2023 NHL Playoffs

[FieldsFan336]

It's interesting to note that in every game of the Toronto-Tampa series but one, the victory went to the road team - Game 2 being the only exception.  If the pattern holds, I can see Toronto closing it out tonight

[FieldsFan336]

AND THERE IT IS!!!

Leafs win 2-1 in overtime and eliminate the Lightning in 6 games, advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004!  They now await the winner of Game 7 between Boston and Florida

[mellongraig]

Finally, the demons have been exercised for the Leafs! There's still a chance the Leafs could get home ice advantage in the second round if the Panthers pull off the huge upset tomorrow night. If the Bruins win Game 7, the Leafs will travel to Boston.

That's also three overtime wins, all on the road for the Leafs. Now we'll see if the Oilers can advance to the second round against the Kings in Game 6 (that game is currently in progress).

[JayC]

The Devils and Rangers will go to a game 7 in New Jersey with the Rangers winning 5-2 tonight.

[ooboh]

”I am free.”

- Toronto Maple Leafs

[mellongraig]

And the Edmonton Oilers get the job done in Game 6 to eliminate the Los Angeles Kings by a 5-4 score, though they nearly blew the lead along with a broken goalie stick that happened during the game. They will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round, who although the Golden Knights have home ice advantage, point separation between the two teams are very close.

[FieldsFan336]

Round 2 that we know so far:

Toronto vs. Boston/Florida
Carolina vs. New Jersey/NY Rangers

Edmonton vs. Las Vegas
Dallas vs. Colorado/Seattle

[FieldsFan336]

It has happened - the Florida Panthers upset the #1 seeded Boston Bruins in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 7!  They will go on to face the Maple Leafs in round 2

[ooboh]

If any of you know a Boston Bruins fan, hug them.

[Hag]

That was amazing, and further proof that what happens in the regular season means nothing in the playoffs.

[mellongraig]

That's for sure... especially with a 65-12-5 record, it means nothing now for the Bruins and it may have been the last game as a Boston Bruins captain and possibly ever for Patrice Bergeron.

Also, there will be a new Stanley Cup champion this year - the Seattle Kraken have knocked off the Colorado Avalanche by a score of 2-1 in Game 7 to win that series 4-3, and will face the Dallas Stars in round 2.

Plus, a lot of playoff brackets have been busted with Colorado and Boston out in the first round (and very few expected Seattle and Florida to have a shot).

[FieldsFan336]

And the first round is in the books with New Jersey blanking the Rangers 4-0 in Game 7 of their series.  The second round matchups are as follows (higher seed listed first):

Eastern Conference
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

Western Conference
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken

Game 1 of both Florida-Toronto and Seattle-Dallas go tomorrow, with Game 1 of New Jersey-Carolina and Edmonton-Vegas going Wednesday

[TPIR_rules]

Second round predictions:


New Jersey over Carolina in 6
Florida over Toronto in 6
Edmonton over Vegas in 7
Dallas over Seattle in 5

[mellongraig]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are down 2 games to 0 after two quick goals from the Florida Panthers in the second period made the difference in Game 2 with Florida taking it 3-2. Game 3 goes Sunday and it's very possible that the Florida Panthers could be the Cinderella team to watch.

[mellongraig]

The playoff road winning streak for the Toronto Maple Leafs is over as they fall 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in Game 3 last night, with Game 4 going on Wednesday night in a must-win game to keep the series alive.

In other games yesterday, the New Jersey Devils win 8-4 over the Carolina Hurricanes to cut Carolina's series lead to 2-1, while the Seattle Kraken win 7-2 over the Dallas Stars to lead that series 2-1.

The Edmonton Oilers play Game 3 at home against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight, and that series is tied up at 1.