* Roope Hintz became the first NHL player in nearly eight years with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a playoff contest as the Stars secured a Game 2 win to tie their First Round series at 1-1.
* Two other teams evened their First Round series via Game 2 wins Wednesday including the Panthers potting six goals at TD Garden to defeat the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins, who had accumulated 43 more points than Florida during the regular season.
* Four more First Round Game 2s go Thursday, including the Kraken looking to take a 2-0 lead against the reigning Stanley Cup champions before the series shifts to Seattle.
HINTZ’S HAT TRICK HELPS STARS SECURE GAME 2 WIN BEFORE SERIES SHIFTS NORTH
Roope Hintz (3-1—4) followed up his shorthanded goal in the opening five minutes with an even-strength and power-play tally to record the eighth playoff hat trick in franchise history and help Dallas win Game 2. The Stars scored seven goals in a postseason contest for the second time since relocating from Minnesota, which is where their First Round series shifts for Game 3 on Friday.
* Hintz became the 15th different player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a contest and first since Tyler Johnson in Game 2 of the 2015 Conference Finals (w/ TBL).
* Hintz and Miro Heiskanen (0-4—4) became the third and fourth players with a four-point game this postseason, following Anze Kopitar (1-3—4 on Monday) and Adam Fox (0-4—4 on Tuesday).
FLORIDA, EDMONTON ALSO PULL EVEN IN FIRST ROUND SERIES
The Panthers and Oilers also earned Game 2 wins Wednesday to even their respective First Round series at 1-1:
* Brandon Montour scored twice – including establishing a postseason franchise record for fastest goal to open a period – and 30-year-old Alex Lyon made 34 saves for his first career playoff win as Florida tallied six times against the Presidents’ Trophy winners prior to returning to Sunrise. The Panthers own an all-time series record of 2-0 when a best-of-seven round that they started on the road is tied 1-1.
* Montour became the first defenseman to record a multi-goal game this postseason and the first-ever to do so in Panthers playoff history. Montour is coming off of a career-high regular season where he tallied 16-57—73 (80 GP) to tie the franchise record for goals by a defenseman and establish new ones for assists and points.
* Leon Draisaitl (1-2—3) factored on three Edmonton goals and Stuart Skinner stopped 23 shots as the Oilers rebounded from their overtime loss in Game 1 with a 4-2 win. The series now shifts to Crypto.com Arena, where Edmonton went 2-1 against Los Angeles during the 2022 First Round including an 8-2 victory in Game 3.
* Draisaitl reached 43 playoff assists in his NHL career and tied Kevin Lowe for eighth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Skinner became the third different rookie goaltender in club history with a postseason win, joining Andy Moog (5; last: Game 5 of 1981 QF) and Grant Fuhr (2; last: Game 4 of 1982 DSF).
“CARDIAC CANES” STAGE THIRD-PERIOD RALLY EN ROUTE TO OVERTIME WIN IN GAME 2
The Hurricanes surrendered three straight goals to fall behind 3-2, but Jaccob Slavin (1-1—2) tied the contest with 7:41 remaining in regulation and Jesper Fast scored the overtime winner as Carolina took a 2-0 lead in its First Round series. The Hurricanes have won four straight home playoff contests that have required overtime dating to Game 3 of the 2009 Conference Semifinals, which is tied for the longest such stretch in franchise history (also 4-0 from Game 4 of 2001 CQF–Game 2 of 2002 CF).
* Wednesday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the four-game slate, including Slavin moving into sole possession of third place on the franchise’s all-time playoff goals list among Hurricanes/Whalers defensemen.
QUICK CLICKS
* Michael Bunting suspended 3 games, out for Maple Leafs starting in Game 2
* Dave Keon hopes Maple Leafs can win opening round for first time since 2004
* Sebastian Ahos facing off for Hurricanes, Islanders in First Round
* Avalanche have ‘a lot more to give’ against Kraken in Game 2
* Blockies Recap of Monday Night’s Action | Stanley Cup Playoffs | NHL
KRAKEN EYE HISTORY AS ROAD TEAMS LOOK FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD
All four series that will be contested Thursday had a road team win Game 1, with visitors accounting for seven of 12 wins so far in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Among that group, the Kraken can join rare company should they take a 2-0 series lead – they would become the seventh franchise in NHL history to win each of its first two playoff games all time (most recent: VGK in 2018) and the only team to ever do it with both of those victories coming on the road.
