The primary collection to get rolling options the 2 remaining groups from the Atlantic Division, because the Florida Panthers go to the Toronto Maple Leafs (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Learn on for a sport preview with statistical insights from ESPN Analysis, a recap of what went down in Sunday’s sport and the three stars of the primary spherical from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Sport 1 | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN
ESPN BET has put in the Panthers because the favorites within the collection at -175, whereas the Maple Leafs are +150 to win the collection in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The Panthers gained the regular-season collection 3-1 by an combination rating of 13-7. A significant component in these 4 video games was the Panthers’ energy play, which transformed 5 of 11 probabilities (45.5%). For comparability, the Leafs’ energy play transformed solely certainly one of 9 alternatives (11.1%).
That is the second time these golf equipment have met within the postseason; the opposite time was additionally the second spherical in 2023. Florida eradicated Toronto in 5 video games, punctuated by an extra time win in Sport 5. (Nick Cousins scored the objective.)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Steven Lorentz and Anthony Stolarz gained the Stanley Cup with the 2024 Panthers. The one earlier playoff collection in NHL historical past through which three gamers dressed in opposition to a crew with which they gained a Cup through the earlier season was when Los Angeles Kings teammates Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley skated in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers in 1989.
The Panthers have gained extra playoff video games (39) since 2021 than they did of their first 26 seasons (19). Their 39 wins and 66 video games performed within the postseason since 2021 lead the NHL.
Florida’s postseason goal-scoring leaderboard options present gamers by means of the highest 4 spots: Carter Verhaeghe (28), Sam Reinhart (23), Aleksander Barkov (20), Matthew Tkachuk (20).
That is the Leafs’ ninth straight postseason look, which is the longest lively streak within the NHL and tied for the second longest in franchise historical past. That different nine-year streak resulted in 1967 with a Stanley Cup win.
Toronto captain Auston Matthews is tied with Darryl Sittler for seventh in franchise historical past in playoff targets, with 25. His subsequent objective will push him right into a tie for fifth, with Steve Thomas and George Armstrong. Wendel Clark is atop the leaderboard, with 34.
Arda’s three stars from Spherical 1
Rantanen had 12 factors within the first spherical to assist the Stars get rid of his former crew the Avalanche. He had a number of Stanley Cup playoff firsts alongside the best way, together with the primary Sport 7 with a third-period hat trick (“The Rantanen Sport”).
McDavid put the crew on his again many occasions through the collection in opposition to the Kings, particularly early. He completed with 11 factors within the collection, because the Oilers despatched the Kings residence within the first spherical for the fourth straight season.
The netminder allowed two targets or fewer in 4 of the Caps’ 5 video games in opposition to the Canadiens, incomes a .922 save share.
Sunday’s rating
Winnipeg Jets 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (2OT)
WPG wins 4-3, performs DAL in Spherical 2
The Blues raced out to a fast 2-0 lead within the first interval — on targets by Jordan Kyrou and Mathieu Joseph — and plenty of thought this could possibly be one other unhealthy playoff reminiscence for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Although the Jets bought one again within the second off the stick of Cole Perfetti, Blues middle Radek Faksa scored with underneath a minute left within the interval, giving them a 3-1 lead heading into the third.
St. Louis carried that lead into the ultimate two minutes, when the Jets furiously rallied; Vladislav Namestnikov scored at 18:04, and Perfetti deflected within the game-tying objective with three seconds remaining. The groups fought arduous by means of the primary 36 minutes of OT, earlier than Adam Lowry tipped Neal Pionk’s shot from the purpose previous Jordan Binnington for the series-clinching tally. Full recap.
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