Leafs Up 3-1 in Series After Rallying for OT Win

Good morning and happy Tuesday, April 25th.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been in the second round of the NHL playoffs in 19 years. They are 0-6 in the first round over the past six seasons. That includes an opening round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.

But the negativity of that aggravating slump could all be washed away Thursday if they can defeat the Lightning on home ice. The Maple Leafs carved out a path to redemption Monday night when they knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche at 4:14 of overtime on a goal by Alexander Kerfoot.

The Maple Leafs have been up 3-1 in a playoff series 13 times in franchise history and are 11-2 in those series.

Toronto took command of the series with a three-goal outburst in the third period, led by Auston Matthews who scored twice in a span of 2:45. Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored the tying goal on a shot from the point with just under four minutes left in regulation.

William Nylander had three assists, and Mitch Marner had two. Marner (2-8–10) is the first player with 10 points in this year’s playoff. Marner joins Darryl Sittler (3-8–11) as the only players in Toronto history to reach double-digits in points in the first four games. Sittler’s 11 points came in 1977.

⭐️ Jordan Eberle scored the first postseason overtime goal in franchise history to give the Seattle Kraken their first-ever home win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eberle scored on a power play three minutes into overtime to beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 3-2 and create a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven opening round series. The win was costly for Seattle: the team’s leading scorer Jared McCann was knocked out of the game on a hit by Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. Initially, Makar was assessed a major penalty. It was changed to a minor after video review. The Kraken said McCann will miss Game 5 and “probably” longer.

⭐️ Chandler Stephenson recorded two assists for his third consecutive multiple-point game to help the Vegas Golden Knights take a 3-1 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets. The Vegas 4-2 win Monday means the team can win the series at home Thursday night. Brett Howden, a six-goal scorer in the regular-season, scored twice for Vegas. The Jets lost forward Mark Scheifele to an upper body injury early in the first period. Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said Scheifele’s injury will be determined today.

Question

• Leafs erase 3-goal deficit in 3rd period, top Lightning in OT

• Rangers offense stifled again in Game 4 loss

• Injury-riddled Jets lose Scheifele, fall into deeper hole vs. Golden Knights

• Kraken win but lose Jared McCann for Game 5, 'probably longer'

• Oilers' goaltending the buzz heading into Game 5 vs. Kings

• Gustavsson comfortable, 'been great' for Wild ahead of Game 5 vs. Stars

• Examining how trade-deadline deals are paying off for playoff teams

• Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk fined max $5K for cross-check

• Pavelski skating again, return for Stars still uncertain

• Can Antti Raanta lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a Cup?

• Flames re-sign forward Walker Duehr to two-year, $1.65M contract

• Emergence of young Sabres could make Victor Olofsson a trade candidate

• Defenseman Justin Braun retires after playing 13 NHL seasons

• 🚨 Jack Hughes dekes Shesterkin on breakaway for early game 4 lead

• ✌️ Auston Matthews scores two straight midway through 3rd

• ⏱️ William Karlsson & Ivan Barbashev score 47 seconds apart to give the Golden Knights the lead

• ☝️ Mikko Rantanen collects pass with 1 hand before scoring

• 💣 Will Borgen with one-time bomb to give Kraken 1-0 lead

• How to take a backhand shot, tips and drills

• Advanced skills: skating and stickhandling with one foot stepping on a puck

TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer…

Good morning and happy Tuesday, April 25th.

⏰ Time is running out to enter to win up to 20 FREE hockey sticks thanks to our partnership with ProStockHockey.com…

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been in the second round of the NHL playoffs in 19 years. They are 0-6 in the first round over the past six seasons. That includes an opening round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.

But the negativity of that aggravating slump could all be washed away Thursday if they can defeat the Lightning on home ice. The Maple Leafs carved out a path to redemption Monday night when they knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning at 4:14 of overtime on a goal by Alexander Kerfoot.

The Maple Leafs have been up 3-1 in a playoff series 13 times in franchise history and are 11-2 in those series.

Toronto took command of the series with a three-goal outburst in the third period, led by Auston Matthews who scored twice in a span of 2:45. Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored the tying goal on a shot from the point with just under four minutes left in regulation.

William Nylander had three assists, and Mitch Marner had two. Marner (2-8–10) is the first player with 10 points in this year’s playoff. Marner joins Darryl Sittler (3-8–11) as the only players in Toronto history to reach double-digits in points in the first four games. Sittler’s 11 points came in 1977.

⭐️ Jordan Eberle scored the first postseason overtime goal in franchise history to give the Seattle Kraken their first-ever home win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eberle scored on a power play three minutes into overtime to beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche 3-2 and create a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven opening round series. The win was costly for Seattle: the team’s leading scorer Jared McCann was knocked out of the game on a hit by Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. Initially, Makar was assessed a major penalty. It was changed to a minor after video review. The Kraken said McCann will miss Game 5 and “probably” longer.

⭐️ Chandler Stephenson recorded two assists for his third consecutive multiple-point game to help the Vegas Golden Knights take a 3-1 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets. The 4-2 Vegas win Monday means the team can win the series at home Thursday night. Brett Howden, a six-goal scorer in the regular-season, scored twice for Vegas. The Jets lost forward Mark Scheifele to an upper body injury early in the first period. Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said Scheifele’s injury will be determined today.

Who holds the NHL’s all time record for shorthanded goals scored in the playoffs?

• Rangers offense stifled again in Game 4 loss

• Oilers' goaltending the buzz heading into Game 5 vs. Kings

• Gustavsson comfortable, 'been great' for Wild ahead of Game 5 vs. Stars

• Examining how trade-deadline deals are paying off for playoff teams

• Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk fined max $5K for cross-check

• Pavelski skating again, return for Stars still uncertain

• Can Antti Raanta lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a Cup?

• Flames re-sign forward Walker Duehr to two-year, $1.65M contract

• Emergence of young Sabres could make Victor Olofsson a trade candidate

• Defenseman Justin Braun retires after playing 13 NHL seasons

• 🚨 Jack Hughes dekes Shesterkin on breakaway for early game 4 lead

• ✌️ Auston Matthews scores two straight midway through 3rd

• ⏱️ William Karlsson & Ivan Barbashev score 47 seconds apart to give the Golden Knights the lead

• ☝️ Mikko Rantanen collects pass with 1 hand before scoring

• 💣 Will Borgen with one-time bomb to give Kraken 1-0 lead

• How to take a backhand shot, tips and drills

• Advanced skills: skating and stickhandling with one foot stepping on a puck

TRIVIA ANSWER

Mark Messier holds the NHL’s all time record for shorthanded goals in the playoffs with 14.