This weekend brings the conclusion of the first round and the start of the second.
Friday night leads off with two series that are both locked in at 3-2. First up, the Nashville Predators are trying to starve off elimination against as they host the Vancouver Canucks in Game 6 of their series. The Predators won Game 5 in Vancouver on Tuesday 2-1 in comeback fashion after going down 1-0 at the start of the third. Later in the night, the Dallas Stars are riding a three-game winning streak, including most recently 3-2 on Wednesday, as they head to Vegas to try to close out the series against the Golden Knights. The Knights went up 2-0 in the series, but they’re struggled against the Stars defense in recent games.
Then on Saturday, the saga between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs continues in yet another Game 7 situation. The Bruins blew a 3-1 series lead to allow an Auston Matthews-less Leafs team to hold momentum going into a winner-takes-all final game in the first round. Matthews did skate on his own prior to the team traveling to Boston, but there’s been no major update on whether he might suit-up on Saturday. As for the Bruins, they have to figure out Leafs’ netminder Joseph Woll who has held Boston to just two goals in the last three games.
Sunday’s schedule a little more up in the air. The second round starts with Game 1 between the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in the first round while the Hurricanes finished off the Islanders in five games.
The results from Friday will determine if other games are played on Sunday — one or both of the Canucks-Predators and/or Golden Knights-Stars would need to be pushed for a Game 7.
Head down to the comments and talk about the games with us!
All times below are Central Time
Friday, May 3
Game 6: Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators, TBS/TRU/MAX, 6 p.m.
Game 6: Dallas Stars at Vegas Golden Knights, TBS/TRU/MAX, 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 4
Game 7: Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins, ABC/ESPN+, 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 5
Game 4: Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers, ESPN, 3 p.m.
Game 7: Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars, TBD (if needed)
Game 7: Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, TBD (if needed)
Oh, and one more thing: we’re going to be doing a live podcast for the draft lottery next Tuesday. If you have any questions that you’d like us to answer as we watch, please let us know in the comments now and during thread we’ll put up on Tuesday.