NHL East playoffs feature Ovechkin's 2nd Cup chase, a Sunshine State showdown and battle of Ontario

Alex Ovechkin has a new chase to focus on in trading his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record for a second Stanley Cup title as he and the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Washington Capitals prepare to open the playoffs against Montreal.

The defending champion Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are set for their latest all-Florida faceoff. Toronto and Ottawa are rekindling their provincial playoff rivalry. And then there’s the matter of the Carolina Hurricanes seeking to overcome their string of playoff shortfalls, with the New Jersey Devils first up.

All that was missing in the East — aside from a New York team for just the second time since the league's expansion era began in 1967 — was Washington awaiting an opponent, with the Canadiens out-racing the Columbus Blue Jackets to clinch their spot as the eighth seed on Wednesday.

Of more concern in D.C., perhaps, is the Capitals regaining their groove after limping down the stretch with a skid of losses.

“We obviously can score goals but we need to be sharper in our D-zone,” defenseman Martin Fehervary said of the Capitals, who are 4-6-1 in their past 11, including a 7-0 loss at Columbus. “Those details are really important and need to be sharper.”

No matter who they faced, the Capitals are favored following their sixth season with 50 or more wins while no longer having to deal with the hype involving Ovechkin.

“Him getting the goals record is incredible to say the least,” goalie Charlie Lindgren said. “What we do in the playoffs is what matters. That’s the most important thing.”

Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs are surging into the postseason, appearing ready and eager to put behind their decadelong past of early playoff exits. Toronto won eight of nine and outscored its opponents by a combined 28-12 in clinching its first Atlantic Division title.

“Obviously, we can’t change what’s happened in the past. I think you wear that,” Matthews said of a team that’s advanced beyond the first round just once in its past nine playoff appearances.

“I feel really confident in this group,” he added. “Earning our division here is a big step for us. But we just want to push forward.”

Bolstering the Leafs' confidence is adopting a more responsible defensive style under first-year coach Craig Berube, who led St. Louis to the Cup in 2019. There’s also the emergence of journeyman goalie Anthony Stolarz, who is 12-3-1, including eight wins in a row with three shutouts, since missing a 24-game stretch with a knee injury.

In avoiding the division’s usually tough 2-3 matchup, the Leafs rekindle their Battle of Ontario playoff rivalry with Ottawa.

In Carolina, the Hurricanes have the talent but not the consistent playoff results. Qualifying for the postseason in each of coach Rob Brind’Amour’s seven years, Carolina has lost the East finals twice and been bounced in the second round three times, including last year.

“We always have confidence — it’s been a tough couple of bounces the last few years," forward Seth Jarvis said. “Especially in the playoffs when it gets tighter, you can’t be giving other teams a lot of chances and it’s tough to score, so I think that bodes well for us.”

Not much separates the Lightning and Panthers, who have combined to win three of the past five Cups. The teams are meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, with Tampa Bay winning the first two and Florida last year.

“Certainly the eyes in Florida and the fans in both cities will be wired into it, so it’s great for hockey,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said.

The good news in Florida is the possibility of Matthew Tkachuk’s return after being sidelined by a lower-body injury during 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is due to return in Game 3 after serving a 20-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy

The Lightning are making their 11th playoff appearance in 12 years under coach Jon Cooper but first over that span without captain Steven Stamkos, following his departure in free agency last year.

“For sure he’s missed and never forgotten,” Cooper said of Stamkos. "But he’s not with us now, so we’ve found a way to move on without him. But there was definitely some growing pains.”

Ottawa qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017 under first-year coach Travis Green, who is very familiar with the Battle of Ontario history. He played for the Leafs in 2001-02, when Toronto rallied to eliminate Ottawa in a seven-game second-round series.

“Exciting is downplaying it a little bit,” Green said. “Really everything you want in a playoffs series, and players are going to love it. Fans are going to love it.”

The Devils also feature a new coach in Sheldon Keefe, making just their third playoff appearance since losing the Stanley Cup Final to Los Angeles in 2012. New Jersey will be without star center Jack Hughes (shoulder surgery) but welcomed back defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who returned Wednesday after getting knocked out of the lineup by a lower-body injury in early March.

The Canadiens, meantime, are ahead of GM Kent Hughes' rebuilding timetable and feature a young but relatively untested playoff core from the team that lost to Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

First round: Washington beats Montreal in six; Toronto beats Ottawa in five; Florida beats Tampa Bay in seven; Carolina beats New Jersey in six.

