NHL Playoffs Daily 2023 – Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens finally ready for battle

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The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t performed since Might 14. The Montreal Canadiens haven’t performed since Might 12. However now that the North Division’s common season has lastly come to an finish, it’s lastly time for these rivals to hit the ice for Recreation 1 of their extremely anticipated collection.

Tonight additionally brings pivotal Recreation 3s within the Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Islanders and Vegas Golden Knights-Minnesota Wild collection, and the Florida Panthers hope to get again on monitor within the Battle of Florida in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Take a look at the ESPN NHL Playoffs Day by day to catch up day by day of the postseason till the Stanley Cup is handed out in July.

Extra: Playoff schedule | Playoff Central

Thursday’s video games

Recreation 3: Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning | 6:30 p.m. (Lightning lead 2-0)

Sergei Bobrovsky began Recreation 1. Chris Driedger began Recreation 2. The Panthers are down 0-2. So do they flip to possibility No. 3, rookie Spencer Knight, in Recreation 3? In all probability not, because it’s anticipated Driedger might get the crease once more vs. the Lightning. But when Florida loses once more? It’s gotta be Knight time.

Recreation 3: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders | 7 p.m. (Tied 1-1)

The Islanders return to Nassau Coliseum to play in entrance of round 7,200 followers within the final days of the previous barn earlier than they relocate to a brand new constructing at Belmont Park for subsequent season. “It simply will get me excited to get to the Coli. That’s the largest factor. It was good to play in entrance of followers once more. I feel we’re allowed a little bit bit extra for our subsequent sport and it’ll be enjoyable and loud in there and hopefully we will have a begin like they did,” mentioned Scott Mayfield. The large query: Will Evgeni Malkin swimsuit up for the Penguins to play in entrance of that crowd?

Recreation 1: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs | 7:30 p.m.

For the primary time in 42 years, these two Unique Six franchises will battle within the playoffs. “Like Yankees-Pink Sox, I suppose, in a approach. Loads of wealthy historical past on this league over the past 100-plus years,” mentioned Auston Matthews of the Leafs. (Properly, it’s like Yankees-Pink Sox circa 1999, on the very least.) The Leafs have been 7-2-1 in opposition to Montreal within the common season, averaging 3.40 objectives per sport and giving up a median of two.50 objectives per sport. Collection preview.

Recreation 3: Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild | 9:30 p.m. (Tied 1-1)

The Wild want extra from their two massive offensive gamers, Kevin Fiala and rookie sensation Kirill Kaprizov. They’ve each had some high-danger probabilities, however haven’t been in a position to tally a degree within the collection. Fiala has 10 photographs on objective. Kaprizov has 5. The excellent news: Minnesota had the second highest goals-per-game common (3.61) within the common season at dwelling. The dangerous information: The Golden Knights had the very best highway protection (2.21 objectives in opposition to per sport) within the NHL.

About final night time

Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (2OT) (Bruins lead 2-1)

Ilya Samsonov returned to the Capitals’ crease for the primary time since Might 1, having spent a while on the NHL’s COVID-19-related absences record. He performed nicely, backstopping the Capitals to double additional time with a 40-save effort. However this miscommunication with defenseman Justin Schultz that resulted in Craig Smith’s objective to win Recreation 3 at 5:48 of the second additional session rightfully despatched Washington captain Alex Ovechkin right into a tirade on the bench.

“He did an incredible job for us tonight. If he didn’t stand on his head, we in all probability wouldn’t have gotten to that time. I feel he ought to know that, however that’s undoubtedly one thing we’ll speak about,” mentioned the Capitals’ John Carlson. Full recap.

Carolina Hurricanes 3, Nashville Predators 0 (Canes lead 2-0)

The followers chanted “Ned!” for rookie goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, whose 32-save shutout gave the Hurricanes a 2-0 lead over the Predators of their collection. Sebastian Aho scored twice for Carolina. “It begins with the recent goalie,” Aho mentioned. “You’ve acquired the arrogance to place the stress on their gamers. We all know in the event that they make a play, ‘Ned’ will bail us out.” The Predators couldn’t capitalize on a powerful sport from Juuse Saros, who made 28 saves. However with Nashville going 0-for-7 on the facility play and going 0-for-10 for the collection, he’s not getting the offensive help. Defenseman Jaccob Slavin missed the sport with a lower-body harm for Carolina. Full recap.

