Search the Community

(D1) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Stars: 52-21-9 113 points Golden Knights: 45-29-8, 98 points SEASON SERIES: DAL: 0-1-2; VGK: 3-0-0 GAME BREAKERS: Stars: It starts with Jason Robertson, who led them in scoring for the second straight season. Robertson's numbers are down from his career-high 109-point season (46 goals, 63 assists) in 2022-23, but you could probably credit the Stars' balanced scoring to that more than any drop-off issues. Robertson had 80 points (29 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games. He also led the Stars with 28 power-play points. At 24, Robertson, born one month after the Stars last won the Stanley Cup in 1999, continues to be one of the most dynamic young players in the NHL. Golden Knights: This is a close argument between leading scorer Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel, who's next, but let's go with Eichel. Despite missing 19 games this season, Eichel has 68 points (31 goals, 37 assists), second to Marchessault with 69 points (42 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games. Eichel leads Vegas with seven game-winning goals and 11 power-play goals. He also led the 2023 playoffs in scoring with 26 points (six goal, 20 assists) in 22 games. GOALTENDING: Stars: Jake Oettinger had some rough spots earlier in the season, but found his game late in the season. He was 35-14-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and three shutouts in 54 games (53 starts). Oettinger was spectacular in the 2022 playoffs, with a 1.81 GAA and .954 save percentage in seven games but had a 3.06 GAA and .895 save percentage in 19 playoff games last season. Backup Scott Wedgewood went 16-7-5 with a 2.85 GAA and .899 save percentage in 32 games (28 starts) during the regular season. Golden Knights: Vegas has gotten similar strong work from each of its goalies. Logan Thompson is 25-14-5 with a 2.70 GAA, .908 save percentage and one shutout in 46 games (42 starts). Adin Hill, who led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup last season, is 19-12-2 with a 2.71 GAA, .909 save percentage and two shutouts in 35 starts. Who gets the nod in the playoffs? The Golden Knights alternated between the two over the final six games of the regular season. X FACTORS: Stars: Jamie Benn had 60 points, including 21 goals, in 82 games this season and has sneaky upside heading into the playoffs on a strong third line with Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven. The Stars captain is one of six Dallas players to hit the 60-point mark this season. He additionally has significant lineup placement on their top power-play unit with Pavelski, Robertson, Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen. Benn ranked second on the team in power-play points (22). Dallas ranked third in the NHL in goals per game during the regular season (3.59) and had the sixth-best power-play percentage (24.2). Last postseason, Benn had 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 17 playoff games. -- Anna Dua Golden Knights: Tomas Hertl has played only six games with his new team after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks in a trade on Mar. 8, but has four points (two goals, two assists). The forward had 34 points, including 15 goals, in 48 games with San Jose this season prior to the trade. He has proven production ability that increases the depth of the Golden Knights, having had back-to-back 60 points seasons between 2021-22 (64 points, 30 goals) and 2022-23 (63 points, 22 goals). Hertl also had 15 points, including 10 goals in 19 postseason games with the Sharks in 2018-19 when they reached the Western Conference Final. He is seeing top unit power-play time with Eichel, Marchessault, William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. -- Anna Dua WILL WIN IF: Stars: They keep doing what they did at the end of the regular season. The Stars were playing complete games through the final weeks, getting great contributions from goaltending on out. They're going to need that against the Golden Knights. If this series is anything like last year, the Stars need to be able to win overtime games. They were 1-4 in overtime last postseason, including losing each of the first two games against Vegas. Golden Knights: Health is on their side. Stone had 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) in 56 games in the regular season and was a big part of the Cup-winning team last season with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 22 games. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has missed seven straight games and 13 of the past 15 with an illness. Forward William Carrier, who was out the final 11 games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury, has been skating. If the Golden Knights get them back, it would certainly give them a boost against the Stars. MORE:

(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Bruins: 47-20-15, 109 points Maple Leafs: 46-26-10, 102 points SEASON SERIES: BOS 4-0-0; TOR 0-2-2 GAME BREAKERS: Bruins: David Pastrnak is the Bruins' most dynamic scorer, finishing fifth in the NHL with 110 points and leading Boston by 43 points over Marchand. It marked the second straight season he's gotten at least 110 points (113 last season). Pastrnak had 47 goals and 63 assists, including 35 points on the power play. He has scored more than a point per game in the playoffs, (35 goals, 44 assists in 77 games), including the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. Maple Leafs: It had been 31 seasons since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny each scored 76 goals in 1992-93. Though Matthews just missed 70 goals, his 69 were the most since Mario Lemieux scored 69 in 1995-96. Matthews is clearly the gamebreaker on a team full of offensive stars. He had 107 points in 81 games, a new NHL career high. He has 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists) in 50 playoff games, including 11 (five goals, six assists) last season when he reached the second round for the first time. GOALTENDING: Bruins: Goaltending is their biggest strength. They boast a 1A/1B tandem that no one can match, with Ullmark, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, and Jeremy Swayman. Ullmark went 22-10-7 with a 2.57 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 40 games (39 starts), including 6-3-0 with a 1.90 GAA and .935 save percentage in nine games since the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline on March 8. Swayman went 25-10-8 with a 2.53 GAA and .916 save percentage in 44 games (43 starts). It is unknown, so far, who will start Game 1 and, beyond that, how the Bruins will use their goalies. Maple Leafs: Ilya Samsonov is likely to start for the Maple Leafs. He was 23-7-8 with a 3.13 GAA, .890 save percentage and three shutouts in 40 games, a season so up-and-down he required a break and reportedly considered retirement. He was placed on waivers Dec. 31 and recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League on Jan. 10. Samsonov has 17 games of postseason experience and is 5-10 with a 3.06 GAA and .902 save percentage, including 4-4 in nine games last season with a 3.13 GAA and .898 save percentage. Behind him is Joseph Woll, who went 12-11-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .907 save percentage in 25 games (23 starts). X FACTORS: Bruins: Thanks largely to Charlie Coyle's NHL career highs in goals (25) and points (60), the Bruins maintained their regular-season dominance after Bergeron and Krejci retired. The 32-year-old has performed well in the playoffs as a third-line center; he had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 24 games during their Cup Final run in 2019 and six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games of the 2022 postseason. But Coyle and fellow center Pavel Zacha will have their most difficult assignment of their playoff careers against Maple Leafs centers Matthews and Tavares. Maple Leafs: Tyler Bertuzzi was elevated to Matthews' line down the stretch and bounced back from a slow start with 21 points (14 goals, seven assists) over his final 26 games. Toronto signed Bertuzzi to a one-year contract to bring a different element to its forward group come postseason time, and he faces his former team after he had 10 points (five goals, five assists) during Boston's seven-game loss to Florida in 2023. Bertuzzi also has a high goal-scoring ceiling considering he had 30 in 68 games for the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-22. WILL WIN IF: Bruins: Their goalie -- or goalies -- play at their best. Both can steal games and they'll need to do exactly that because the Bruins will struggle to match the Maple Leafs goal-for-goal in a high-scoring affair. Maple Leafs: Their offense takes over. Few teams can equal the Maple Leafs in terms of pure scoring potential with the combination of Matthews, William Nylander, Marner and Tavares. If that quartet is scoring in bunches, Toronto takes the series. MORE:

(D1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Panthers: 52-24-6, 110 points Lightning: 45-29-8, 98 points SEASON SERIES: FLA: 2-1-0, TBL: 1-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Panthers: Forward Sam Reinhart had a breakout season scoring 57 goals, which shattered his previous NHL career high of 33 in 2021-22. He scored 27 of Florida's 63 power-play goals and was tied with forward Matthew Tkachuk with 55 even-strength points. Among those to play at least 60 games, he led the NHL with a 24.5 percent shooting percentage. He's also defensive-minded, ranking second among Panthers forwards in plus-minus (plus-29) behind captain Aleksander Barkov (plus-33). Lightning: How could it be anyone but Nikita Kucherov? The forward has had a season for the ages, leading the NHL with a career-high 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists). He now has the three most productive seasons in Lightning history (128 points in 2018-19, 113 in 2022-23). He's the first Eastern Conference player with at least 144 points in a season since Mario Lemieux (161) and Jaromir Jagr (149) for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96. How dominant is Kucherov? He has 54 more points than Tampa Bay's second-leading scorer, Brayden Point (90). GOALTENDING: Panthers: It's almost hard to believe that Alex Lyon and not Sergei Bobrovsky began the 2023 playoffs as the starter. Once Bobrovsky was in goal, he dominated, going 12-6 with a 2.78 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and one shutout, including a 12-game run between Game 5 of the first round against the Bruins and Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Hurricanes, when he faced 465 shots and made 438 saves to go 11-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .942 save percentage. He followed that up this season by going 36-17-4 with a 2.37 GAA, .915 save percentage and six shutouts in 58 games. His backup was Anthony Stolarz, who was 16-7-2 with a 2.03 GAA .925 save percentage and two shutouts in 27 games (24 starts). Lightning: In a recent poll among NHL players, they were asked which goalie they would want on their team if they had to win one game. Almost half (46.92 percent) picked Vasilevskiy. And why not? In 110 postseason games, he's 65-42 with a 2.27 GAA, .921 save percentage and seven shutouts. Since the Lightning were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2019 first round, Vasilevskiy is 50-27 with a 2.21 GAA and .924 save percentage in the postseason. When he's on his game, there may not be a better goalie in the League. He has two Stanley Cup titles and three straight trips to the Final to prove it. X FACTORS: Panthers: Florida started the season without injured defensemen Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad, but Gustav Forsling held down the fort, led the NHL in plus/minus (plus-56) and ranked ninth in shot-attempts differential (plus-444). The Panthers outscored the Lightning 15-9 and outshot them by an average of 37-25 during the regular season, when Forsling had three points (one goal, two assists). With Tampa Bay often outscoring its problems and lack of depth without injured defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, Florida needs Forsling to help dictate possession dominance early and often and lead the penalty-kill efforts against the best power play in the NHL. -- Pete Jensen Lightning: Forward Brandon Hagel thrived whether playing on the top line with Kucherov and Point or the second unit with Stamkos, ranking eighth in the NHL in even-strength points (66). Hagel also had NHL career highs in assists (49), points (75) and shots on goal (184). But with limited production over his first two postseasons (11 points in 29 games), Tampa Bay will count on Hagel to provide more depth scoring to offset Florida's offense, which was second in shots on goal per game (33.7) behind the Edmonton Oilers (33.9). Hagel had three points (one goal, two assists) in three games against the Panthers this season. -- Pete Jensen WILL WIN IF: Panthers: Tkachuk plays like Tkachuk. He proved to be the ultimate clutch performer in the run to the Final last season, and it's not a stretch to expect more of the same. Though Reinhart and Bobrovsky will no doubt be in the spotlight for Florida, Tkachuk is the one who makes this team go. And if he gets going, they will advance. Lightning: Their top players score. When the Lightning lost the first round in six games to the Maple Leafs last season, Kucherov (one), Stamkos and Point (two each) combined for five goals. Anthony Cirelli and Alex Killorn combined for six (three each). If those three can get going, it would spell bad news for Florida. MORE:

