Hurricanes 2, Islanders 1 OT (Hurricanes win series 4-2)

Paul Stastny scored the series-clinching overtime winner at exactly 6:00 of overtime to send the Canes to the second round. The goal was the 37-year-old Stastny's third career playoff overtime winner, also giving him goals in back-to-back games.

STASTNY PLAYS OT HERO TO CLINCH THE SERIES! 🦸

Paul Stastny nets the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner for the Hurricanes to beat the Islanders and advance to the Second Round! pic.twitter.com/Gn3oHboRed

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2023

Anytime I can post a stat like this, I will.

Giving his @Canes the 2-1 defeat of the Islanders tonight (advancing them to Round 2), Paul Stastny joined Peter (with the Nordiques in both 1985 vs the Canadiens and 1987 vs the Whalers) as the only father-son pairing in NHL history to each score playoff series-winning OT goals pic.twitter.com/clReq6Isgr

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) April 29, 2023

Frederik Andersen impressed in his playoff debut, stopping 33 of 34 shots to earn a win and quality start. He also broke a streak of eight consecutive games without a win when trying to clinch a playoff series. Assuming he's not still battling an injury, expect Andersen to take over from Antti Raanta as the starter in the next round.

Cal Clutterbuck scored the Islanders' only goal, which was his only point of the series. That equals him with Anders Lee, who was also held to a single goal in Game 3 and no assists. Scoring isn't the Islanders' biggest strength, but they seemed to be able to play their style of game for much of the series, which meant that I had a hard time getting excited about watching this series.

Because Canucks fans will want to know, Bo Horvat scored one goal with one assist in six playoff games. He finished the regular season with seven goals and 16 points in 30 games as an Islander after scoring 31 goals and 54 points in 49 games with the Canucks. That's a massive drop from 1.10 PTS/GP to 0.53 PTS/GP. His eight-year contract extension kicks in next season, so Islanders fans will be hoping for improvement.

Panthers 7, Bruins 5 (series tied 3-3)

I thought this series was over after Game 4, when the Bruins were leading this series 3-1. Yet the Panthers have clawed (pardon the pun) their way back with an overtime win in Game 5 and an Eetu Luostarinen game-winner with just over five minutes left in the third period.

Although the Panthers didn't look like much of a threat entering the playoffs, remember that they are a team that is only one year removed from a Presidents' Trophy win. Despite some notable offseason departures, the Panthers added an elite player in Matthew Tkachuk, who has been carrying this team. After leading Florida with 109 points (31 points ahead of the next-highest scorer), Tkachuk also leads his team in the playoffs with 10 points, including two goals and an assist in Game 6. If the Panthers pull off the Game 7 upset on Sunday, it will likely be because Tkachuk was a difference maker.

In the loss, Tyler Bertuzzi scored two goals, added an assist, yet finished with a minus-3. Draisaitl Hat Trick! Since being traded to Boston, Bertuzzi has 16 points in 21 regular-season games and nine points in six playoff games. As much as he appears to be a great fit on David Pastrnak's line, Bertuzzi is a UFA after the season set for a big raise from somebody. The Bruins won't have an easy time squeezing him in, although they have some other business to take care of before they worry about next season.

Speaking of Pastrnak, he scored two power-play goals while taking seven shots. He's scored four goals during the playoff series with the Panthers but has failed to record an assist.

Brad Marchand chipped in four assists, but he too was a minus player (-2).

The HNIC panel was debating whether Linus Ullmark should start Game 7 after allowing six goals in Game 6. Ullmark has had two consecutive really bad starts and three in this series, which accounts for all of the Bruins' losses. To compare, he had only two really bad starts during the entire regular season. It's easy to lay the blame on him for the Game 6 result, but the Bruins defense shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions in this game. I don't see the Bruins turning to the well-rested but cold Jeremy Swayman in Game 7, but it's worth discussing because Ullmark hasn't exactly been in top form. Regardless, this is a massive decision that could have season-ending consequences for a team coming off a record-setting regular season.

Stars 4, Wild 1 (Stars win series 4-2)

Max Domi and Mason Marchment each scored a goal while assisting on each other's goals. Domi had been held without a point in his first four games of the series, but he now has points in back-to-back games. With seven points in 20 regular-season games since moving to Dallas, Domi probably hasn't scored as much as the Stars had hoped when they acquired him. Still, his 0.70 PTS/GP this season (56 PTS in 80 GP) is his highest total in four seasons. His icetime is about two minutes per game less in Dallas than it was in Chicago, which explains the decline. He will have the opportunity to sign elsewhere this offseason.

Jake Oettinger has found his form at the right time, posting three consecutive quality starts while allowing just three goals over those three games (all wins). The Wild had been shut out five consecutive periods before scoring their lone goal of Game 6 in the third period.

After the game, Marc-Andre Fleury admitted that he will play one more season but might retire after that (Michael Russo).

Kirill Kaprizov was a playoff pool dud, scoring a goal in Game 1 but being held pointless in five games after that. We'll find out soon whether he was battling through an injury. Keep in mind that he had just returned from an injury shortly before the playoffs. He had also drawn the daunting matchup of facing Miro Heiskanen, who deserves some Norris Trophy consideration as a two-way threat on defense.

Heiskanen, by the way, has played 26:22, 27:00, 28:20, and 28:25 over the last four games. None of those icetime totals were artificially boosted by overtime games.

Avalanche 4, Kraken 1 (series tied 3-3)

After Game 5, this series looked prime for an upset. The Avalanche are currently without Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin, while Cale Makar had just served a one-game suspension. Seattle doesn't possess the high-level talent that Colorado has with Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen, but their third and fourth lines look more legit than those of the Avalanche. Should we be that surprised that this series is going seven?

Just like Boston, Colorado has the advantage of home ice for their Game 7. Last change, the loud fans, the pressure of potentially losing to an underdog? Upsets are a thing in playoff hockey, so one or both of these teams could easily be sent packing on Sunday.

Artturi Lehkonen scored a pair of goals with a plus-3, five shots, and four hits. He's turned into quite the playoff performer with 11 goals in 26 playoff games over the past two seasons.

Back from his suspension, Makar registered two assists while logging nearly 27 minutes. Devon Toews matched Makar's assist total.

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I have a hard time thinking that the Jets should return with the same core next season. Pierre-Luc Dubois is believed to have his eye on moving elsewhere, while longtime Jets Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler may have played their last games with the team. One player that has surprisingly also been mentioned in those changes is Connor Hellebuyck, who has one year left on his current contract. Hellebuyck tied for the league lead in games played (64 GP), and his league-leading 44 quality starts demonstrates the value he has to the Jets. Hellebuyck has also had back-to-back seasons with 60+ games.

Assuming the Jets decide to keep him and attempt to extend him, this might be an opportunity to prioritize acquiring a better backup goalie as part of these changes. Seven goalies played at least 60 games, which has dropped significantly from the 2011-12 season, when 13 goalies played at least 60 games. I just wonder if that is sustainable even now, considering that teams also want to ride that same starter for a deep playoff run. For fantasy purposes, wear and tear on a goalie is something to monitor. As great as Hellebuyck has been this season, how effective will he be if he is forced to play another 60+ games?

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