By Canadian Press

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

May 9, 2024 | 3:09 AM

The Vancouver Canucks struck first in a wild second-round NHL playoff series opener against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday and the Florida Panthers pulled even in their best-of-seven matchup against the Boston Bruins. 

The two other conference semifinals will resume Thursday night. Here are five things to know: 

VAN WILDER

The Oilers silenced the vocal crowd at Rogers Arena when Zach Hyman scored a power-play goal just over two minutes into the game.

Edmonton built a three-goal lead midway through the second period before giving up four unanswered goals in a 5-4 loss to Vancouver.

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Conor Garland scored the winner at 14:26 of the third period, just 49 seconds after Nikita Zadorov tied the game for the Canucks.

It was the first playoff meeting between the teams since a second-round series in 1992. The Oilers won that series in six games.

This series features three players who had over 100 points in the regular season. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid had 132 points and teammate Leon Draisaitl had 106. Vancouver’s J.T. Miller had 103 points.

The Canucks will host Game 2 on Friday.

REVERSE TREND

Lopsided results have been the norm over the first two games between Boston and Florida in the Sunshine State.

The Bruins, coming in hot after a Game 7 overtime win over Toronto last Saturday, rolled to a 5-1 victory in the series opener but the Panthers answered with a 6-1 rout.

Aleksander Barkov had two goals and two assists for Florida. Sam Reinhart added four assists.

The series shifts to Boston for Game 3 on Friday.

HOT STREAK

The New York Rangers have yet to lose in the post-season this year. 

The Carolina Hurricanes will try to end that streak on Thursday night as the best-of-seven series moves to PNC Arena.

Vincent Trocheck scored the winning goal in double overtime on Tuesday to give the Rangers a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

The Rangers had a seven-game win streak during their run to a Stanley Cup title in 1994. The 1985 Edmonton Oilers hold the NHL record with nine straight post-season victories.

COMEBACK KIDS

The Dallas Stars got a first-hand look at the powerful Colorado offence in their series opener. 

The visitors will try again to snag home-ice advantage from the Avalanche on Thursday night at Ball Arena.

Miles Wood scored his first career post-season overtime goal in Colorado’s 4-3 win in Game 1. 

The Stars had a 3-0 lead after 17 minutes of play.

LINDSAY FINALISTS

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is one of three finalists for the NHL Players’ Association’s Ted Lindsay Award.

The honour is presented annually to the league’s most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon are the other finalists. 

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2024. 

The Canadian Press