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