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Sebastian Aho scores the primary two objectives of the Hurricanes’ 3-0 Recreation 2 win vs. the Predators.

Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 1 (Jets lead 1-0)

The Jets have been short-handed, lacking offensive stars Nikolaj Ehlers and Pierre-Luc Dubois. They have been going through an Edmonton workforce that beat them seven out of 9 video games within the common season, and going through Oilers star Connor McDavid, who had 22 factors in opposition to the Jets this season. So, naturally, they shut down McDavid, get a stellar 32-save effort from Connor Hellebuyck and get a objective from Dominic Toninato at 9:14 of the third interval to interrupt a 1-1 tie and cause them to a surprising Recreation 1 win. “It’s playoff hockey; it’s tight,” mentioned Oilers coach Dave Tippett. “They acquired a break on the profitable objective and the primary empty-net objective, it hits the referee. That’s the way in which issues go.” Full recap.

Colorado Avalanche 6, St. Louis Blues 3 (Avs lead 2-0)

Nathan MacKinnon tallied a hat trick and added an help whereas Joonas Donskoi had two objectives and an help within the Avalanche’s 6-3 win over the Blues. However the sport was extra attention-grabbing than the ultimate rating. The Blues had their routine interrupted by a collection of false optimistic COVID-19 exams from a U.S.-based lab, forcing gamers into isolation till their exams got here again adverse. However that meant goalie Jordan Binnington had no apply time earlier than the sport. Then, within the third interval, the sport was turned the other way up when Nazem Kadri of Colorado was ejected for successful to the pinnacle of Blues defenseman Justin Faulk. Brayden Schenn scored throughout the five-minute main penalty to chop the result in 3-2, however that was as shut because the Blues would get. “We’ve gotta discover a approach to defend higher. It was simply too straightforward for them,” mentioned Blues heart Ryan O’Reilly. The Blues additionally misplaced defenseman Robert Bortuzzo on what seemed to be an elbow from Colorado’s Tyson Jost. Full recap.

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Nathan MacKinnon data a hat trick as Colorado doubles up St. Louis 6-3.

Three stars of the night time

1. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets

There was a load of stress on him to hold the Jets in Recreation 1 since they have been short-handed, and he made 32 saves to assist cause them to victory. “We imagine he’s the very best goaltender within the league, so that offers us a ton of confidence,” mentioned captain Blake Wheeler. “It’s his birthday, he’s getting a little bit bit older, so that you guys are going to have to start out bugging him about his age.” Approach to go, old-timer (Hellebuyck turned 28 on Wednesday).

2. Nathan MacKinnon, F, Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche star now leads the postseason with seven factors, together with 5 objectives on 10 photographs. MacKinnon’s playoff hat trick was the fourth in Avalanche historical past.

3. Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Carolina Hurricanes

Ned made 10 of his 32 saves on the penalty kill, which was the true key in Recreation 2 because the Predators had seven energy performs. “All the blokes within the PK did an incredible job. The No. 1 star was in all probability Ned. He was a stud tonight,” mentioned defenseman Brady Skjei. “To have a superb PK, you want your goaltender enjoying nicely. He was phenomenal tonight.”

Possible suspension of the day

Colorado heart Nazem Kadri has been suspended 5 earlier occasions by the NHL — together with twice within the playoffs, in consecutive seasons for the Maple Leafs — and it’s arduous to fathom that this hit on Justin Faulk gained’t lead to his sixth.

“That’s a really harmful hit. It’s acquired to be a suspension,” O’Reilly mentioned. “He’s a repeat offender. It’s utterly uncalled for. That’s terrible to see.”

Quote of the day

“Did we watch the identical sport?”

— Predators coach John Hynes, after getting questions that have been essential of his workforce’s efforts.

End of the day

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Taylor Corridor is ready to put the puck at the back of the web after spectacular talent in entrance of objective.

Taylor Corridor with the spectacular spin transfer to attain one other playoff objective for the Bruins.

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