NHL Public Relations

April 25, 2023

* The Maple Leafs earned a three-goal comeback win less than 24 hours after the Oilers completed one of their own at Crypto.com Arena. This marked the third time in Stanley Cup Playoffs history where a team earned a three-goal comeback victory on consecutive days, following Aug. 6-7, 2020 (CBJ in Game 3 of SCQ, TOR in Game 4 of SCQ) and April 19-20, 2011 (SJS in Game 3 of CQF, WSH in Game 4 of CQF).
 

* The Devils and Golden Knights also earned road wins Monday, with New Jersey pulling even after facing a 2-0 series deficit and Vegas withstanding the “Winnipeg Whiteout” once again to go up 3-1.

* The Kraken scored their first playoff overtime goal to earn their first postseason home win in franchise history and even their opening-round series at 2-2.

* The Hurricanes hope to become the first team to advance to the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs as three Game 5s go Tuesday.

LEAFS COMPLETE THREE-GOAL THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK WIN TO TAKE 3-1 SERIES LEAD
Alexander Kerfoot scored the overtime winner after his team overcame a three-goal third-period deficit as Toronto sent fans at Maple Leaf Square into a state of pandemonium and moved within one victory of its first series win in over 19 years.

* Auston Matthews had two third-period goals in a span of 2:45 and Morgan Rielly recorded the tying tally, with Mitchell Marner (2-8—10 in 4 GP) assisting on two of the three markers to become the first 10-point scorer this postseason. Marner became the second player in franchise history with a double-digit point total through four games in a playoff year, joining Darryl Sittler in 1977 (3-8—11 in 4 GP).

* The Maple Leafs hold a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series for the 14th time in franchise history. Toronto owns an all-time series record of 11-2 in the previous 13, including seven instances where the clinching win was earned in Game 5.

EBERLE SCORES KRAKEN’S FIRST PLAYOFF OVERTIME GOAL AS SEATTLE EVENS SERIES
Jordan Eberle scored the first postseason overtime goal in franchise history as the Kraken earned their first-ever home win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and evened their opening-round series with the Avalanche at 2-2. Eberle scored his second career overtime goal in the postseason, following the 2OT winner in Game 5 of the 2020 Conference Finals (w/ NYI).

* Each of the NHL’s last four expansion franchises have earned a win in their first playoff game which required overtime. The Kraken followed the Golden Knights (Game 2 of 2018 R1), Blue Jackets (Game 2 of 2014 R1) and Wild (Game 6 of 2003 CQF).
 

SWISS-BORN PLAYERS SHINE AS NEW JERSEY EVENS FIRST ROUND SERIES ON THE ROAD
Akira Schmid (22 saves) allowed one goal against for the second time in as many appearances while fellow countrymen Jonas Siegenthaler (1-1—2) and Nico Hischier connected on the winning goal as the Devils earned another victory at Madison Square Garden to pull even in their First Round series.

* Schmid improved to 2-0 through his first two career appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 0.91 goals-against average and .966 save percentage. He became the second goaltender in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history to earn a victory in each of his first two career postseason games, joining Chris Terreri (2-0 in 1990).

* New Jersey tied a best-of-seven series at 2-2 after dropping its first two contests for the third time in franchise history (also 2002 CQF & 1994 CSF). The Devils went on to earn a six-game triumph against the Bruins in the 1994 Conference Semifinals before facing the Rangers during the following round.
 

GOLDEN KNIGHTS ONE OF THREE ROAD WINS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES

Chandler Stephenson (0-2—2) recorded his third straight multi-point game to help the Golden Knights take a 3-1 series lead back to Vegas. Monday concluded with three road teams earning wins – this note and more were featured in the most-recent edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates.

QUICK CLICKS

*Matthew Tkachuk fined $5,000 for actions in Panthers’ Game 4 against Bruins
* Filip Gustavsson comfortable, ‘been great’ for Wild ahead of Game 5 vs. Stars
* Tyler Bertuzzi proving he’s ‘made for playoffs’ with Bruins in East 1st Round

* Oilers ‘showed a lot of maturity’ to rally for Game 4 win
* Color of Hockey: Willie O’Ree, Bob Dawson to receive honorary doctorate degrees

KEY CONTRIBUTORS LOOK TO RISE TO THE OCCASION FOR GAME 5s

A trio of Game 5s account for the Tuesday schedule in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the Islanders looking to stave off elimination against the Hurricanes while the Wild and Stars as well as the Kings and Oilers battle it out for a 3-2 series lead.

* Zach Parise of the Islanders and Sebastian Aho of the Hurricanes have relished in their opportunities during potential elimination games and series-clinching games, respectively. Parise has posted 5-10—15 in 22 career games in his predicament – the most on the Islanders current roster – while Aho (6-4—10 in 8 GP) needs one to surpass Eric Staal (4-6—10 in 12 GP) for the most career points in potential series-clinching games by a Hurricanes/Whalers player.

* Mats Zuccarello (2-3—5 in 4 GP) and Roope Hintz (4-4—8 in 4 GP) look to continue their recent strings of success as the Wild and Stars square off in Dallas. Zuccarello can join Parise (6 GP in 2014) as the second player in franchise history with a postseason-opening point streak of at least five games, while Hintz sits two points shy of tying the most in a single series in Stars team history (Mike Modano: 4-6—10 in 2003 CQF, Sergei Zubov:4-6—10 in 2003 CQF & Jamie Benn: 4-6—10 in 2016 R1).

* Leon Draisaitl (5-4—9 in 2023) sits two points shy of 70 career points in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (23-45—68 in 41 GP). With another multi-point game – something he has done in three of four outings so far this postseason – Draisaitl would be the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach the mark. Wayne Gretzky (29 GP), Mario Lemieux (36 GP) and Jari Kurri (49 GP) are the only ones to do so in fewer than 50 contests.
 

COURTESY NHLmedia.com