(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points SEASON SERIES: EDM: 3-1-0, LAK: 1-2-1 GAME BREAKERS: Oilers: Connor McDavid has accomplished practically everything left to accomplish in the regular season and is on the quest for playoff success. The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's leading scorer and three-time Hart Trophy winner as League MVP had another outstanding season with 132 points (32 goals, 100 assists) in 76 games. McDavid became the fourth player to have at least 100 assists in a season. What has eluded the NHL's most dynamic player is the Stanley Cup. Kings: Anze Kopitar is the heart and soul of the Kings and has plenty of game left. The 36-year-old had another strong season with 70 points (26 goals, 44 assists) in 81 games. Playing in his 18th NHL season, the two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014) knows how to win and will be crucial to Los Angeles' success in the series. Kopitar is the Kings top center and will likely get a heavy dose of McDavid in the series, particularly in games at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Kopitar can still hold his own with the best in the NHL and if he has a big series, could help Los Angeles get past Edmonton. GOALTENDING: Oilers: Stuart Skinner was given the responsibly to be the undisputed starter this season when Jack Campbell was assigned to Bakersfield of the American Hockey League on Nov. 7, and has made the most of the opportunity. In his second full season, Skinner has gone 36-16-5 with a 2.62 goals against average and .905 save percentage in 59 games (57 starts). Skinner started every playoff game for the Oilers last season and is looking to build on that experience. Backup Calvin Pickard was 12-7-1 with a 2.45 GAA and .909 save percentage in 23 regular-season games (20 starts). Kings: Cam Talbot rejuvenated his career in Los Angeles and is heading back into the playoffs as a starter. In his first season with the Kings, Talbot played in the NHL All-Star Game and was 27-20-6 with a 2.50 GAA and .913 save percentage in 54 games (52 starts). The Kings will need Talbot to have a strong series against his former team and if he falters, they will turn to David Rittich, who also had a strong season as the backup, going 13-6-3 with a 2.15 GAA and .921 save percentage in 24 games (22 starts). X FACTORS: Oilers: Corey Perry was brought in by Edmonton in large part because of his playoff experience. Perry is a Stanley Cup winner with the Anaheim Ducks (2007) and went to three consecutive finals with three different teams (Dallas Stars, 2020; Montreal Canadiens, 2021; Tampa Bay Lightning, 2022). Perry had 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 38 games with the Oilers after he had his contract terminated by the Chicago Blackhawks, and was his typical agitating self toward opponents. The Oilers hope the 38-year-old forward can be a factor in a long playoff run this postseason. Kings: Quinton Byfield was selected by Los Angeles with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. Byfield had a breakout season with 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 80 games. The 21-year-old forward is immensely talented and can dominate with his strength and speed. Edmonton had difficulty containing Byfield this season. He had six points (two goals, four assists) in four games against the Oilers and is expected to be a handful again in the playoffs. WILL WIN IF: Oilers: They can play a patient game and not get frustrated by the Kings and their trapping system. The success Edmonton has had against Los Angeles this season and in the previous two playoffs comes from its ability to take care of the puck and not turn it over in the neutral zone trying to circumvent the trap. Getting the puck in behind the Kings defense and cycling it in the corner will be key to the Oilers success. If they can do the little things well, take care of the puck and stay out of the penalty box, they should be able to get past the Kings for a third consecutive time in the first round. Kings: They can grind the game down to a slog and stifle Edmonton's speed through the neutral zone. The Kings make opponents work for every inch of space on their own side of the ice and expect to do the same against the Oilers. Los Angeles will get its chances off the rush through turnovers in the neutral zone and needs to make the most of them. Talbot will need to be very good, and the penalty kill needs to continue its success into the playoffs. Los Angeles cannot afford to spend too much time in the penalty box; Edmonton's power play features two of the best offensive players in the game in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, along with a 54-goal scorer in Zach Hyman. MORE:

(1P) Vancouver Canucks vs. (1WC) Nashville Predators REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Canucks: 50-23-9, 109 points Predators: 47-30-5, 99 points SEASON SERIES: VAN: 3-0-0, NSH: 0-3-0 GAME BREAKERS: Canucks: Quinn Hughes arguably was the most dominant defenseman in the NHL this season, leading players at his position with 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists) in 82 games, and was plus-38 while averaging 24:41 of ice time per game. The 24-year-old did some of his best work at even strength, with his 54 points in such situations first among defensemen. He was on the ice for 108 goals at even strength, second among defensemen to Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers (112), and his plus-41 even-strength goal differential was fourth. And when Hughes was on the ice the Canucks averaged 56.4 percent of the shots at 5-on-5. Simply put, whenever Hughes was on the ice, the Canucks had the puck and likely were creating something offensively. Predators: Forward Filip Forsberg had the best offensive season of his 12 in the NHL, setting a Nashville record with 48 goals and finishing with 94 points (46 assists), a personal high. He also scored an NHL career-high 11 game-winning goals, tied with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett for second in the League, and his three overtime goals were tied for the lead. GOALTENDING: Canucks: Demko looked ready for the postseason after returning to the lineup with 39 saves in a 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, his first game since March 9 because of a knee injury. After struggling last season with a groin injury that kept him out for more than two months, Demko has been mostly healthy this season and played like a top goalie in the NHL, going 35-14-2 with a 2.45 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and five shutouts. Backup Casey DeSmith was reliable at times, going 4-5-1 with a 2.94 GAA and .888 save percentage while starting 10 of 14 games Demko was out, but the Canucks' fortunes will ride with Demko's play. Predators: Juuse Saros had what could be considered an off season but only by his outstanding standards. Discounting his one game in 2015-16, Saros' 2.86 GAA was the highest of his nine-season NHL career, and his .906 save percentage was the lowest. He also allowed eight goals on 48 shots in losing both of his starts against the Canucks. But Saros has the ability to raise his game at big moments, with a .914 save percentage in the playoffs that's not far off his .917 regular-season percentage for his career. Kevin Lankinen was solid (11-6-0, 2.82, .908) in 24 games (17 starts) as the backup, but the wild card could be rookie Yaroslav Askarov, widely regarded as the NHL’s top goalie prospect. In his only start this season he made 26 saves in a 3-2 shootout win against the Washington Capitals that included saves on Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin in the tiebreaker. If Saros struggles, could Brunette turn to the 21-year-old for an energy boost? X FACTORS: Canucks: Forward Elias Lindholm has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 26 games with Vancouver after being acquired in a trade from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 31. Lindholm has bounce-back potential during the playoffs as he had 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 49 games with Calgary prior to the trade. He at least finished on a bit of a roll with five points (two goals, three assists) in six games to close the regular season and is seeing top-six ice time and significant power-play usage. Predators: Gustav Nyquist was third on the Predators with an NHL career-high 75 points (23 goals, 52 assists) in 81 games. He has been a fixture on the top line with Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly, who was second to Forsberg with 26 goals. With Predators having struggled against the Canucks during the regular season, Nyquist being effective on their top line and first power-play unit will be necessary for Nashville to offset Vancouver's elite offense. WILL WIN IF: Canucks: They don't get caught up in the moment. Most of the core was in place in 2020 when they made a surprise run, but there were no fans in the bubble. Now they'll be the favorite and under pressure from what certainly will be a sold-out Rogers Arena, packed with fans with huge expectations. It can be a bit much for a group that's never experienced it, but the focus will have to be on staying even-keeled through the highs and lows that come with postseason hockey. Predators: Saros can carry his strong play from late in the regular season into the playoffs. He was 15-3-3 with a 2.51 GAA and .916 save percentage in his final 21 games, allowing two goals or fewer in 13 of them. The Canucks can attack in waves, so the Predators will need their No. 1 goalie to play like a star if they are to have any hope of advancing. MORE:

(D2) Winnipeg Jets vs. (D3) Colorado Avalanche REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Jets: 52-24-6, 110 points Avalanche: 50-25-7, 107 points SEASON SERIES: WPG: 3-0-0, COL: 0-3-0 GAME BREAKERS: Jets: Mark Scheifele continues to be one of the steadiest contributors in the NHL and led Winnipeg with 72 points (25 goals, 47 assists) in 74 games this season. That includes 18 power-play points, third on the Jets behind forward Kyle Connor and defenseman Josh Morrissey, who each had 19. The 31-year-old is averaging 0.97 points per game this season, the eighth consecutive season he's averaged more than 0.85 points per game. Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon had another tremendous season. The center reached 50 goals for the first time in his career, and his 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) were second in the NHL behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (144 points), and set a single-season Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record. GOALTENDING: Jets: Hellebuyck continues to be one of the best goalies in the NHL. The 30-year-old has once again gotten a bulk of the workload, going 37-19-4 with five shutouts in 60 games this season. Among goalies to play at least 30 games, he led the NHL with a .921 save percentage and was third with a 2.39 goals-against average. It won't be surprising if he's once again a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie voted best in the NHL, which he won in 2019-20. He was a finalist in 2017-18, and again last season. Backup Laurent Brossoit was 15-5-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .927 save percentage and three shutouts in 23 games. Avalanche: Alexandar Georgiev has had his struggles this season; the 28-year-old was 38-18-5 with a 3.02 GAA, .897 save percentage and two shutouts in 63 games (62 starts). It's likely not a question of workload, because he had the same last season when he was 40-16-6 with a 2.53 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 62 games. It's just that the consistency hasn't been there. Backup Justus Annunen was 8-4-1 with a 2.25 GAA, .928 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 games. X FACTORS: Jets: Nikolaj Ehlers was limited to one playoff game last season because of injury when Winnipeg lost to Vegas. This season, the forward tied Scheifele for the Winnipeg lead in even-strength points (54), and he led the Jets with 233 shots on goal. He could continue to be a crucial secondary scorer and beneficiary of Winnipeg's trades for forwards Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan. Ehlers had five points (one goal, four assists) in three games against the Avalanche this season. -- Pete Jensen Avalanche: Valeri Nichushkin was on a leave of absence for the final five games of Colorado's first-round series last season, when it lost in seven games to Seattle. Nichushkin nearly averaged a point per game (53 points in 54 games) this season but missed time while in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and also because of an injury later in the season. With Nichushkin, the Avalanche are better positioned for another deep playoff run; he had 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 20 postseason games to help them win the Cup in 2022, including six points (four goals, two assists) in six games during the Stanley Cup Final. -- Pete Jensen WILL WIN IF: Jets: They can hold off the Avalanche's high-powered offense. They've done well in that capacity during the regular season, but the playoffs are different. Colorado is going to be hungry, especially after the lopsided loss to Winnipeg in the final week of the regular season. The Jets will need everyone playing great defense in front of Hellebuyck. Avalanche: If Georgiev rights the ship. Colorado checks off a ton of boxes. But its goaltending is the big question mark. If Georgiev gets his consistency back, the Avalanche will advance to the second round. MORE:

(2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3M) New York Islanders REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Hurricanes: 52-23-7, 111 points Islanders: 39-27-16, 94 points SEASON SERIES: CAR: 2-1-1, NYI: 2-1-1 GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Jake Guentzel, the marquee acquisition prior the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, was brought in to provide more offensive depth. The price was huge; the Hurricanes gave up forward Michael Bunting, forward prospects Vasily Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, and Cruz Lucius, a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft for Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith. The payoff has been bigger. Guentzel has settled in on the top line and has 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 17 games. Sebastian Aho, his center, has 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) in the same span. Islanders: Mathew Barzal is the most skilled player on the team and, not surprisingly, he is their leading scorer. The forward has 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games this season, the only point-per-game player on the roster. But it's not just his points, it is the speed at which he plays the game that gives fits to opponents. He can put a defense on its back foot and change a game plan. The Hurricanes will have to account for him each time he is on the ice. GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: Carolina has not had a bona fide No. 1 goaltender in recent memory. Frederik Andersen played 52 games in 2021-22, the first Carolina goalie to play more than 50 games since Cam Ward played 61 in 2016-17. Since, they have been a platoon team, which has been a boon in the regular season and a struggle in the postseason. It's more of the same this season with no clear-cut favorite to start. Four goalies started games this season: Pyotr Kochetkov (40 games), Antti Raanta (20), Andersen (16) and Spencer Martin (six), but now it is a 1a-1b situation with Kochetkov and Anderson. Kochetkov went 23-13-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and four shutouts. Anderson, out long-term with a blood-clotting issue, is 9-1-0 with a 1.30 GAA, .951 save percentage and three shutouts since returning on March 4. Islanders: A late-season charge by Semyon Varlamov has unseated Ilya Sorokin as the No. 1 goalie. In his past 10 starts, Varlamov is 8-1-1 with a 2.09 GAA and a .930 save percentage. It's likely that Roy will go with the hot hand in Varlamov over Sorokin, who played in the All-Star Game last season when he was also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. Varlamov played in 33 postseason games for the Islanders from 2019-21, going 18-14 with a 2.31 GAA and .922 save percentage. Sorokin played every minute against the Hurricanes in the first round last season and went 2-4 with a 2.60 GAA and .920 save percentage. X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov did not play in 2023 postseason after having surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee but the forward bounced back this regular season; he tied for the second-best points per game average of his NHL career (0.88; 52 points in 59 games) and is an important secondary scorer considering Carolina has been playing Guentzel on the top line with Aho. Svechnikov's goal-scoring upside (30 in 2021-22) makes him a potential difference maker. Islanders: Noah Dobson had a breakout season with an NHL career-high 70 points (10 goals, 60 assists) in 79 games, seventh in the League among defensemen, but has missed the past three games because of an upper-body injury. Dobson ranks sixth among defensemen in assists this season and second at the position in primary assists (35) behind Roman Josi (38) of the Nashville Predators. Given the Islanders issues on special teams, Dobson's health and level of play at each end of the ice is crucial to their chances of upsetting the Hurricanes. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: They stick to the game plan. They are superior to the Islanders in almost every facet and have dominated the League for long stretches this season. Their plus-63 goal differential is the second-best in the League behind the Florida Panthers and their 216 goals against is fourth-best. They are deep, they are talented and they are disciplined. They haven't beaten themselves much this regular season and don't want to start in the postseason. Islanders: They figure out how to generate more offense, especially on their power play. New York averages 2.99 goals per game, the second-lowest output of any of the teams that qualified for the postseason behind the Washington Capitals (2.63). The Islanders drew 231 power-play opportunities, the fifth-lowest in the League and scored on 47 (20.4 percent). Among playoff teams, only the Winnipeg Jets (19.1) and Vegas Golden Knights (20.1) had worst conversion rates. MORE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS GAME #2 — 4/20/23 @ Location: Prudential Center — Newark, NJ Time: 7:30 PM TV: TBS, SN360, TVAS2, MSG 2, MSGSN2, MSGSN Radio: 98.7 FM, 107.1 FM, 710 AM, Sirius XM USEFUL LINKS: Coverage: @NYP_Brooksie • @StapeAthletic • @ColinSNewsday • @vzmercogliano • @MollieWalkerr Team Official: @NYRangers • NYR on Instagram Official Team Websites: nhl.com/rangers • nhl.com/devils GameCenter - here Series Preview - here SERIES SCHEDULE: Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Chris Kreider (2) Adam Fox (4) Adam Fox (4) Filip Chytil, Adam Fox, Kappo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, Ryan Lindgren (+2) Adam Fox, Tyler Motte, Vincent Trocheck, Jacob Trouba (2) K'Andre Miller (21:20) Chris Kreider (19:40) Starting Lineup:^ Chris Kreider A / Mika Zibanejad A / Patrick Kane Artemi Panarin A / Vincent Trocheck / Vladimir Tarasenko Alexis Lafreniere / Filip Chytil / Kaapo Kakko Barclay Goodrow A / Tyler Motte / Jimmy Vesey Ryan Lindgren / Adam Fox Jacob Trouba / K'Andre Miller Niko Mikkola / Braden Schneider ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Igor Shesterkin GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 1 1-0 .964 1.00 0 Healthy Scratches: Jonny Brodzinski, Louis Domingue, Libor Hajek, Ben Harpur Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: N/A Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Jack Hughes (1) N/A (0) Jack Hughes (1) Nico Hischier (-3) Erik Haula, Michael McLeod, Miles Wood (2) Damon Severson (21:32) Jack Hughes (22:17) Starting Lineup:^ Tomas Tatar / Nico Hischier / Dawson Mercer Ondrej Palat / Jack Hughes / Jesper Bratt Timo Meier / Erik Haula / Jesper Boqvist Miles Wood / Michael McLeod / Nathan Bastian Jonas Siegenthaler / Dougie Hamilton Ryan Graves / John Marino Kevin Bahl / Damon Severson ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Vitek Vanacek GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 1 0-1 .818 4.03 0 Healthy Scratches: Luke Hughes, Curtis Lazar, Yegor Sharangovich Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: Jonathan Bernier [IR] — Hip QUOTE(S) TO NOTE: “This time of year, it’s just one game at a time. The game is over with, it was a good win for us, but that’s in the past. You’ve got to get ready today, you come in and have a light skate and a light practice and get ready for [Thursday]. That’s what it’s going to be, stay at the same level. Doesn’t matter who’s winning 1-0, it’s about winning the series.” — Gerard Gallant GIF to RIP AND TEAR:

