The Hurricanes and Panthers will look to take a 3-0 lead in their respective Second Round series Sunday, while the Kraken and Stars shift to Seattle after splitting their first two games at American Airlines Center.
Each contest will be carried on TBS in the U.S. as well as on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
* Carolina has outscored New Jersey by a combined 11-2 margin through the first two games and can take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for the third time in franchise history (also 2019 R2 & 2006 CSF), while the Devils look to become the third team in NHL history to win multiple series during a playoff year after overcoming a 2-0 deficit (also BOS in 2011 & PIT in 2009).
Sebastian Aho (22-33—55 in 56 GP) is closing in on Saku Koivu (18-41—59 in 80 GP) for seventh place on the League’s all-time playoff points list among Finnish-born players, while Ondrej Palat (50-49—99 in 147 GP) needs one to join Jaromir Jagr (78-123—201 in 208 GP), David Krejci (43-85—128 in 160 GP) and Patrik Elias (45-80—125 in 162 GP) as the fourth Czech-born skater in NHL history with a triple-digit total.
* Florida can extend its franchise-record playoff winning streak to six contests and take a 3-0 series lead for the second time in club history (also 1996 CQF), while Toronto is tasked with rallying to earn its second all-time series win after dropping each of the first two games at home (also 1942 SCF).
Matthew Tkachuk (4-8—12 in 6 GP) and Auston Matthews (5-6—11 in 8 GP) enter Sunday with a point streak of six and eight contests, respectively – Tkachuk can tie the franchise playoff record set by Dave Lowry (7 GP in 1996) and Matthews can surpass Gary Roberts (8 GP in 2002), Doug Gilmour (8 GP in 1993) as well as Gary Leeman (8 GP in 1986) for sole possession of the longest postseason run in club history.
* Seattle and Dallas will battle for a 2-1 series lead as Climate Pledge Arena hosts a Second Round game for the first time.
Rookie Tye Kartye (2-0—2 in 5 GP) can become the first player to score each of his first three career NHL goals in the postseason since Frederick Gaudreau did so with the Predators during their run to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final, while17-season veteran Joe Pavelski (5-0—5 in 2 GP) can become the fourth player in Stars/North Stars history with six goals in a single Stanley Cup Playoffs series.
Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 7, 2023
Game 3 record in best-of-seven: 10-19 (.345) overall, 5-9 (.357) on the road
Leading 2-0 in a best-of-seven: 7-2 (.778) overall, 6-2 (.750) when starting at home
Leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven: 2-0 (1.000) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting at home
Leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 7-4 (.636) overall, 6-3 (.667) when starting at home
New Jersey
Game 3 record in best-of-seven: 25-20 (.556) overall, 11-11 (.500) at home
Trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven: 2-7 (.222) overall, 0-5 (.000) when starting on the road
Trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven: 0-3 (.000) overall, 0-2 (.000) when starting on the road
Trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 6-13 (.316) overall, 3-7 (.300) when starting on the road
Pre-game
* The Hurricanes have outscored the Devils by a combined 11-2 margin in the Second Round, with Carolina’s 11 goals marking its most through the first two contests in a series in franchise history. The only instances of the Hurricanes/Whalers scoring 12 or more goals through the first three games in a series were during the 1986 Division Semifinals (16), 2022 First Round (12), 2021 First Round (12) and 2006 Conference Semifinals (12).
* The Hurricanes can score five-plus goals in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise playoff history. The only team to achieve the feat this postseason was Edmonton during the final three contests of its First Round series against Los Angeles.
Game 3 record in best-of-seven: 34-46 (.425)overall, 12-19 (.387) on the road
Trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven: 4-17 (.190) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting at home
Trailing 3-0 in a best-of-seven: 1-11 (.083) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting at home
Trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 10-21 (.323) overall, 5-6 (.455) when starting at home
Florida
Game 3 record in best-of-seven: 4-8 (.333) overall, 1-4 (.200) at home
Leading 2-0 in a best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000) overall, have never started 2-0 when starting on the road
Leading 3-0 in a best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000) overall, have never started 3-0 when starting on the road
Leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 1-1 (.500) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting on the road
Pre-game
* The Panthers can take a 3-0 series lead for the second time in franchise history. The first instance was against the Bruins in the 1996 Conference Quarterfinals.
