* The Maple Leafs received a hat trick and four assists by John Tavares and Morgan Rielly, respectively, to rebound from a 7-3 loss in Game 1 with a 7-2 win in Game 2.
* After dropping Game 1 to Wild Card clubs, the Golden Knights and Avalanche each evened their series. It marked just the second time that every opening-round series involving Western Conference teams are tied 1-1 since conferences were renamed in 1994 (also 2010).
* Chris Kreider achieved a first-of-its-kind feat as the Rangers recorded a second straight 5-1 win at “The Rock” and will head back across the Hudson River with a 2-0 series lead.
MAPLE LEAFS FLIP THE SCRIPT TO EVEN FIRST ROUND SERIES WITH LIGHTNING
Toronto, which fell behind 3-0 through 20 minutes and 6-2 through 40 in its postseason-opening loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, raced to a 3-0 first-intermission lead and built it to 6-1 at the second en route to a bounce-back victory in Game 2.
* Morgan Rielly recorded the primary helper on each of the Maple Leafs’ first four goals – including all three in the first period – to match the franchise record for most assists in a playoff game. Doug Gilmour (Game 4 of 1994 CSF), Darryl Sittler (Game 3 of 1977 PRLM) and Ian Turnbull (Game 6 of 1976 QF) achieved the feat prior to Rielly.
* John Tavares made hats rain down at Scotiabank Arena, marking the first playoff hat trick by the Maple Leafs in over two decades as he became just the fourth Toronto player in the past 30 years to record a three-goal performance in the postseason. He joined Alexander Mogilny (Game 1 of 2003 QCF), Mike Gartner (Game 5 of 1996 CQF) and Wendel Clark (Game 6 of 1993 CF).
* The Maple Leafs became the second team in the past 29 years to score seven goals in a playoff contest immediately after allowing seven-plus in their previous outing, joining the Penguins in the 2012 Conference Quarterfinals.
DIVISION LEADERS EVEN THEIR SERIES
The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights and Central Division-leading Avalanche each earned comeback wins Thursday to even their series at 1-1. Each opening-round series involving Western Conference teams are tied 1-1 for the first time since 2010.
* Jack Eichel scored his first career postseason goal while appearing in just his second career playoff game. Eichel has the fifth-most regular-season goals (175) among active players before scoring his first in the postseason, behind Matt Duchene (232), Jordan Eberle (209), Taylor Hall (191) and Evander Kane (186). The evened series now shifts to Winnipeg for the return of the “Winnipeg Whiteout.”
* Cale Makar (0-1—1) factored on the first of three unanswered Colorado goals to help the Avalanche secure a multi-goal comeback win – Colorado had one multi-goal comeback victory during its 2022 Stanley Cup championship run (Game 4 of CF) and completed 10 comebacks overall, tied with the 2009 Penguins for the most in NHL history in a postseason. The deadlocked series now shifts to Seattle, which will host the first Stanley Cup Playoffs game in over 104 years.
KREIDER ACHIEVES NHL-FIRST AS RANGERS TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD ON THE ROAD
Chris Kreider tallied twice and became the first player in League history with four power-play goals through his first two games in a playoff year while countrymen Patrick Kane (1-2—3) and Adam Fox (0-2—2) combined for five points as New York left Prudential Center with a 2-0 lead in its First Round series.
* Kreider (4-0—4 in 2 GP) needs just two power-play goals to match the NHL record for most in a single series, a mark set by former Rangers forward Chris Kontos in the 1989 Division Semifinals (6 w/ LAK). Kreider is just five back of the League record for most in a playoff year, which is shared by Mike Bossy in 1981 (9 w/ NYI) and Cam Neely in 1991 (9 w/ BOS).
* Kane (53-83—136 in 138 GP) scored his 53rd career postseason goal and tied Jeremy Roenick (53-69—122 in 154 GP) for fourth place on the NHL’s all-time list among U.S.-born players. Joe Pavelski (64-62—126 in 169 GP), Joe Mullen (60-46—106 in 143 GP) and Mike Modano (58-88—146 in 176 GP) round out the top three.
* Fox (0-6—6 in 2 GP) became the sixth defenseman in League history with six points through his first two games in a playoff year, joining Gary Suter in 1988 (1-6—7 in 2 GP), John Carlson in 2018 (0-6—6 in 2 GP), Al MacInnis in 1999 (2-4—6 in 2 GP), Bobby Orr in 1971 (2-4—6 in 2 GP) and Pierre Pilote in 1964 (1-5—6 in 2 GP).-20110817.gif)
QUICK CLICKS
* Thursday’s #NHLStats: Live Updates
* NHL Network to premiere ‘NHL Regular Season Awards Show’ on Saturday
* Eli Manning hypes up Devils fans before Game 2 against Rangers
* Islanders set to soak in playoff atmosphere at UBS Arena for first time
* Brandon Tanev blows kiss in priceless goal celebration
FOUR TEAMS RETURN HOME AS SERIES SHIFT FOR PIVOTAL GAME 3s
The Islanders, Panthers, Wild and Kings all return to the friendly confines of their home rinks as four series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to contest pivotal Game 3s, with New York entering as the only club of the four looking to earn their first win of the 2023 postseason.
* The Islanders are set to host a playoff game at UBS Arena for the first time – a rink that witnessed the club conclude the regular season with four consecutive victories and outscoring the opposition 19-4 through that span. New York’s all-time winning percentage of .644 as the designated home team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is tied with Edmonton for the second highest in NHL history, trailing only Montreal (.656).
* Matthew Tkachuk and the Panthers evened their series against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Bruins in their last outing and now return to FLA Live Arena with the hopes of a 2-1 advantage. Florida, one of only two teams to hand Boston multiple losses during the regular season (FLA: 2-2-0 in 4 GP & OTT: 2-2-0 in 4 GP), also played a part in one of only two sets of consecutive Bruins losses in 2022-23 after handing the club an overtime defeat Jan. 28 (3 GP from Jan. 26-29 & 2 GP from March 12-14).
* Fresh off a four-assist performance in Game 2, Miro Heiskanen (0-5—5 in 2 GP) has his sights set on aiding the Stars to a 2-1 series versus the Wild as their First Round showdown shifts to “The State of Hockey”. Heiskanen sits second for points among defensemen so far this postseason, behind Adam Fox (0-6—6 in 2 GP).
* Leon Draisaitl (3-2—5 in 2 GP) has led the Oilers offensively through their first two games of the First Round series, a stretch that includes a 2-0—2 effort in Game 1 and 1-2—3 in Game 2. Already with 19 career multi-point games in the playoffs (39 GP), Draisaitl can become just the fourth player in NHL history to record multiple points in at least half of his first 40 career outings in the postseason; only Wayne Gretzky (25 GP), Sidney Crosby (22 GP) and Mario Lemieux (21 GP) have done so.