(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers Sat., June 3: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS Mon., June 5: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS Thu., June 8: Golden Knights at Panthers; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS Sat., June 10: Golden Knights at Panthers; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS *Tue., June 13: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS *Fri., June 16: Golden Knights at Panthers; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS *Mon., June 19: Panthers at Golden Knights; TNT, TBS, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 1-1-0; FLA 1-1-0 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Jack Eichel is playing in his first Final, eight years after he was selected by the Buffalo Sabres with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, behind Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid. Eichel has found a home in his second season with the Golden Knights and leads them with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 17 playoff games. He leads a balanced offense for the Golden Knights, who have six players with at least 14 points during the postseason. Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 16 playoff games after an NHL career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 regular-season games. A Hart Trophy finalist as most valuable player in the NHL, Tkachuk scored four goals in the four-game sweep against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, including two in overtime, and the series clincher with 4.9 seconds left in the third period of Game 4. He is considered a candidate to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: Adin Hill took over as the starter after Laurent Brossoit sustained a lower-body injury 11:44 into Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Oilers. Hill, one of five goalies used by the Golden Knights this season, began the season fourth on the depth chart behind Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson and Brossoit and in front of Jiri Patera. Lehner missed the entire season after undergoing hip surgery. Hill, playing in the playoffs for the first time, is 7-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 11 games (nine starts). Panthers: At this point, it is hard to fathom Sergei Bobrovsky did not start the playoffs as the No. 1 goalie for Florida, backing up Alex Lyon through the first three games against Boston. Bobrovsky replaced Lyon during Game 3 and helped upset the Bruins, who took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series before the Panthers rallied to advance. Bobrovsky is 11-2 with a 2.21 GAA and .935 save percentage in 14 games (13 starts) and is a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Karlsson is their best defensive forward and could see a lot of ice time against Tkachuk. He usually is matched against opponents' top offensive threat. Karlsson did a masterful job in the second half of the second-round series against McDavid and was instrumental in limiting Stars center Roope Hintz to two assists in the final five games of the West Final. Panthers: Forward Sam Bennett is making a huge impact in the playoffs at both ends of the ice. He has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) and delivered a massive hit on Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin 1:25 into the first period of Game 4 of the East Final, which set the tone for the game. Selected No. 4 by the Calgary Flames in the 2014 NHL Draft, Bennett has rejuvenated his career since being traded to Florida on April 12, 2021. He had been a healthy scratch toward the end of his tenure in Calgary. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: They continue to dominate 5-on-5. The Golden Knights have scored 62 goals in 17 games during the playoffs, and 49 have come 5-on-5, the most of any team. They have nine power-play goals and two at 4-on-4, along with two empty-net goals. They roll four lines, all of which are capable of scoring, and have seven forwards with at least 11 points. Hill has also been outstanding since taking over from Brossoit. He has a .937 save percentage, and if he can maintain that number, the Golden Knights will be tough to beat. Panthers: Bobrovsky keeps up his outstanding play and is able to steal a game or two. The Golden Knights have the most balanced attack in the playoffs and have made Connor Hellebuyck of the Jets, Stuart Skinner of the Oilers and Jake Oettinger of the Stars look extremely ordinary. Tkachuk continues to come up with big goals, has had an outstanding season and has become the go-to pick for games going into overtime. MORE:

(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (2C) Dallas Stars REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 0-1-2; DAL 3-0-0 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Jack Eichel, in his eighth NHL season, appears to be getting comfortable in his first go round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 26-year-old center leads the Golden Knights with 14 points and is tied for the team lead with six goals (Chandler Stephenson). Eichel had a huge series against the Oilers with nine points (three goals, six assists) that all came in Vegas' four wins. The Golden Knights are 7-0 when Eichel gets on the scoresheet and 1-3 when he gets doesn't in the playoffs. Stars: At 38, Joe Pavelski is still getting it done for the Stars. The forward enters the conference final on a goal a game pace with eight in eight, including three game-winners, tied for the most in the playoffs with Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. Pavelski also has two assists for 10 points. He's a heart and soul leader for the Stars and one of the most impactful scorers. This is also Pavelski's fourth time facing the Golden Knights in the playoffs (2018 and 2019 with the San Jose Sharks, 2020 with the Stars). His teams are 2-1 and he has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 19 postseason games against them. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: It looks like it's going to be Adin Hill's series and there's no doubt the 27-year-old has earned it. Hill was forced into action in the first period of Game 3 against Edmonton because Laurent Brossoit sustained a lower-body injury. It was the beginning of the best and most impactful goaltending we have seen from Hill in his six-year NHL career. He allowed four goals on 33 shots in a 4-1 loss in Game 4, his first start in more than two months. Hill rebounded to become arguably the biggest reason why Vegas won the series in six games. He made 32 saves in a 4-3 win in Game 5, and 38 straight after giving up goals on the first two shots he faced in Game 6, a 4-2 win. Hill is 3-1 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .934 save percentage this postseason after going 16-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 27 games (25 starts) in the regular season. Jonathan Quick is expected to continue serving as Hill's backup with Brossoit and Logan Thompson (undisclosed) injured. Stars: Jake Oettinger had a tough series against the Kraken in the second round, but when the Stars needed their 24-year-old goalie to step up in Game 7, he did so in a big way. Oettinger made 22 saves on 23 shots in a 2-1 win. Although he was pulled twice in the series and gave up four or more goals in three games, Oettinger also stepped up big with the Stars down 2-1 in the first round against the Wild. He helped them win three games in a row to take the series in six games by allowing only three goals on 85 shots, including a 27-save shutout in Game 5. Oettinger is 8-5 with a 2.75 GAA and .903 save percentage in 13 games in the playoffs. Backup Scott Wedgewood has allowed three goals on 18 shots in two relief appearances in the playoffs. X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Forward William Karlsson is coming off a series in which he had to go against Connor McDavid whenever Vegas could get the matchups it wanted. By the end of the series, the Oilers were taking McDavid off the ice when Karlsson was sent on for a face-off. No offense to anybody on the Stars, but they don't have a Connor McDavid, although Karlsson will again get the toughest matchup, particularly at home, and it's a role he relishes. Look for him and linemates Reilly Smith and Nicolas Roy to match up against the Stars top line of Pavelski, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Karlsson, who can put the puck in the net, is arguably their most important forward considering the role he plays defensively. Stars: Hintz leads the Stars and is second in the playoffs with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists). But scoring is only one of the ways he impacts games. Hintz is a possession driver, with Dallas taking 56.6 percent of the shot attempts at 5-on-5 with Hintz on the ice. He helps that by winning face-offs (60.0 percent, 54-of-90). Hintz is playing 18:26 per game, second among Stars forwards behind Robertson (18:47). He plays on the top power-play unit (3:16 per game), and gets limited time on the penalty kill (38 seconds per game). He touches all areas of the game and will have to continue to do so against the Golden Knights. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: They stick to the formula that got them here, which is to stay out of the penalty box as much as possible and control play at 5-on-5. Their special teams have not been all that special this postseason, but they have been the better team at 5-on-5 in each of their series so far. Staying that way gives them the best chance, especially if they can get solid goaltending. Stars: Forecheck, forecheck, forecheck. The Stars have to know that when the Golden Knights struggled against the Oilers it was because of Edmonton's forecheck. Vegas struggled to get the puck out of its defensive zone, turned it over and committed penalties. The more aggressive the Stars are on the forecheck, the better their chances of forcing the Golden Knights out of its plan to try to make it a 5-on-5 series. Oettinger has to be a difference-maker too. He's the best goalie in the series. MORE:

(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points SEASON SERIES: CAR 2-1-0; FLA 1-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho is tied with Jordan Martinook for first on Carolina with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games after the forward was second with 67 points (team-leading 36 goals, 31 assists) in 75 regular-season games. Although Aho had a relatively quiet second round (one goal, two assists), he demonstrated in the first round he can be a difference-maker with a team-high seven points (four goals, three assists) in six games against the Islanders. Panthers: Matthew Tkachuk leads Florida with 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 12 playoff games after leading it with an NHL career-high 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 regular-season games. A finalist for the Hart Trophy given to the most valuable player in the NHL, the forward didn't score a goal in the second round but had five assists and was second on the Panthers with 22 hits in the series behind Sam Bennett's 24. GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: After Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta continued to share the net in the playoffs, Andersen has started the past six games and is 5-0 with a 1.80 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. Raanta started the first five and is 3-2 with a 2.59 GAA and .906 save percentage. Andersen didn't dress for Games 2-4 of the first round because of an illness and minor injury. Raanta was unavailable for Games 2-4 of the second round because of an illness. Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky has reclaimed the No. 1 job, starting the past nine games after Alex Lyon started the first three playoff games and final eight regular-season games. Bobrovsky is 7-2 with a 2.82 GAA and .918 save percentage in 10 games, including 4-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .943 save percentage in the second round. Lyon went 1-2 with a 3.26 GAA and .902 save percentage in his three starts. X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Brent Burns has added another dimension to the defense since being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on July 13, 2022. He is tied for third on the Hurricanes with eight points (two goals, six assists) in the playoffs and helped to drive their offense with a team-high 41 shots on goal while averaging a team-high 23:55 of ice time. Carolina has gotten seven goals from defensemen after leading the NHL with 59 at the position in the regular season. Panthers: Carter Verhaeghe is second on Florida with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) and has a knack for coming through in big moments with a team-leading three game-winning goals. Verhaeghe leads the NHL with six game-winning goals and three overtime goals over the past two postseasons, including series-clinching overtime goals against the Washington Capitals in the 2022 first round and Boston in the first round this season. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: Depth forwards like Martinook (three goals, seven assists), Jesper Fast (five goals, three assists) and Jordan Staal (two goals, six assists) continue to help offset injuries and the tandem of Andersen and Raanta remains steady. Teravainen's potential return later in the series would be a boost. Panthers:Bobrovsky stays hot, the line of Nick Cousins (two goals, four assists), Bennett (four goals, four assists) and Tkachuk continues to be productive and disruptive, and the defense can withstand the sustained pressure created by the Hurricanes forecheck. MORE:

(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (2P) Edmonton Oilers Wed., May 3: Oilers at Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN, TVAS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Oilers: 50-23-9, 108 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 1-2-1; WPG 3-0-1 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Mark Stone. The Vegas captain missed the final three months of the regular season but returned for Game 1 against the Winnipeg Jets. He struggled in that first game, going a minus-3 in the loss. In the four wins that followed, Stone scored eight points and was plus-8. Not only that, Stone was a difference-maker in the defensive zone, flashing more and more signs of being the Selke Trophy candidate he has been in the past. Oilers: It is Connor McDavid. We don't want to overthink this. Yes, his running mate Leon Draisaitl leads the team in scoring with 11 points. But the Edmonton captain remains the most important player on the team. He makes everything go. McDavid has played 43 NHL postseason games and has 65 points (24 goals, 41 assists). His 1.51 points per playoff game is the fourth-best among forwards with at least 40 appearances. Wayne Gretzky (1.84), Draisaitl (1.63) and Mario Lemieux (1.61) are the players ahead of him. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: Laurent Brossoit is the unquestioned starter for the Golden Knights, earning the job with a solid first-round performance that saw him go 4-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. The 30-year-old started his NHL career with the Oilers, playing 28 games as a backup between the 2014-15 season and 2017-18. After three seasons with the Jets, he signed as a free agent with Vegas before the 2021-22 season. He has never played more than 24 games in an NHL season and was limited to 11 games (10 starts) this regular season because of an injury and a stint in the American Hockey League. Oilers: Stuart Skinner took the No. 1 job and ran with it in the second half of the season. The rookie was part of the 2023 NHL All-Star Game and finished the regular season with a 29-14-5 record with a .914 save percentage and 2.75 GAA. He has not been as good in the postseason, going 3-2 with a .890 save percentage and a 3.43 GAA. He was pulled in Game 4 and replaced by Jack Campbell, who was the No. 1 goalie at the start of the season. X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Brett Howden is a key piece of the third line, playing alongside Stone and Stephenson as his north-south game is perfectly suited for playoff hockey. Howden has four points (two goals, two assists) and his plus-8 leads the team. He has been a different player than the one in the regular season that had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and was plus-5 in 54 regular-season games. Oilers: Evan Bouchard has had a coming-out party for the Oilers in the first round. After scoring 40 points (eight goals, 32 assists) in 82 regular-season games, Bouchard had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in the first round, which leads all defensemen in the playoffs. He is the point man on a power play that is absolutely lethal and he has scored eight of his points on it. He provides a second level of attack behind McDavid and Draisatl. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: They limit their penalties and win the 5-on-5 battle. Vegas needs to play in the Edmonton defensive zone to keep the most potent players of the Oilers from being on the attack. It is also less likely that penalties are committed while playing offense, considering Edmonton scored on more than half its power-play opportunities Oilers: Their best players lead the way. When McDavid and Draisaitl are at the top of their game, the Oilers are an absolute wagon and matchups and depth don't really matter. When the top players struggle, however, opposing teams have found a way to establish the matchups they want and exploit the lack of offensive depth that has often been an Achilles' heel for this team. the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner. For them to succeed against the top seed he will have to be at his best. MORE:

(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3P) Seattle Kraken Tue., May 2: Kraken at Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, CBC, TVAS, SN Thu., May 4: Kraken at Stars, TBD Rest of schedule TBD REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points SEASON SERIES: DAL 2-0-1; SEA: 1-1-1 GAME BREAKERS: Stars: Roope Hintz was everything the Stars needed and more in the first round. The forward leads the playoffs with 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in six games, one more than Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (11 points; seven goals, four assists), Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers (11 points; five goals, six assists) and Mitchell Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs (11 points; two goals, nine assists). Hintz can score in any fashion and did in the first round: shorthanded, on a breakaway, 5-on-5 and the power play. Kraken: Let's go with Gourde here. Several players have had to make up for the loss of forward Jared McCann, who sustained an undisclosed injury in Game 4 and led the Kraken with 70 points (40 goals, 30 assists) in the regular season. Gourde has been more of a setup man than a scorer thus far, with six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games. He had an assist on each of Oliver Bjorkstrand's Game 7 goals, including the game-winner in the second period. When you see Gourde, you see playoff experience; he won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021. It's a great asset for Seattle to have in its first postseason. GOALTENDING: Stars: Jake Oettinger followed a great first round against the Flames with another one against the Wild, going 4-2 with a 2.01 goals-against average, .929 save percentage and one shutout. He had a heavy workload in the regular season, when he went 37-11-11 with a 2.37 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts in 62 games (61 starts), but if it got to him in the first round, it wasn't showing. The Stars defense held the Wild in check for the most part but when they didn't, Oettinger was there. Kraken: Philipp Grubauer did the heavy lifting against the Avalanche, his former team, going 4-3 with a 2.44 GAA and .926 save percentage in seven starts. He's been busy, facing 231 shots, most of any goalie in the playoffs so far. In the regular season, Grubauer was 17-14-4 with a 2.85 GAA and .895 save percentage. X FACTORS: Stars: We all know what Joe Pavelski can do at this point but the X-factor portion of this is if he will be ready to go for the second round. It seems likely, since DeBoer said the 38-year-old forward was close for Game 6 and he would've needed an army to keep Pavelski out if there was a Game 7. If/when Pavelski returns, he should go back to the top line with Hintz and left wing Jason Robertson and Tyler Seguin to the third line. Full depth restored. Kraken: Seattle's penalty kill was so-so during the season (76.7 percent, 21st) but has been stellar in the playoffs. The Kraken are 88.9 percent, second to the Carolina Hurricanes (94.4 percent). They stymied the Avalanche, whose power play converted just 11.1 percent of the time (2-for-18). WILL WIN IF: Stars: Their depth continues to come through. The Stars are getting production from everyone, from top-line players like Hintz to Seguin on the power play (four goals) to Evgenii Dadonov (three goals, one assist), a forward acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 26. Finding offense had been an issue for the Stars in the postseason. No such problem so far. Kraken: Their penalty kill continues to be strong. The Stars can score in a lot of ways, but their power play was outstanding in the first round with nine goals that are tied with the Oilers for second behind the Boston Bruins (11). The Kraken obviously got off to a good start by holding the defending Stanley Cup champions at bay while on the man-advantage. If they can do the same to Dallas, they'll be on their way. MORE:

(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers Tuesday, May 2: 7 p.m., Florida at Toronto (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS) Thursday, May 4: TBD, Florida at Toronto (TBD) Rest of schedule TBD REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points SEASON SERIES: TOR 3-0-1; FLA 1-1-2 GAME BREAKERS: Maple Leafs: Matthews' five goals led the Maple Leafs in the first round. There were several shifts where he simply refused to be knocked off the puck in the offensive zone and deserved kudos for his defensive play. His penchant for stripping opponents of pucks in the neutral and defensive zone is a key element in a dangerous transition game. Panthers: There's not much Tkachuk can't do. He scores. He hits. He agitates. He gets into the heads of his opponents. His five goals are tied with defenseman Brandon Montour for the team lead and his 16 penalty minutes are fourth. Tkachuk is the heart-and-soul of the Panthers and the leader of their us-against-the-world mentality. GOALTENDING: Maple Leafs: Ilya Samsonov's stats (3.14 goals-against average, .900 save percentage) aren't overly impressive when you first look at them. But dig deeper and you'll find he played much better than they showed. He won all three games on the road, in overtime, and is an example of how it doesn't matter how many saves you make, it's when you make them. Panthers: It seems like months ago when the Panthers were resting their hopes on Alex Lyon. Then Sergei Bobrovsky took over and won the final three games. Bobrovsky's issues are twofold: staying consistent and healthy. When he's both, he can be a difference-maker, like his 44 saves in Game 5 that included stopping Brad Marchand on a breakaway with one second remaining in the third period. X FACTORS: Maple Leafs: Matthew Knies signed with the Maple Leafs one day after playing for the University of Minnesota at the NCAA Frozen Four. There were questions about how he would handle the physical toll. The 20-year-old forward answered them with three assists in five games and some nice work along the boards leading to Tavares' game-winner. Whether Knies plays in the top six or on the third line with O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, he was one of the more effective players against the Lightning and could be the same against the Panthers. Panthers: Sam Bennett caused all sorts of havoc for the Bruins with his sandpaper style and penchant of going to the so-called dirty areas in front of the opposing net. Don't expect that to change. He has five points (three goals, two assists) and 22 penalty minutes, showing he can affect the outcome of games in many ways. WILL WIN IF: Maple Leafs: Their best players play like their best players. The Big Four had a lucrative first-round series but must keep the momentum going against a physical Panthers team. Secondary scoring is always welcome, but Matthews, Marner, Tavares and Nylander need to perform this time of year. Don't forget about Reilly, who had four assists in Game 2, the overtime winner in Game 3 and a late tying goal in Game 4, all victories. Panthers: Bobrovsky is on his game. The Panthers allowed more goals (272) this season than the other seven remaining teams in the playoffs, so Bobrovsky could be very busy in the coming days. MORE:

