By NHL Public Relations

May 4, 2023

A doubleheader broadcast nationally in the U.S. (TNT) and Canada (SN, TVAS, CBC) features the higher-seeded Maple Leafs and Stars looking to even their respective Second Round series against the Panthers and Kraken. Teams that dropped Game 1 in the 2023 First Round owned a series record of 6-2, with Toronto and Dallas accounting for two of the wins.

* Auston Matthews (5-5—10 in 7 GP) and Morgan Rielly (3-6—9 in 6 GP) enter Thursday with active point streaks of seven and six contests, respectively, with the latter’s run kickstarted by a four-assist performance as the Maple Leafs rebounded in Game 2 of the First Round.Rielly needs one point to become the third defenseman in franchise history to reach 10 within a postseason in eight contests or fewer, following Tim Horton in 1962 (3-8—11 in 7 GP) and Ian Turnbull in 1978 (3-7—10 in 8 GP).

* Carter Verhaeghe can become the second player in League history to score three consecutive winning goals within a postseason multiple times in his NHL career, joining Jaromir Jagr (1992 & 2000). Florida would be the fifth franchise since 1979-80 (when the League expanded its postseason structure to include 16 teams) with a five-game winning streak after entering the playoffs with the fewest regular-season points among all clubs (outright or tied), following Montreal in 2021 (7-0), Philadelphia in 2010 (6-0), Nashville in 2017 (5-0) and Toronto in 1987 (5-0).

* Yanni Gourde, who got the overtime winner in Game 1, and Seattle will look to keep its momentum going at American Airlines Center and improve to 5-1 as visitors in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Kraken would be the fifth franchise in NHL history with five or more road wins during their first trip to the postseason, joining the Golden Knights (6-4 in 2018), Wild (6-4 in 2003), Panthers (5-6 in 1996) and Islanders (5-5 in 1975).
 

* Joe Pavelski made his presence known in his return to the Stars’ lineup when he potted four goals as Dallas erased a 4-2 third-period deficit in Game 1. Pavelski can become the 11th different player in NHL history with five goals in a postseason at age 38 or older and first since Mark Recchi did so with the eventual-champion Bruins in 2011 (5-9—14 in 25 GP).

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 4, 2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 4, 2023

Game 2 Trends
* Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs round hold an all-time series 343-55 (.862), including an 1-1 (.500) mark in 2023.

* Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven round when starting at home hold a series record of 258-34 (.884), including a 1-0 (1.000) mark in 2023.

* Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series when starting on the road hold a series record of 85-21 (.802), including a 0-1 (.000) mark in 2023.

Florida
Game 2 Record in best-of-seven: 5-7 (.417) overall, 1-4 (.400) on the road
Leading 1-0 in best-of-seven: 3-1 (.750) overall, 2-0 (1.000) when starting on the road
Leading 2-0 in best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000) overall; have never started 2-0 when starting on road
Tied 1-1 in best-of-seven: 4-3 (0.571) overall, 3-0 (1.000) when starting on the road

Toronto
Game 2 Record in best-of-seven: 42-37-1 (.525) overall, 19-10-1 (.633) at home
Trailing 1-0 in best-of-seven: 17-29 (.370) overall, 9-3 (.750) when starting at home
Tied 1-1 in best-of-seven: 17-24 (.415) overall, 12-8 (.600) when starting at home
Trailing 2-0 in best-of-seven: 4-17 (.190) overall and 1-0 (1.000) when starting at home

Pre-game
* The Panthers have won four road playoff games dating back to Game 2 against Boston, which is their longest such streak in franchise history. The longest such streak in the regular season for Florida is six from Dec. 15, 2015 to Jan. 10, 2016.

* The Panthers, who qualified for the playoffs with the least number of points among all 16 teams, are looking for their fifth straight win dating back to Game 5 against Boston. The teams with the fewest regular season points among all playoff clubs has posted a win streak of five or more games twice in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) four times: Montreal (7 GP in 2021), Philadelphia (6 GP in 2010), Predators (5 GP in 2017) and Maple Leafs (5 GP in 1987).

* Morgan Rielly (3-6—9 in 7 GP) is one point away from joining Tim Horton (7 GP in 1962) and Ian Turnbull (8 GP in 1978) as the only defensemen in Maple Leafs to register his 10th point of a postseason in eight games or fewer.

* Carter Verhaeghe enters play with consecutive game-winning goals after having a stretch of three straight games during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With another in Game 2, he can join Jaromir Jagr (3 GP in 2000 & 1992) as the second player in NHL history to achieve the feat multiple times.

Seattle
Game 2 Record in best-of-seven: 0-1 (.000), 0-1 (.000) on the road
Leading 1-0 in best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000), 1-0 (1.000) when starting on the road
Leading 2-0 in best-of-seven: have yet to lead 2-0 in a series
Tied 1-1 in best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000), 1-0 (1.000) when starting on the road

Dallas
Game 2 Record in best-of-seven: 27-32 (.458) overall, 16-9 (.640) at home
Trailing 1-0 in best-of-seven:  7-20 (0.259) overall, 6-5 (0.545) when starting at home
Tied 1-1 in best-of-seven: 16-15 (.516) overall, 9-3 (.750) when starting at home
Trailing 2-0 in best-of-seven: 1-13 (.071) overall, 0-4 (.000) when starting at home

* The Kraken enter with a road record of 4-1 in the 2023 Playoffs. The only teams to record more road victories during their first trip to the postseason are the Wild (6 in 2003), Golden Knights (6 in 2018), Panthers (5 in 1996) and Islanders (5 in 1975).

* Joe Pavelski can join Jari Kurri (2 GP in 1985) and Doug Bentley (2 GP in 1944) as the only players in NHL history to record a hat-trick in consecutive playoff games. No player has recorded four goals in consecutive postseason games.

* Joe Pavelski is coming off a four-goal performance in Game 1. Should he score again tonight he would join Steve Payne (5 in 1981) as the only players in Stars/North Stars history to record five goals over a two-game span in the postseason. 

Source: NHL Stats Resources – May 4, 2023