By Canadian Press

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

Apr 25, 2023 | 2:08 AM

Tampa fans and Toronto Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas got into an exchange of insults at Amalie Arena in Game 3.

While censors made sure to block the words that moms don’t want their youngsters to hear, it allowed the fans’ comments demanding Dubas to go back to Canada.

Ironically, those same fans are now hoping Dubas comes back for Game 6 — if there is a Game 6 after the Maple Leafs’ epic overtime victory last night puts them in a position to clinch the series in Toronto on Thursday.

Here are five things to know about the NHL playoffs:

LEAFS SAVE BEST FOR LAST

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are returning home with a surprising 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series, especially after two stinky periods in Game 4 left them trailing 4-1 heading into the third period. And it could have been worse had Brandon Hagel scored on his penalty shot.

To put it mildly, Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson had better days than the Leafs did through 40 minutes in Tampa.

But, like a night before when the Edmonton Oilers woke up and rallied to trip the Los Angeles Kings in overtime, the Leafs saved all the drama and fun last night for the final 24:14.

Alexander Kerfoot scored at 4:14 of overtime, after Auston Matthews scored twice and Morgan Rielly added a single in the third to tie the game and force the extra session.

Tampa bench boss Jon Cooper said the Bolts were very unlucky not to have won Game 3. And in years past they wouldn’t have coughed up a 4-1 third-period lead in a critical Game 4. The series is far from over, but the Bolts can’t afford another meltdown if they’re going to get back in the series with the so-called lucky Leafs.

HURTING BIG TIME IN WINNIPEG

Not since the M*A*S*H TV series have we witnessed so many doctors circling the tents so often.

The Winnipeg Jets, whose Whiteout logo could be a Band-Aid, put up a brave fight last night in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Vegas Golden Knights.

Already playing without Cole Perfetti, Josh Morrisey and Nikolaj Ehlers, the Jets lost Mark Scheifele early in the game and couldn’t catch the faster and healthier Golden Knights on this night, who are one win away from advancing to the second round.

The Jets are now 0-7 in playoff games at home featuring the Whiteout. And unless they can come up with a Sin City miracle on Thursday, the Whiteout will become a playoff blackout.

DECISION DAY FOR OILERS’ CREASE

Stuart Skinner or Jack Campbell? Edmonton Oilers bench boss Jay Woodcroft told reporters he’d have a better idea this morning as to who starts in goal for tonight’s Game 5 against the Los Angeles Kings.

The entertaining series is tied 2-2, three of the games have been decided in overtime, each team has a road win, each team has proven no lead is safe.

The Oilers return to Rogers Place, becoming just the third team in the past two post-seasons to overcome a three-goal deficit to win. The home side is hoping to get more production from those not named Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid.

The Kings, who led 4-3 late in Game 3 until Evander Kane scored at 16:58 of the third to force overtime, believe they let that one get away and are confident they can reel in another win in Alberta.

IF IT WASN’T FOR THE SCOREBOARD …

Even though the Carolina Hurricanes haven’t looked, or played, like the club that topped the Metropolitan Division with 52 wins and 113 points, they can eliminate the visiting New York Islanders tonight at PNC Arena.

The Islanders won Game 3 5-1 and appeared to have finally found their game. But the ‘Canes rebounded in Game 4 with an easy 5-2 victory to grab a 3-1 series lead.

Islanders coach Lane Lambert, now in the one-game-at-a-time mode, said if you look at even-strength scoring chances the Islanders are ahead. And he added that the New York squad leads in even-strength goals.

Lambert might want to ask Flyers’ coach John Tortorella what he thinks of moral victories.

TKACHUK ISSUES CROSS-CHEQUE TO NHL

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers, who used his stick to score and add an assist in Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the visiting Boston Bruins, was fined $5,000 on Monday by the NHL for his period-ending cross-check on Garnet Hathaway. It appeared Tkachuk escaped a second fine for doing the same rib-tickler manoeuvre at the end of the second period, too.

The Panthers have tried everything to get under the skin of the banged-up Bruins, who still find ways to win despite all the shenanigans. Boston can eliminate Florida on Wednesday with a Game 5 win at TD Garden.

There is a strong possibility Patrice Bergeron returns to the Bruins’ lineup for Game 5, but team doctors don’t believe David Krejci will as he recovers from an upper-body injury.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2023.

The Canadian Press