(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (2M) New Jersey Devils GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Fuck you. Devils: Don't care. GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: Whatever Devils: STFU X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Literally could not care less. Devils: Go fuck yourself. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Devils: UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU MORE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS GAME #7 — 5/1/23 @ Location: Prudential Center — Newark, NJ Time: 8:00 PM TV: ESPN, MSG, MSGSN, TVAS, SN360 Radio: 98.7 FM, 107.1 FM, 710 AM, Sirius XM USEFUL LINKS: Coverage: @NYP_Brooksie • @StapeAthletic • @ColinSNewsday • @vzmercogliano • @MollieWalkerr Team Official: @NYRangers • NYR on Instagram Official Team Websites: nhl.com/rangers • nhl.com/devils GameCenter - here Series Preview - here SERIES SCHEDULE: Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Chris Kreider (6) Adam Fox (8) Chris Kreider (9) Ryan Lindgren (+4) Barclay Goodrow (29) Adam Fox (23:19) Mika Zibanejad (19:21) Starting Lineup:^ Chris Kreider A / Mika Zibanejad A / Vladimir Tarasenko Artemi Panarin A / Filip Chytil / Kaapo Kakko Alexis Lafreniere / Vincent Trocheck / Patrick Kane Barclay Goodrow A / Tyler Motte / Jimmy Vesey Ryan Lindgren / Adam Fox Jacob Trouba / K'Andre Miller Niko Mikkola / Braden Schneider ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Igor Shesterkin GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 5 3-3 .939 1.79 0 Healthy Scratches: Jonny Brodzinski, Louis Domingue, Libor Hajek, Ben Harpur Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: N/A Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Erik Haula, Jack Hughes (3) Jesper Bratt (3) Nico Hischier (4) Jesper Bratt, Jonas Siegenthaler (+1) Timo Meier (20) John Marino (23:03) Jack Hughes (21:19) Starting Lineup:^ Tomas Tatar / Nico Hischier C / Jesper Bratt Ondrej Palat A / Jack Hughes A / Erik Haula Timo Meier / Dawson Mercer / Jesper Boqvist Nathan Bastian / Michael McLeod / Curtis Lazar Jonas Siegenthaler / Dougie Hamilton Ryan Graves / John Marino Kevin Bahl / Damon Severson ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Akira Schmid GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 3 3-1 .937 1.72 1 Healthy Scratches: Miles Wood, Luke Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, Brendan Smith Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: Jonathan Bernier [IR] — Hip QUOTE(S) TO NOTE: “You prepare for these elimination games and put everything into them. I don’t want to get too dramatic but it’s like your life is flashing before your eyes. This whole season, we play 82 regular season games, come into the playoffs and if you’re done in Round 1 it’s like, "What was it all for?".” — Vincent Trocheck

(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers Mon., April 17: Panthers at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Wed., April 19: Panthers at Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Fri., April 21: Bruins at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS Sun., April 23: Bruins at Panthers, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT, SN1, TVAS Wed., April 26: Panthers at Bruins, TBA Fri., April 28: Bruins at Panthers, TBA Sun., April 30: Panthers at Bruins, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Bruins: 65-12-5, 135 points Panthers: 42-32-8, 92 points SEASON SERIES: BOS 2-1-1; FLA 2-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Bruins: David Pastrnak scored an NHL career-high 61 goals in 82 games this season, well outpacing his previous NHL career high of 48 he had in 70 games in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season. It seemed like Pastrnak, normally a streaky scorer, didn't have an off period in all of 2022-23. He managed his 58th, 59th, and 60th goals in a hat trick April 9, when the Bruins broke the regular-season wins record. He finished the season with the second-most goals in the NHL, to Connor McDavid's 64. Panthers: Tkachuk helped drag the Panthers into the playoffs and in the process became a candidate for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the NHL. The forward finished the regular season with 109 points (40 goals, 69 assists) in 79 games, tied with Jason Robertson for sixth in the NHL. It was a second straight NHL career high in points for a player who has become an offensive dynamo in addition to a tough, gritty opponent. If anyone can will this series their way, it's Tkachuk. GOALTENDING: Bruins: They have the best duo in hockey, with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman combining to win the William M. Jennings Trophy, awarded annually to the goalies who play at least 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals in the NHL (174). They are led by Ullmark, the favorite for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie, who finished the season leading in most goalie categories, going 40-6-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage in 49 games (48 starts). Swayman finished with a 24-6-4 record, a 2.27 GAA and a .920 save percentage. They lack experience -- Ullmark has two postseason starts, Swayman five -- but they have been dominant this season. Panthers: In a surprising twist, Alex Lyon has been the goalie down the stretch for the Panthers, the one that got them into the playoffs while Sergei Bobrovsky was sidelined with an illness and while Spencer Knight has been in the NHL/NHLPA employee assistance program since Feb. 24. Lyon made the final eight starts of the season, going 6-1-1 with a 1.88 GAA and .943 save percentage. Bobrovsky should be an option in the playoffs if Lyon falters; he was 24-20-3 with a 3.07 GAA and .901 save percentage in 50 games (49 starts) this season. X FACTORS: Bruins: Taylor Hall. Not every team can have a Hart Trophy winner on their third line, but that's how deep the Bruins are. Hall, who won the Hart in 2017-18, is back in the lineup after being out with a lower-body injury from Feb. 25 to April 8, a span of 20 games. In 61 games this season, he has 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists). He's found a home on a line with Charlie Coyle and Tyler Bertuzzi. It's the kind of line that could be a monster of a matchup problem for opponents, with Hall left cleaning up. Panthers: Brandon Montour. The defenseman has had a breakout season at age 29 for the Panthers, scoring 73 points (16 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games after a previous career high of 37 points last season. He has five game-winning goals this season, behind only Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers. He's become a force this season, and if he can sneak in with some scoring, it will go a long way in keeping Florida in this series. WILL WIN IF: Bruins: They do exactly what they've done all regular season. They have earned a spot in the conversation as the best team in regular-season history. But, as has been the case in the past, that doesn't necessarily mean anything in the playoffs. The Bruins need to be confident but not overconfident, and simply need to play the way they have been . Panthers: If the goaltending holds. The Panthers have gotten a surprising boost from Lyon, but he has never played in the playoffs and doesn't have a lot of experience overall. He's a journeyman, but any goalie can get hot, and if he does the Panthers have a shot. They need to be able to rely on either him or Bobrovsky, who comes in with 51 games of playoff experience (46 starts) and a bit more of a resume. MORE:

(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken Tue., April 18: Kraken at Avalanche, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN360, TVAS Thu., April 20: Kraken at Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN360, FX, TVAS Sat., April 22: Avalanche at Kraken. 10 p.m. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS Mon., April 24: Avalanche at Kraken, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, SN360, TVAS Wed., April 26: Kraken at Avalanche, TBA Fri., April 28: Avalanche at Kraken, TBA Sun., April 30: Kraken at Avalanche, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Avalanche: 51-24-7, 109 points Kraken: 46-28-8, 100 points SEASON SERIES: COL 1-1-1; SEA 2-0-1 GAME BREAKERS: Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon has produced 1.33 points per game in the playoffs, third in NHL history behind Wayne Gretzky (1.84) and Mario Lemieux (1.61) among players who have appeared in more than 37 games. The center set NHL career highs in goals (42), assists (69) and points (111) in the regular season, finishing fifth in the League in scoring. When the Avalanche needed a victory to clinch the Central on Friday, he had four points (three goals, one assist) in a 4-3 win at the Nashville Predators, scoring the winner with 1:42 left in the third period. Kraken: Jared McCann set NHL career highs in goals (40), assists (30) and points (70) in the regular season, leading the Kraken in goals and points. The forward has only three assists in 12 playoff games, which he played over three seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2019-21, but he has seized a larger role in Seattle. GOALTENDING: Avalanche: This was one of the biggest questions for the Avalanche, who acquired Alexandar Georgiev in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 7 and lost Darcy Kuemper to the Washington Capitals in free agency July 13. Starting 62 games, 30 more than ever before in an NHL season, Georgiev went 40-16-6 with a 2.53 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and five shutouts, tying for the NHL lead in wins with Linus Ullmark of the Bruins. He has appeared in only two playoff games, each in relief for the Rangers last season. Backup Pavel Francouz, who was limited by injuries this season, was 8-7-1 with a 2.61 GAA, .915 save percentage and one shutout in 16 games. Kraken: Philipp Grubauer was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie voted the best in the NHL, when he went 30-9-1 with a 1.95 GAA, .922 save percentage and seven shutouts with the Avalanche in 2020-21. But he hasn't been close to that level since signing with the Kraken as an unrestricted free agent July 28, 2021. He went 17-14-4 with a 2.85 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 39 games (36 starts) this season. In 33 playoff games, 29 of them with Colorado, he has gone 19-11 with a 2.50 GAA, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts. Martin Jones, who split time with Grubauer, and is day to day with an upper-body injury, was 27-13-3 with a 2.99 GAA, .887 save percentage and three shutouts in 48 games (42 starts) this season. He won the Stanley Cup as the backup to Jonathan Quick with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014. X FACTORS: Avalanche: Cale Makar missed the last seven games of the regular season with a lower-body injury, after missing nine games in a 10-game stretch from Feb. 9-March 1 with a concussion and four games from Jan. 18-24 with an upper-body injury. Will he be ready for Game 1, and if so, how effective will he be? The defenseman led the Avalanche with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 playoff games last season, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Kraken: It looks like a mismatch on paper. Colorado ranked sixth on the power play (24.5 percent) in the regular season; Seattle ranked 21st on the penalty kill (76.7 percent). But the Kraken have improved their PK over the second half of the season. After Jan. 1, they tied for fourth (84.3) with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. WILL WIN IF: Avalanche: MacKinnon and Rantanen continue their playoff production, Georgiev continues to play in the playoffs the way he did in the regular season, and the rest of the roster keeps playing the way it did down the stretch. If Makar returns and looks anything like himself, that would be huge. Kraken: They use their depth to their advantage, limiting the Avalanche's top players and winning the other matchups, and Grubauer plays against his old team the way he did with it. MORE:

