Following three series eliminations on Thursday night, Friday`s NHL playoffs schedule features just one crucial game where a team could potentially be eliminated.
The hockey world`s attention turns to St. Louis for Game 6 between the Blues and Winnipeg Jets at Enterprise Center. The Blues must win at home to force a decisive Game 7 on Sunday, while a Jets victory would see them advance to the second round.
So, who will prevail?
This preview delves into the upcoming game, offers statistical insights, and recaps the action from Thursday night`s playoff matchups, including Arda Öcal`s three stars.
Matchup Notes
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
Game 6 (WPG leads 3-2) | Scheduled Time: 8 p.m. ET
Historically, teams winning Game 5 in a best-of-seven series tied 2-2 have won the series 79% of the time (233-62).
Winnipeg`s Kyle Connor recorded his second game of this postseason with three or more points, joining Blake Wheeler and Paul Stastny (both in 2018) as the only players in Thrashers/Jets 2.0 postseason history with multiple such games in a single playoff run.
Jets forward Mark Scheifele, second in team scoring this postseason, did not return after a hard hit in the first period of Game 5 and did not travel with the team to St. Louis for Game 6.
Blues forward Nathan Walker scored two goals in Game 5. Born in Wales, he became only the second Welsh-born player to score a goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs, joining Jack Evans (who played from 1956 to 1963).
Enterprise Center has proven to be a favorable venue for the Blues in this series; the team has won both home games by a combined score of 12-3.
Arda`s Three Stars from Thursday Night
1. Max Pacioretty, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Pacioretty scored his first playoff goal since 2021 (and first goal overall since December 20th), which proved to be the game-winner as Toronto eliminated Ottawa in the Battle of Ontario.
2. Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
Stone tallied two points, including the game-winning goal he batted out of the air, as Vegas eliminated Minnesota to advance to the second round.
3. Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen, F, Dallas Stars
Despite their team`s loss to the Avalanche, Hintz and Rantanen made playoff history by becoming the first teammates in Stanley Cup playoff history to each record four points in a single period. They will get another chance to clinch the series against Colorado on Saturday.
Thursday`s Scores
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Ottawa Senators 2
Toronto wins series 4-2, will play Florida in Round 2.
The playoff woes did not surface for the Maple Leafs on this night as they advanced to the second round. Auston Matthews and William Nylander put Toronto ahead before Brady Tkachuk brought Ottawa back within a goal in the second period. Veteran David Perron tied the game for the Senators in the third, but Max Pacioretty responded less than two minutes later with the game-winner. Nylander sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, sending the Leafs to face the Florida Panthers.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Minnesota Wild 2
Vegas wins series 4-2, will play Edmonton in Round 2.
After Shea Theodore and Ryan Hartman traded goals in the first period, Jack Eichel scored his first goal of the postseason for Vegas in the second. Eichel`s linemate Mark Stone added a crucial goal batted out of mid-air to give the Knights a two-goal lead they would need, as Hartman scored again 31 seconds later. However, Minnesota couldn`t find the equalizer in the final minutes, and Vegas advanced.
Colorado Avalanche 7, Dallas Stars 4
Series tied 3-3, Game 7 on Saturday.
This series continued its high-scoring trend. After two goals for the Avalanche in the first, the Stars exploded for four goals in the second, with Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen involved in all of them. However, a critical goal from Martin Necas kept Colorado close. In the third period, the Avalanche scored four straight goals, including the tying goal from Valeri Nichushkin and the game-winner from Nathan MacKinnon, followed by empty-netters from Josh Manson and Cale Makar, forcing a decisive Game 7.
Edmonton Oilers 6, Los Angeles Kings 4
Edmonton wins series 4-2, will play Vegas in Round 2.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Kings` season ended in the first round against the Oilers. Despite first-period goals from Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, Edmonton countered with goals from Adam Henrique, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Zach Hyman to take a 3-2 lead after one. Darnell Nurse and Trent Frederic extended the Oilers` lead in the second. L.A. attempted a comeback with goals from Jordan Spence and Anze Kopitar, but Connor Brown secured the series victory with an empty-netter. The Edmonton-Vegas matchup is set for the next round.
