Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

OILERS COMPLETE PLAYOFF ‘HAT TRICK’

The Los Angeles Kings have seen this unhappy movie before. In fact twice before.

Bust their hump all season, make the playoffs, and then get bounced by the Edmonton Oilers. The Oil trumped the Kings in six games in 2023 and seven in 2022. This year it took five.

But Leon Draisaitl, who scored two goals last night in Edmonton’s 4-3 series-clinching victory, said the Kings are a good grinding team and a tough out and could have won Game 4 in which the Oilers only managed 13 shots but somehow won 1-0.

LEAFS AIM TO BEAR DOWN

The Toronto Maple Leafs might be without 69-goal scorer Auston Matthews again tonight when they fight for their playoff lives against the visiting Boston Bruins, who lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

But the Leafs, coming off an inspired 2-1 overtime win Tuesday in Boston, appear more confident that they can get the job done no matter who is or isn’t in the lineup.

Bruins’ captain Brad Marchand, well aware of Boston’s history for blowing leads, said the hardest win in any series is always the last one. He felt the Bruins played their worst game of the season on Tuesday and almost won, so he’s not panicking heading into tonight’s contest.

OVER THE HUMP DAY

They say everything is bigger in Texas. You won’t get much hissy fit about that from the Dallas Stars, who ya’ll know couldn’t take advantage of home-ice advantage in the first two games of their opening-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Well dang, the Stars have the defending Stanley Cup champions on the ropes now after beating the visitors 3-2 last night to grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference showdown.

Game 6 goes Friday in Vegas, where the Knights have yet to win, but it’s not their first rodeo playing under pressure at T-Mobile Arena.

SERIES UP IN THE AIR

One of the concerns for the Vancouver Canucks in these NHL playoffs is travel fatigue. The West Coast team racks up lots of regular-season mileage, so there’s added incentive to keep series as short as possible.

J.T. Miller, for example, tried to motivate the Pacific Division champions before Game 5 in Vancouver by saying they could save an important 10 hours by knocking off the Nashville Predators on Tuesday at Rogers Arena. Due to a 2-1 setback, they’re back in the air with Game 6 Friday in Music City.

Compare that to the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning series, with a 35-minute flight between cities, and you can understand the Canucks having sleep doctors on speed dial.

Vancouver might want to embrace Kyshona Armstrong’s new hit song Comin’ Out Swingin’ as inspiration, which offers up the relatable line: “I didn’t come this far only to come this far.”

STICKING WITH STAMMER TIME?

Steven Stamkos wants to hoist the Stanley Cup again — with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 34-year-old captain, who can become a free agent this summer, said yesterday he’d like to remain with the only franchise he’s played for in his 16-season career.

GM Julien BriseBois said the Bolts “definitely” want him back. Stamkos is the Lightning’s career leader in points (1,137) and goals (555), a seven-time All-Star and a two-time winner of the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal-scorer. He helped the Lightning win consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021, and finished with 40 goals and 41 assists in 79 games this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

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