Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

Defenceman Quinn Hughes looked like a Cinco de Mayo pinata last night, whacked at every opportunity and cut across the face while no officials were looking. He has bought into his coach’s “embrace the pain” mantra on every shift.

But what hurt Quinn the most last night was watching Evan Bouchard score 5:38 into overtime to earn a 4-3 win and split at Rogers Arena with the premiers from B.C. and Alberta viewing from private suites.

Quick-heal Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each had a goal and three assists for the Oil, while Nikita Zadorov had a goal and assist for the Canucks. J.T. Miller chipped in for the hosts, who were outshot 31-19.

Game 3 is Sunday in Edmonton.

PANTHERS POUNCE ON BAD NEWS BEARS

The Boston Bruins gave up four power-play goals, lost their captain to an injury, watched their star goalie get lit up, were loudly booed off the ice by their own fans, and fell behind in their second-round series with the Florida Panthers.

And how was your Friday night?

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery shook off last night’s 6-2 loss as a bad day at the office, but knows his team can’t afford to lose Sunday’s game at TD Garden, trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup.

After losing Game 1 5-1, the Panthers have outscored the Bruins 12-3. And last night the Panthers only allowed 14 shots on their net.

THE BRUINS AREN’T CARE BEARS

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and team president Brendan Shanahan were among the suits who worked the press room yesterday in Toronto when the team finally discussed its early exit from the playoffs.

While Toronto’s management did its best to focus forward, promise change and post-season victories — and anything else to put smiles on the disappointed fan base — the Bruins, apparently had no problem looking in the rear-view mirror.

Sports Illustrated featured a photo on Instagram yesterday that showed the Bruins’ Jumbotron showing sad fans in Toronto moments after the Bruins eliminated the Maple Leafs in Game 7 — their seventh straight playoff series over the Canadian squad.

CRUNCH TIME IN DENVER

The Colorado Avalanche won’t need a program to identify Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn tonight. Self-control, perhaps.

The Avalanche were still seething yesterday over the non-call when Benn levelled defenceman Devon Toews in a collision with high contact.

Coach Jared Bednar was livid that officials parked the whistle on the controversial hit to the head, while Stars coach Peter DeBoer called it a clean “hockey play” in a punishing game.

The good news is that Toews appears OK to play, but the bad blood remains between the Western Conference rivals heading into Game 3.

SWEEP DREAMS FOR RANGERS

The New York Rangers have carried the form that made them the NHL’s best regular-season team straight into the post-season. That has them within a win of becoming the first team to advance to the Eastern Conference final.

The Rangers visit the Carolina Hurricanes in tonight’s Game 4. The Presidents’ Trophy winner is on the verge of sweeping past the team that finished third in the standings. The Rangers are also the first team in 16 years to start a post-season at 7-0.

The 1994 Rangers also started the playoffs at 7-0 and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Despite facing a sweep and elimination, the Hurricanes believe they could be leading the series, pointing to a 4-3 loss in double overtime in Game 2, and a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2024.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Five things to know about the NHL playoffs

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