(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Tampa Bay Lightning Tue., April 18: Lightning at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS, ESPN Thu., April 20: Lightning at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, ESPN Sat., April 22: Maple Leafs at Lightning, 7 p.m. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS Mon., April 24: Maple Leafs at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC Thur., April 27: Lightning at Maple Leafs, TBA Sat., April 29: Maple Leafs at Lightning, TBA Mon., May 1: Lightning at Maple Leafs, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Maple Leafs: 50-21-11, 111 points Lightning: 46-30-6, 98 points SEASON SERIES: TOR 2-0-1; TBL 1-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Maple Leafs: Marner is the heartbeat of the Maple Leafs. The 25-year-old had 99 points (30 goals, 69 assists) and was looking to become only the fourth Toronto player ever to crack the 100-point barrier, joining Matthews (last season) and Hall of Famers Doug Gilmour (1992-93, 1993-94) and Darryl Sittler (1977-78). He had 36 power-play points and kills penalties as well (he scored four short-handed goals). However, for the Maple Leafs to be successful in this series, Marner will need to improve his postseason stats of 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) in 39 games. Lightning: Kucherov eclipsed the 100-point barrier for the third time in his career, scoring 113 points (30 goals, 83 assists). It's the postseason where the 29-year-old really shines. He is averaging 1.13 points per game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs during his career with 154 points (52 goals, 102 assists) in 136 games. Kucherov leads the postseason in scoring the past three seasons with 93 points (23 goals, 70 assists) in 71 games, almost 30 points more than Nathan MacKinnon of the Avalanche, who is second with 64 points (30 goals, 34 assists) in 45 games during that span. GOALTENDING: Maple Leafs: After being given some time off late in the season to heal various bumps and bruises, Ilya Samsonov is expected to be the starter for Toronto. He's earned it. The 26-year-old was 27-10-5 with 2.33 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 games (40 starts) for the Maple Leafs and beat out Matt Murray for the job. Of more concern is his previous postseason struggles; he's 1-6, those results coming in 2021 and 2022 while with the Washington Capitals. Joseph Woll, who played in seven games for Toronto this season (6-1-0, 2.16 GAA, .932 save percentage) could start the series as the backup if Murray remains sidelined. Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best in the business, especially in the postseason. He backstopped the Lightning to championships in 2020 and 2021 and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoffs most valuable player in 2021. Most impressively, he's had a shutout in six of the Lightning's last seven series-clinching wins. Backup Brian Elliott was 12-8-2 with a 3.40 GAA, .891 save percentage and two shutouts in 22 games this season and has 48 games of postseason experience. X FACTORS: Maple Leafs: O'Reilly plays with the unique combination of passion, ferocity and leadership. He can play on each of the top three lines; can play center or wing, depending on the situation; can help ease some of the pressure off Tavares in the face-off circle; and brings the pedigree of a former Cup winner into the dressing room. He was exactly what this team lacked. Lightning: Victor Hedman's 49 points (nine goals, 40 assists) was his second-lowest total in the past seven years, only besting the 45 he scored during the 56-game shortened season in 2020-21. But don't be misled. At 32-years-old, the veteran defenseman is well aware of when to conserve energy and when to step on the gas when it matters. And the postseason matters. His penchant of gobbling up minutes and dictating the flow and tempo of games makes him the most important player on the Lightning not named Vasilevskiy. Hedman won the Conn Smythe in 2020. WILL WIN IF: Maple Leafs: They can overcome a pair of obstacles. First off, their skilled core needs to elevate when it matters most. Tavares, Marner, Nylander and Matthews were outscored by Paul in Game 7 last year. If they want to take the next step this time around, something like that can't happen. Second, they need to mentally get past the fact that this team hasn't won a series in 19 years. They have helped create that baggage; now they have to cast it off if they want to get past it. Lightning: They can turn up the intensity to the level of their past three postseason runs. Look, there is a lot of mileage on a team that has made three consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. Regular-season inconsistency and fatigue is understandable. If Point, Stamkos, Kucherov, Hedman and Vasilevskiy can up their games to the next level, we all know the championship pedigree is here. MORE:

(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild Mon., April 17: Wild at Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2 Wed., April 19: Wild at Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS Fri., April 21: Stars at Wild, 9:30 p.m. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS Sun., April 23: Stars at Wild, 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS Tue., April 25: Wild at Stars, TBA Fri., April 28: Stars at Wild, TBA Sun., April 30: Wild at Stars, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points SEASON SERIES: DAL 2-0-2; MIN 2-2-0 GAME BREAKERS: Stars: It was another great season for forward Jason Robertson, who led Dallas in scoring and set NHL career highs in goals (46), assists (63) and points (109). The 23-year-old also led the Stars with 41 power-play points (13 goals, 28 assists) and tied for the team lead (with forwards Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn) with 13 power-play goals. This is the second full season Robertson has been on the top line with Pavelski and Roope Hintz, and it has worked well for all involved, especially Robertson. Wild: Kirill Kaprizov missed a month because of a lower-body injury, returning to play two games in the final week of the regular season, and still was Minnesota's leading scorer. The forward's numbers were down from last season, when he had an NHL career-high 108 points (47 goals, 61 assists) in 81 games, but he was nevertheless as effective as ever with 75 points (40 goals, 35 assists) in 67 games. Kaprizov, who will turn 26 on April 26, always poses a threat to opponents, especially at crucial times of the game. He scored six game-winning goals this season, tied with forward Ryan Hartman for the Wild lead. GOALTENDING: Stars: Jake Oettinger carried the bulk of the load this season and will have the net in the playoffs. The 24-year-old was 37-11-11 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 62 games (61 starts). He had five shutouts, tied for second in the NHL with Alexandar Georgiev of the Colorado Avalanche and Darcy Kuemper of the Washington Capitals. Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury was 24-16-4 with a 2.85 GAA, .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 46 games (45 starts) this season, and Filip Gustavsson was 22-9-7 with a 2.10 GAA, .931 save percentage and three shutouts. Evason credited Fleury for being a good mentor for Gustavsson, who has excelled in his first season with Minnesota after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators in a trade for goalie Cam Talbot on July 12. A good 1-2 punch here. X FACTORS: Stars: Wyatt Johnston has looked like he belongs during his rookie season with Dallas. The 19-year-old center finished with 41 points (24 goals, 17 assists), including three game-winning goals. He has formed great chemistry on a line with captain Benn, who had 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists), his most since he had 79 points in 2017-18. Wild: Matt Boldy came through with a strong second NHL season. The 22-year-old forward had 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists), third on Minnesota behind Kaprizov and forward Mats Zuccarello (67 points; 22 goals, 45 assists). Boldy was one of those who notably stepped up when Kaprizov was out and had two hat tricks in a five-game span from March 19-27. WILL WIN IF: Stars: They continue to get offense. This has been an issue for Dallas in recent postseasons; the goaltending is there to save the day but the offensive support isn't. The Stars were more productive under coach Peter DeBoer this season, and if they can bring that into the playoffs, they'll be in good shape. Wild: They keep the balanced attack going. Minnesota was 7-2-3 with Kaprizov out, getting contributions from their top forwards, including Boldy, Zuccarello and Hartman. They need to keep that going now that Kaprizov is back and healthy. MORE:

