2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 2

2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 9, 2023

The Devils and Stars will have the opportunity to even their Second Round series at 2-2, while both the Hurricanes and Kraken can move within one win of advancing to the Conference Finals as the four clubs get set to contest Game 4.

* The Hurricanes will look to rebound from a Game 3 loss and move within one win of their first Conference Finals appearance since 2019 – Carolina has not suffered consecutive losses so far this postseason. Sebastian Aho has career totals of 4-15—19 in 22 games following a loss in the postseason, which rank second in franchise playoff history behind Eric Staal (9-12—21 in 18 GP).

* Luke Hughes factored on two of the Devils’ eight goals Sunday to help the club cut their series deficit in half. Should he record a multi-point outing on Tuesday, he would become the fifth defenseman in NHL history to record four points in their first two playoff contests – Hughes would join Dave Ellett (1985 w/ WIN), Joe Micheletti (1981 w/ STL), Paul Reinhart (1981 w/ CGY) and Ron Stackhouse (1975 w/ PIT). No blueliner has ever recorded five.

* The Kraken took a 2-1 series lead for the first time after a seven-goal performance in Game 3 – Seattle has scored a total of 32 goals so far this postseason, which is the third most among all teams in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs behind Florida (36) and Edmonton (35). The most goals by a franchise in a two-game span during their first postseason is 13, a mark set by their opponent – the North Stars scored 13 between Game 6 and Game 7 of the 1968 Quarterfinals against Los Angeles.

* Joe Pavelski, who sits second among all players in goals during the Second Round with five behind only Leon Draisaitl (6), leads all players on the Stars roster in career points in games following a loss in the postseason. Pavelski is 40-31 all-time in those contests.

Source: NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Playoffs Edition – May 9, 2023

2023

By NHL Public Relations

May 7, 2023

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.