2023 NHL Playoffs

[FieldsFan336]

The Leafs are still alive after a 2-1 victory in Game 4

[mellongraig]

And the Oilers tie the series up at 2 after a 4-1 victory over the Golden Knights at home in Game 4.

With the Leafs still alive, that means no second round sweeps and Game 5 for both Canadian teams will happen on Friday - for the Leafs back in Toronto and the Oilers in Las Vegas respectively.

In other series so far, Carolina leads 3-1, and Dallas-Seattle is tied at 2.

[FieldsFan336]

Carolina advances to the Eastern Conference final with a 3-2 overtime win over New Jersey.  They now await the winner of the Toronto-Florida series

[mellongraig]

The Toronto Maple Leafs season is over after losing 3-2 to the Florida Panthers in overtime in Game 5, including a goal that was taken back. At least they got further in the playoffs this season... but it will be the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers in the conference final.

Meanwhile the Edmonton Oilers season is on the line after losing 4-3 to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5. Game 6 goes on Sunday.

Also, the officiating has been pretty bad so far this playoff season for a number of games, including the Panthers-Leafs Game 5.

[FieldsFan336]

Bettman hates us Canadians.  And with a major media market out of the playoffs, good luck on getting ratings for the Eastern final

[therealcu2010]

Orrrrrr maybe your team just sucks.

/it's always a great day when the Leafs lose
//of course it's not like the Wings were anywhere close to the playoffs
///it's also a great day when any Boston team loses, so...go Panthers?
////don't let my wife see that third remark

[FieldsFan336]

Not cool, cu.  But hey, at least the Leafs made it out of the first round for once!

[mellongraig]

People aren't thrilled that the Golden Knights-Oilers Game 6 is at 10:00 pm Eastern tonight on ESPN and Sportsnet/CBC but this can all be blamed on the NBA playoffs and Sunday Night Baseball. I think from the NHL's and ESPN's eyes that the Edmonton Oilers will win at home and force a Game 7 to keep Canada's Stanley Cup chances alive like the Seattle Kraken did last night. But with playoffs, you never know...

I don't know why they didn't start it at an earlier time and on TNT/TBS, or ESPN2... then again it's the third straight game for this series with a late start time.

[mellongraig]

30 years and counting without a Stanley Cup in Canada as the drought continues... the Edmonton Oilers despite more shots on goal in Game 6, fall 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights as Vegas wins the series 4-2. They will face against the winner of the Kraken-Stars series and will have home-ice advantage for the conference final.

At least two teams are still in the hunt for their first ever Stanley Cup title - the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers. The Seattle Kraken could make it three still in the running if they win Game 7 against the Dallas Stars on the road.

[therealcu2010]

People aren't thrilled that the Golden Knights-Oilers Game 6 is at 10:00 pm Eastern tonight on ESPN and Sportsnet/CBC but this can all be blamed on the NBA playoffs and Sunday Night Baseball. I think from the NHL's and ESPN's eyes that the Edmonton Oilers will win at home and force a Game 7 to keep Canada's Stanley Cup chances alive like the Seattle Kraken did last night. But with playoffs, you never know...

I don't know why they didn't start it at an earlier time and on TNT/TBS, or ESPN2... then again it's the third straight game for this series with a late start time.

ESPN doesn't care about hockey and it shows...they aired the start of the game on a split screen during what ended up being a blowout Sunday Night Baseball game, meaning those who wanted to watch the baseball game had hockey commentary.

Meanwhile ESPN2 was airing a women's college softball show, which could have aired on ESPNU...followed by cornhole.

When cornhole gets priority over the NHL, that's a problem. So much for ESPN caring about hockey upon getting the contract back...

[FieldsFan336]

The conference finals are now set!

Eastern Conference: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers

Western Conference: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Dallas Stars

[mellongraig]

What a run for the Seattle Kraken though - to get this far and push it to seven games against the Avalanche and the Stars, and to come up short against the Stars after a late 3rd period goal but couldn't get the equalizer to send it to overtime, is remarkable for the newest franchise that's only in their second season. I expect a bright future for this team...

The final four is a southern geographical region for both the west and the east, which doesn't happen too often and one we didn't think it was going to happen.

Hopefully during the offseason the NHL should look at for future Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning in 2024 when it comes to playoff games and games 5, 6, and 7 if necessary to decide which days the national broadcasters of TNT and ESPN (as well as their sister networks) should be assigned to.

[TPIR_rules]

Conference Finals & revised Stanley Cup Final predictions:


Florida over Carolina in 6
Dallas over Vegas in 6


Stanley Cup Final:   Dallas over Florida

[SeaBreeze341]

You know, it's a whole lot of fun watching a quad OT game when you have no stake in the game, when you have no rooting interest, and when you respect both teams in the game

[mellongraig]

And the quadruple OT almost didn't happen as the goal in the first OT was called back due to goaltender interference. Still the Florida Panthers were able to win Game 1 late in the 4th OT.

Kyle Dubas will not return as Toronto Maple Leafs GM next season once his contract with the team expires on June 30.