(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) New York Islanders Mon., April 17: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2 Wed., April 19: Islanders at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS22 Fri., April 21: Hurricanes at Islanders, 7 p.m. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS Sun., April 23: Hurricanes at Islanders, 1 p.m. ET, TNT, SN360, TVAS Tue., April 25: Islanders at Hurricanes, TBA Fri., April 28: Hurricanes at Islanders, TBA Sun., April 30: Islanders at Hurricanes, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Hurricanes: 52-21-9, 113 points Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points SEASON SERIES: CAR 3-1-0; NYI 1-3-0 GAME BREAKERS: Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho led Carolina in goals for the sixth straight season (36) and was second in points with 67 (Martin Necas, 71) in 75 games. Aho, a forward, has 46 points (18 goals, 28 assists) in 48 career playoff games. With forward Andrei Svechnikov (23 goals) out after having season-ending knee surgery, there will be even more focus on Aho. Islanders: Mathew Barzal's return from a lower-body injury that sidelined the forward since Feb. 18 will be a huge boost for New York. Although the Islanders went 14-7-2 in their final 23 regular-season games without Barzal, he is their most dynamic offensive player. He still finished second for New York in points with 51 (14 goals, 37 assists) in 58 games (Brock Nelson led with 75). GOALTENDING: Hurricanes: It seems likely that Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta each will play in this series, and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov is a recall away with Chicago in the American Hockey League if needed. During the regular season, Andersen was 21-11-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and one shutout. Raanta was 19-3-3 with a 2.23 GAA, .910 save percentage and four shutouts. Kochetkov was 12-7-5 with a 2.44 GAA, .909 save percentage and four shutouts. Islanders: Ilya Sorokin enters the playoffs as a No. 1 goalie for the first time after he was 31-22-7 with a 2.34 GAA, .924 save percentage and a League-leading six shutouts during the regular season. Among goalies to start at least 41 games, only Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins had a better GAA (1.89) and save percentage (.938). Backup Semyon Varlamov, who was New York's No. 1 goalie the last time it reached the playoffs in 2021, was 11-9-2 with a 2.70 GAA, .913 save percentage and two shutouts this season. X FACTORS: Hurricanes: Burns fit in seamlessly in his first season with Carolina after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks in the offseason. The defenseman was third on the Hurricanes with 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) and averaged a team-high 23:13 in ice time in 82 regular-season games. The 38-year-old veteran of 94 NHL playoff games will bring experience and an offensive spark from the defense, which Carolina lacked when it lost to the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Second Round last season. Islanders: Horvat could benefit most from Barzal's return and recapture the lethal goal-scoring touch New York coveted when it acquired the center in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30. Horvat scored seven goals in 30 games with the Islanders after scoring 31 in 49 games with the Canucks, but he had three goals and appeared to have good chemistry with Barzal in their seven games together before he was injured. WILL WIN IF: Hurricanes: They get enough goals from their bottom-six forwards to help out their top six, their goalies stay healthy and they can get some production on the power play. Carolina always generates scoring chances 5-on-5 with its forecheck but will need to convert enough of them against Sorokin. Islanders: Sorokin is at the top of his game, Barzal's return sparks the offense, particularly the power play, and their defense can withstand the Hurricanes' relentless offensive-zone pressure. Defenseman Alexander Romanov returning at some point from his upper-body injury (he will miss at least Game 1) would help too. MORE:

EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER FINALS GAME #4 — 4/24/23 vs. Location: Madison Square Garden — New York, NY Time: 8:00 PM TV: ESPN, SN360, TVAS2, MSG, MSGSN Radio: 98.7 FM, 107.1 FM, 710 AM, Sirius XM USEFUL LINKS: Coverage: @NYP_Brooksie • @StapeAthletic • @ColinSNewsday • @vzmercogliano • @MollieWalkerr Team Official: @NYRangers • NYR on Instagram Official Team Websites: nhl.com/rangers • nhl.com/devils GameCenter - here Series Preview - here SERIES SCHEDULE: Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Chris Kreider (5) Adam Fox (6) Adam Fox (6) Adam Fox (+6) Adam Fox, Barclay Goodrow (14) Adam Fox (23:18) Chris Kreider (21:29) Starting Lineup:^ Chris Kreider A / Mika Zibanejad A / Patrick Kane Artemi Panarin A / Vincent Trocheck / Vladimir Tarasenko Alexis Lafreniere / Filip Chytil / Kaapo Kakko Barclay Goodrow A / Tyler Motte / Jimmy Vesey Ryan Lindgren / Adam Fox Jacob Trouba / K'Andre Miller Niko Mikkola / Braden Schneider ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Igor Shesterkin GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 3 2-1 .950 1.26 0 Healthy Scratches: Jonny Brodzinski, Louis Domingue, Libor Hajek, Ben Harpur Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: N/A Team Leaders: Goals: Assists: Points: +/-: PIM: TOI/G (D): TOI/G (F): Jack Hughes (2) Jesper Bratt (2) Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt (2) Buncha losers (0) Timo Meier (16) John Marino (23:49) Nico Hischier (21:24) Starting Lineup:^ Timo Meier / Nico Hischier C / Jesper Bratt Erik Haula / Jack Hughes A / Ondrej Palat A Tomas Tatar / Michael McLeod / Dawson Mercer Jesper Boqvist / Curtis Lazar / Nathan Bastian Jonas Siegenthaler / Dougie Hamilton Ryan Graves / John Marino Kevin Bahl / Damon Severson ^Subject to change Starting Goaltender: Akira Schmid GS: REC: SV%: GAA: SO: 1 1-0 .972 0.84 0 Healthy Scratches: Miles Wood, Luke Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, BRANDON Smith Injuries, Suspensions, Misc: Jonathan Bernier [IR] — Hip QUOTE(S) TO NOTE: “Pepper. More shots, no doubt. More people to the front of the net. That’s what we talked about. I thought the first 10 [minutes] we passed up a lot of those chances and didn’t take advantage of that early. It got better during the game, but you’ve got to do it for 60 minutes and get there.” — Gerard Gallant CONTENT to LET'S GO!

(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets Tue., April 18: Jets at Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SNW, TVAS2 Thu., April 20 Jets at Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET, TBS, SN, CBC, TVAS Sat., April 22: Golden Knights at Jets, 4 p.m. ET, SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS Mon., April 24: Golden Knights at Jets, 9:30 p.m. ET, SNW, TVAS, ESPN Thu., April 27: Jets at Golden Knights, TBA Sat., April 29: Golden Knights at Jets, TBA Mon., May 1: Jets at Golden Knights, TBA REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS: Golden Knights: 51-22-9, 111 points Jets: 46-33-3, 95 points SEASON SERIES: VGK 3-0-0; WPG 0-2-1 GAME BREAKERS: Golden Knights: Jack Eichel led them with 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 67 games as the No. 1 center. He has been battling injuries lately, missing two games because of an upper-body injury before returning for the season finale Thursday. He had one assist and played 17:58 in the victory against Seattle and declared himself ready for his first postseason appearance in his eight NHL seasons. Eichel at his best is a game-changing forward who makes the Golden Knights a deeper and more dangerous team. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Eichel also will present a unique matchup problem for the Jets. Jets: Winnipeg rests its hat on being a defensively sound team, so it's no surprise that a defenseman is a game-breaker in their system. Josh Morrissey does it all for the Jets. He was second for Winnipeg with 76 points (16 goals, 60 assists) in 78 games, behind Kyle Connor (80 points), and tied with Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks for second among NHL defensemen, behind Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks (101 points). Morrissey averaged 24:14 of ice time which led the Jets and was 14th in the NHL. He also was second among Winnipeg defensemen in blocked shots (119) and first in takeaways (36). Put simply, he is a force of nature that impacts the game in all three zones. GOALTENDING: Golden Knights: The biggest question mark for Vegas is who will man the crease. They had five players start at least one game during the season. Rookie Logan Thompson was brilliant until injuries sidelined him in the second half of the season, limiting him to 37 games. He's made 10 starts since Jan. 1 and none since March 23. Jonathan Quick, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Los Angeles Kings, was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 2, but has been middling (5-2-2, .901 save percentage, 3.13 goals-against average) in 10 games (nine starts). Laurent Brossoit, who battled injuries in the first half of the season, made his NHL season debut Feb. 21 and was 7-0-3 with a 2.17 GAA and .927 save percentage in 11 games (10 starts) to perhaps emerge as the Game 1 starter. Jets: Winnipeg will go as far as Hellebuyck takes them. Hellebuyck, who won the Vezina Trophy in 2020 as the best goalie in the NHL, is one of the biggest reasons the Jets are in the playoffs. He is a confident goalie who can go on long stretches of sustained excellence. He was 37-25-2 with a 2.49 GAA and .920 save percentage in 64 games (all starts). His 37 wins were tied for third in the NHL and his save percentage was tied for fourth (minimum 20 games). In the 2018 playoffs, Hellebuyck was 9-8 with a 2.36 GAA, .922 save percentage and two shutouts in 17 games. However, he struggled against the Golden Knights this season, allowing seven goals in two losses (0-1-1). X FACTORS: Golden Knights: Mark Stone is Vegas' biggest question mark. The forward has been out since Jan. 12 after undergoing back surgery but is expected back for Game 1 and is a game-changer in every area. He is among the best shut-down forwards in the League and an offensive threat simultaneously with 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 43 games this season. He generally has been a solid playoff performer, scoring at least five goals in each of the past four postseason appearances. Stone's presence in the lineup would be a boon for the Golden Knights. Jets: Nikolaj Ehlers was injured in the penultimate regular-season game after being hit by Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild. He missed the season finale because of an upper-body injury, but the forward has cleared concussion protocol according to coach Rick Bowness. Ehlers, who has battled injuries all season, had 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 45 games. He had scored 20 or more goals in each of the previous six seasons, and when he is at his best his speed is difficult for even the best defensive teams to handle. WILL WIN IF: Golden Knights: Vegas has to play the defensively responsible, opportunistic game it played all season. It was good enough to beat Winnipeg three times in the regular season and it is good enough to beat the Jets in a seven-game series. They need to suppress shots, slow the transition game when Winnipeg has the puck and stay disciplined to avoid games and a series dominated by special teams. Jets: Hellebuyck has to be the best player in the series. He is more than capable of doing it, and if he does, he can frustrate a Golden Knights team that has trouble scoring, even on the power play. While both teams want to play a low-scoring, limited-chance series, the Jets know their biggest advantage rests with the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner. For them to succeed against the top seed he will have to be at his best. MORE: