2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Games Preview – April 24, 2023

2023

Game 4 Trends:

* Teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series hold a series record of 299-31 (.906), including a 3-1 mark in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (0-1 in 2022 R1).

* When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 holds an all-time series record of 224-61 (.786), including a 5-3 mark in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (4-2 in R1).

New Jersey

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 23-21 (.523) overall, 9-13 (.409) on the road

Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 5-13 (.278) overall, 2-6 (.250) when starting at home

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 11-9 (.550) overall, 5-3 (.625) when starting at home
Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 1-10 (.091) overall, 0-6 (.000) when starting at home

NY Rangers

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 42-35 (.545) overall, 31-18 (.633) at home

Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 18-7 (.720) overall, 9-2 (.818) when starting on road

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 15-17 (.469) overall, 6-10 (.375) when starting on road

Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 14-1 (.933) overall, 8-1 (.889) when starting on road

Pre-game
* Chris Kreider (5-0—5 in 3 GP) has found the back of the net in each of the Rangers’ first three games of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only five players in franchise history have a longer run: Cecil Dillon (5 GP in 1933), Alex Kovalev (4 GP in 1994), Ron Duguay (4 GP in 1981), Ulf Nilsson (4 GP in 1981) and Pete Stemkowski (4 GP in 1973).

* Jack Hughes (2-0—2 in 3 GP) is tied with Patrik Elias (2) and Craig Wolanin (2) for the fifth most playoff goals by a Scouts/Rockies/Devils skater before age 22. The only players to record more playoff tallies prior to their 22nd birthday are Scott Gomez (9), Scott Niedermayer (6), Brendan Shanahan (5) and Bill Guerin (3).

Toronto

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 34-45 (.430)overall, 14-15 (.483) on the road

Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 18-12 (.600) overall, 13-2 (.867) when starting at home

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 20-18 (.526) overall, 13-3 (.813) when starting at home

Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 11-2 (.846) overall, 7-1 (.875) when starting at home

Tampa Bay

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 22-14 (.611) overall, 8-8 (.500) at home

Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 6-6 .500) overall, 3-5 (.375) when starting on road

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 8-6 (.571) overall, 3-4 (.429) when starting on road
Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 1-3 (.250) overall, 1-3 (.250) when starting on road

Pre-game
* Mitchell Marner (2-6—8 in 3 GP) is one of five Maple Leafs skaters to record multiple points in each of the first three games of a postseason. The others: Darryl Sittler (7 GP in 1977), Steve Thomas (3 GP in 1986), Miroslav Frycer(3 GP in 1983) and Paul Henderson (3 GP in 1971).

* Mitchell Marner (9-32—41 in 42 GP) enters tonight’s game tied with Ian Turnbull (32 in 55 GP) and Tim Horton (32 in 97 GP) for the ninth-most postseason assists in franchise history.

* After falling behind 2-1 in a series, the Lightning have gone on to win six times, two of which occurred during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (R1 vs. TOR & CF vs. NYR).

Vegas

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 7-4 (.636) overall, 4-4 (.500) on the road

Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 4-1 (.800) overall, 3-0 (1.000) when starting at home

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 2-1 (.667) overall, 1-1 (.500) when starting at home

Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 4-1 (.800) overall, 3-0 (1.000) when starting at home

Winnipeg

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 3-5 (.375) overall, 1-2 (.333) at home

Trailing 2-1 in best-of-seven: 0-2 (.000) overall, 0-0 (—) when starting on road

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 1-1 (.500) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting on road
Trailing 3-1 in best-of-seven: 0-1 (.000) overall, 0-0 (—) when starting on road

Pre-game
* Phil Kessel (34-49—83 in 99) is set to skate in his 100thcareer playoff game. His 83 points rank eighth among active skaters through as many games, trailing Sidney Crosby (43-75—118 in 100 GP), Nikita Kucherov (41-71—112 in 100 GP), Evgeni Malkin (42-69—111 in 100 GP), Patrick Kane (40-59—99 in 100 GP), Alex Ovechkin (48-46—94 in 100 GP), Jonathan Toews (32-57—89 in 100 GP) and Logan Couture (36-49—85 in 100 GP). Of note, Nathan MacKinnon has posted 43-53—96 in 73 playoff games to date.

* Neal Pionk (0-5—5) is one of three Thrashers/Jets skaters to record at least five assists in the opening round of a playoff year. Dustin Byfuglien (6 in 2019 & 5 in 2018) and Andrew Copp (5 in 2019) are the only other skaters to accomplish the feat.

Colorado

Game 4 record in best-of-seven: 30-20 (.600) overall, 21-10 (.677) on the road

Leading 2-1 in best-of-seven: 16-8 (.667) overall, 12-5 (.706) when starting at home

Tied 2-2 in best-of-seven: 11-11 (.500) overall, 6-5 (.545) when starting at home

Leading 3-1 in best-of-seven: 13-2 (.867) overall, 10-2 (.833) when starting at home

Pre-game
* Seattle has found the back of the net first in each of their first three playoff games. The Maple Leafs (5 GP as TAN) are the only franchise in NHL history to score first in each of their first four playoff games.

* Cale Makar (16-47—63 in 58 GP) enters tonight tied with Sandis Ozolinsh (18-47—65 in 82 GP) for the most postseason assists by a defenseman in franchise history.

* Cale Makar (16-47—63 in 58 GP) is tied with Paul Coffey (28-35—63 in 59 GP) for the third-most postseason points by a defenseman prior to their 60thgame in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. The only defensemen with more are Brian Leetch (25-48—73 in 59 GP) and Bobby Orr (22-50—72 in 59 GP).