Second round: Carolina beats Washington in six; Toronto beats Florida in seven.

Conference final: Toronto beats Carolina in seven.

AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno, AP freelance writers Joe Yerdon and Erik Erlendsson and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

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Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20), Cole Caufield (13) and Patrik Laine (92) celebrate after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in NHL hockey action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Allen McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)

Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green looks on during second period NHL hockey action against the Chicago Blackhawks, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

New Jersey Devils left wing Erik Haula, right, celebrates toward teammates after scoring a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, center, celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with teammates Seth Jarvis (24) and Brent Burns (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart, second from left, reacts after scoring a goal against New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 14, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with center Brayden Point (21) and center Yanni Gourde (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) celebrates his goal with center Auston Matthews (34) and left wing Matthew Knies (23) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Washington Capitals' Dylan Strome, right, and Alex Ovechkin, left, celebrate with teammates after Strome scored a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The season over, Stephen Curry stopped before making his way out of Chase Center for a handshake and long embrace with Draymond Green.

These two longtime teammates are committed to making another championship run together, and now with Jimmy Butler by their side, knowing there might not be too many opportunities left.

Curry expressed sadness at how Golden State's season ended, with him on the bench unable to help because of a hamstring injury.

The Warriors were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 121-110 Game 5 loss Wednesday night in the Western Conference semifinals — Golden State's fourth straight game without Curry because of a strained left hamstring since he was hurt in the second quarter of Game 1 last week.

At 37 and with 16 NBA seasons to his name, Curry realizes NBA titles and postseason berths are no longer guaranteed and that there could only be a handful of chances remaining for him, Butler, Green and with Steve Kerr as coach.

“All we wanted was a chance, and to finish the year like we did, to sneak in the playoffs and win that first round, there’s a lot to be proud of for sure, considering where we were,” Curry said. “But definitely disappointed, and frankly just sad that I wasn’t out there able to play. We have hopefully a bright future in terms of coming back next year and trying again.”

Where the Warriors were only three months ago was searching for answers — until general manager Mike Dunleavy pulled off acquiring Butler at the trade deadline from Miami in a move that sent Andrew Wiggins to the Heat.

Butler led the way on both ends of the floor, even more so during Curry's recent absence.

“I’m completely content with who I am as a basketball player, the way that I play the game,” he said. “And to come here and know that I’m second to Steph, I think that’s a really good thing, actually, when you talk about one of the greatest players ever to play this game.”

Golden State wound up 29-15 since Butler's first game Feb. 8 at Chicago, 23-8 in the regular season, a play-in win against Memphis and 5-7 through two playoff series.

Butler blended into the system beautifully, and he's not convinced this core group has a two-year window to win it all.

“Yeah, and then if we win some, it could be longer than that because I still think that we have a lot of great basketball left ahead of us,” he said. “I don’t think this age thing is anything the way that everybody is taking care of their bodies, doing right. I think the potential is there.”

Everybody is eager to have a training camp together, even with changes expected during the summer and free agency period. Forward Jonathan Kuminga's future is one of the biggest pressing questions of the offseason as he is expected to become a restricted free agent in July.

“I haven't thought about anything yet,” said Kuminga, the team's seventh overall draft pick in 2021.

For now, Curry plans to take a basketball break and focus on family. He averaged 24.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds playing 32-plus minutes per game.

If people are calling him the old guy these days, he's fine with that.

“One, it’s an ultimate compliment because it’s part of the level that you’re playing at. Like, 'Oh, he’s still doing it at this age,’” Curry said. "Two, it’s a reminder of your basketball mortality and appreciating every moment that you have. That’s why the way this ended was emotional as it was, not being able to play in those big games because you don’t know how many more opportunities you will have.

“But I think the difference on and off the court, like seeing my family and seeing my kids grow and opportunities off the court, it allows me to just have fun and appreciate this chapter of my life as much as possible, knowing that hopefully the next chapter is as great, but this one I’m trying to get every bit of fun and experience and squeeze as much juice out of this as possible.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) looks on near the bench during the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry, right, and Buddy Hield react to a missed shot in the second half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry speaks during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's facility in San Francisco, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry speaks during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's facility in San Francisco, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry listens during a news conference at the NBA basketball team's facility in San Francisco, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)