We slog into the end of the first week of marathon playoff hockey weary, tired and thoroughly entertained. Six games today and all six are elimination games, so it should be fun. Here’s what’s on tap for today’s games. We’ll use this as an open thread for today’s games.
New York Islanders (7) at Florida Panthers (10)
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Best of 5: New York leads 2-1
Time: 12:00pm ET
TV: NBCSN, NHL.TV, SN, TVAS, FS-F, MSG+
Team Sites: Litter Box Cats, Lighthouse Hockey
Florida finally found a way to break through the Islanders defense, but it was far from a dominant performance. They are likely going to need to keep that drive at a minimum as one would expect Barry Trotz will have his team laser focused on finishing the series off today and avoiding a deciding game five.
Nashville Predators (6) at Arizona Coyotes (11)
Rogers Place, Edmonton
Best of 5: Arizona leads 2-1
Time: 2:30pm ET
TV: NHL NETWORK, NHL.TV, SN360, FS-A, FS-TN
Team Sites: Five for Howling, On the Forecheck
After a spirited rebound in game two, Nashville fell flat in game three and now finds themselves facing elimination. There is still enough talent on this Predators team but the question is, is there any drive left after the long layoff and losing two of the first three games.
Pittsburgh Penguins (5) at Montreal Canadiens (12)
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Best of 5: Montreal leads 2-1
Time: 4:00pm ET
TV: NBCSN, NHL.TV, SN, TVAS, ATTSN-PT
Team Sites: Habs Eyes on the Prize, Pensburgh
In the co-surprise of the first round, the Pittsburgh Penguins (owners of the seventh best regular season record) find themselves on the brink of elimination after blowing a 3-1 lead early in the second period and surrendering a game winning goal to apparent Penguin kryptonite Jeff Petry. This has been a weird series so why not a weird ending.
Edmonton Oilers (5) at Chicago Blackhawks (12)
Rogers Place, Edmonton
Best of 5: Chicago leads 2-1
Time: 6:45pm ET
TV: NBCSN, NHL.TV, SN, NBCSCH
Team Sites: Second City Hockey, Copper & Blue
The other co-surprise is partly that this series is even going to a fourth game but more so that Edmonton is the one facing elimination. If we were told that through three games Connor McDavid would have five goals (and eight points), Leon Draisaitl would have three goals and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would have six assists no one would believe Edmonton was not at least leading the series. To be honest, I am not sure who to give more credit top Chicago’s lead though. Jonathan Toews (4 goals, 7 points) and Alex DeBrincat (6 assists) have lead Chicago offensively but Edmonton’s defense has probably had some role in that as well. If the Oilers can find a way to actually keep pucks out of their net there is no way Chicago is going to contain McDavid and Co. for two games, but that is a big if right now.
Toronto Maple Leafs (8) at Columbus Blue Jackets (9)
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Best of 5: Columbus leads 2-1
Time: 8:00 pm ET
TV: NHL NETWORK, CBC, TVAS, FS-O
Team Sites: The Cannon, Pension Plan Puppets
Toronto jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game three then proceeded to surrender four straight goals enroute to a crushing 4-3 loss in OT. It is gut check time for the Leafs against a very willing and able Blue Jackets team.
Vancouver Canucks (7) at Minnesota Wild (10)
Rogers Place, Edmonton
Best of 5: Vancouver leads 2-1
Time: 10:45 pm ET
TV: NBCSN, NHL.TV, SN, FS-N
Team Sites: Hockey Wilderness, Nucks Misconduct
The Canucks are starting to roll a little now as they blanked Minnesota 3-0 yesterday in game three, with Quinn Hughes picking up the Helper’s Hat Trick and Elias Pettersson scoring his first goal of the series. It was always a big ask for the Wild to contain the Canucks young stars and it just feels like it might be a little to tough of an ask at this point for them to do it for two straight elimination games.