* The Maple Leafs look to win a best-of-seven series after dropping each of the first two games at home for the second time in franchise history. The first instance was against the Red Wings in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final.
* Matthew Tkachuk (4-8—12 in 6 GP) owns an active six-game point streak and can tie Dave Lowry (7 GP in 1996) for the longest in franchise playoff history.
* Auston Matthews (5-6—11 in 8 GP) is one game shy of establishing a franchise playoff record for longest point streak.Matthews can become the fourth player in the last 25 years with a postseason-opening point streak of nine or more contests, following Nathan MacKinnon (14 GP in 2020), Johan Franzen (12 GP in 2010) and Anze Kopitar (10 GP in 2014).
Dallas
Game 3 record in best-of-seven: 23-36 (.390) overall, 9-16 (.360) on the road
Tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven: 16-15 (.516) overall, 9-3 (.750) when starting at home
Leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 16-6 (.727) overall, 9-1 (.900) when starting at home
Trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 9-17 (.346) overall, 5-5 (.500) when starting at home
Seattle
Game 3 record in a best-of-seven: 0-1 (.000) overall, 0-1 (.000) at home
Tied 1-1 in a best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000) overall, 1-0 (1.000) when starting on the road
Leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven: have never held a 2-1 series lead
Trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven: 1-0 (1.000) overall, when starting on the road
Pre-game
* Joe Pavelski (5-0—5 in 2 GP) has already tied the fourth highest single-series goal total in franchise history. The only Stars/North Stars players with more than five in a series are Tony McKegney (7 in 1985 DF), Steve Payne (7 in 1981 PRLM) and Denis Gurianov (6 in 2020 R1).
Most goals in a series by a player age 38 or older, NHL history:
6 – Teemu Selanne in 2011 CQF (6-1—7 in 6 GP)
5 – Joe Pavelski in 2023 R2 (5-0—5 in 2 GP)
5 – Johnny Bucyk in 1974 SF (5-4—9 in 6 GP)
* Miro Heiskanen (9-31—40 in 55 GP) needs one playoff point to tie Glen Wesley (12-29—41 in 88 GP) for the sixth most in NHL history by a defenseman before age 24 (Wesley’s totals include two goals during suspended game in 1988 SCF). The only blueliners with more are Paul Coffey (32-50—82 in 67 GP), Cale Makar (15-45—60 in 55 GP), Ray Bourque (11-32—43 in 42 GP), Denis Potvin (16-27—43 in 42 GP) and Bobby Orr (15-27—42 in 35 GP).
* Tye Kartye (2-0—2 in 5 GP) can become the 17th player to score each of his first three career NHL goals in the postseason since 1927 (when Stanley Cup was competed for solely by NHL teams).
Players to score first 3+ career NHL goals in playoffs, since 1927:
6 – Darren Helm (2008 to 2009)
5 – Chris Kreider (2012)
4 – Eddie Mazur (1952 to 1953)
4 – Torey Krug (2013)
3 – Frederick Gaudreau (2017)
3 – Sam Bennett (2015)
3 – Bill Guerin (1992)
3 – Marc Bureau (1991)
3 – Perry Ganchar (1984)
3 – Ray Cote (1983)
3 – George McPhee (1983)
3 – Bobby Gould (1981)
3 – Kevin Maxwell (1981)
3 – J.P. Bordeleau (1972)
3 – Walt McKechnie (1968)
3 – John Harms (1944)
* The Kraken have 15 different players with at least one goal this postseason. Seattle can become the fifth team in the last 25 years with 16 different goal scorers within its first 10 games in a playoff year, following Colorado (16 in 2022), Vegas (16 in 2020), Columbus (16 in 2019) and Detroit (16 in 2011).
