By Basil Stroh
FOUR GAMES, FOUR CHANCES TO FORCE A GAME 7
A jam-packed Thursday – with four Game 6s slated – will have the Senators, Wild, Avalanche and Kings all entering with the same goal: to force a Game 7. For the fourth straight year, at least four potential series-clinching games will be played on the same date – a stretch the NHL hasn’t seen since three postseasons from 1995-97. The last instance – April 30, 2024 – saw the Maple Leafs and Predators both extend their series, while the Hurricanes and Avalanche advanced.
* There has been only one day in Stanley Cup Playoffs history where four teams won to force a Game 7: April 29, 1992 (PIT, NJD, BUF & HFD all extended their series). The only other dates with at least three were May 12, 2022, April 27, 1997 and May 17, 1995.
* Brady Tkachuk (3-3—6 in 5 GP), who is currently leading his team in scoring after posting three points in Game 5, will aim to help his club earn its third straight win to tie the series at 3-3 and force the third Game 7 in the ‘Battle of Ontario’ (also 2004 CQF & 2002 CSF). Tkachuk has points in each of the past four games and can match the second-longest point streak in the playoffs by a Senators player in the past 15 years (5 GP by Derick Brassard in 2017 & Jason Spezza in 2010). Daniel Alfredsson (6 GP in 2010) owns the longest stretch over that span.
* Kirill Kaprizov (5-4—9 in 5 GP) will aim to extend his postseason-opening point streak to six games and match Zach Parise (6 GP in 2014) for the longest run in Wild history. Minnesota has forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-2 in a series four times in franchise history (2021 R1, 2014 R1, 2003 CSF & 2003 CQF) – they went on to win the series in 2014 and both times in 2003.
* Nathan MacKinnon (5-2—7 in 5 GP) will aim to help the Avalanche win Game 6 after trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven series for the eighth time in franchise history – MacKinnon has been a part of three of the previous seven instances (2023 R1, 2020 R2 & 2019 R2). MacKinnon can climb the Avalanche/Nordiques list for most points when facing elimination (3-7—10 in 13 GP). The only players with more are Joe Sakic (11-11—22 in 22 GP), Peter Stastny (3-13—16 in 14 GP) and Mikko Rantanen (7-6—13 in 12 GP).
* Anze Kopitar (1-7—8 in 5 GP) will aim to help force the third Game 7 between the Kings and Oilers, with the last one coming in the first of four straight postseason series in which these two teams have met (2022 R1). Kopitar has recorded 7-9—16 (15 GP) in games when facing elimination throughout his career, which is tied with Wayne Gretzky (8-8—16 in 10 GP) for the second most in franchise history in that scenario. The list is topped by Luc Robitaille (9-13—22 in 18 GP).
COURTESY NHL PUBLIC RELATIONS
