Maple Leafs struggle in clinching games, historically falling short despite their talented roster led by the Core Four. The Senators' Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle have shined in the playoffs, creating a formidable challenge for Toronto. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights and Wild face off with a 79% series win rate for Game 5 victors. Mark Stone is closing in on the franchise's playoff goal record, while Jack Eichel seeks to elevate his performance from the regular season.

In the Dallas Stars versus Colorado Avalanche showdown, historical data favors the Stars when leading 3-2, but the Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon remains a significant threat with his postseason performance. Lastly, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings series showcases a scoring race led by stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, while Calvin Pickard's goaltending change has made a notable impact for the Oilers.