Maple Leafs 2, Lightning 1 OT (Leafs win series 4-2)

"They've finally caught Lightning in a bottle!"

That was the call from Chris Cuthbert, one that he had no doubt saved for the occasion of the Toronto Maple Leafs finally lifting their playoff curse. It was bound to happen sooner or later with this group and for this team, which had not won a playoff series since 2004.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?

The captain scores the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner to send the @MapleLeafs to the Second Round! pic.twitter.com/MQOZuGOrsj

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 30, 2023

This is what it looks like when you exorcise playoff demons and save your job at the same time.

The reaction from Kyle Dubas: pic.twitter.com/DRyqT0VTR6

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 30, 2023

Ah, for a Canadian three time zones outside of the Toronto market who has had the Leafs stuffed down his throat for as long as he can remember watching hockey, I'm going to try to smile about this. Good for the Leafs. Their long-suffering fans deserve something like this, even if it's just a single playoff round win. And to our American readers, yes, the John Tavares goal will become a Canadian heritage moment that will even get its own postage stamp. Heck, there’s already a video essay about this monumental win. Is winning a first-round series their Stanley Cup? I guess we're about to find out.

What a tweet. In my Fifty Mission Cap. https://t.co/fhchRES9Wq

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) April 30, 2023

You know, this does not seem all that long ago. I guess I'm getting old.

It's been how long since the #LeafsForever won a playoff series? pic.twitter.com/OFk5vNNi2c

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 30, 2023

Michael Bunting returned to the lineup following his three-game suspension and one game as a healthy scratch when Sheldon Keefe didn't want to tinker with a winning lineup after Game 4.  

Justin Holl was a healthy scratch for Timothy Liljegren, who played just 10 minutes in Game 6. Erik Gustafsson also returned to the lineup after missing the entire series with an upper-body injury, playing just seven minutes but receiving second-unit power-play time. The Leafs went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in this game.

Luke Schenn is a hits machine again. With eight hits in Game 6, he has registered 33 hits over his last five games. Despite a crowded Toronto blueline, Schenn is still playing enough to provide value in that category for those playoff pools that record hits.

Shout out to the Lightning on what has been an impressive run these last few years with three consecutive final appearances. This was a team that learned from their devastating first-round loss in 2019 after winning the Presidents' Trophy, as well as previous seasons of falling short. They figured out what they needed to do to win in the playoffs, keeping their core intact while adding the right supplemental pieces. A longer offseason might be beneficial as it will give them additional much-needed rest.

Just as I expressed concern yesterday about Connor Hellebuyck being overworked, I wonder about the same for Andrei Vasilevskiy. Although he allowed just two goals on Saturday and had posted back-to-back quality starts, Vasilevskiy had looked shaky earlier in the series and wasn't as strong overall as Ilya Samsonov (4 W, 4 QS in last 5 GP). When combining regular season and playoffs, Vasilevskiy had played 86 games last season. The games played totals were less for the previous two seasons because of COVID-shortened seasons, but Vasilevskiy has played 60+ regular-season games over each of the last two seasons.

Since the 2019-20 season (the Lightning's first of back-to-back with their current group), only Hellebuyck has played in more regular-season games than Vasilevskiy (217 GP). Investing in a backup that can play at least 25 games might go a long way in extending Vasilevskiy's effectiveness as a top-tier goalie. That will be something to watch for in the offseason for the Lightning (and for the Jets, assuming they don't trade Hellebuyck).

Something to keep in the back of your mind for next season's drafts: Mikhail Sergachev logged 59.8% of his team's power-play minutes during the six-game playoff series, while Victor Hedman was on the ice for just 21.1%. I know Hedman had been battling an injury that forced him to miss Game 2, and the power-play percentages were very similar during the regular season. That being said, Sergachev was a better scorer during the regular season (0.81 PTS/GP compared to 0.64 PTS/GP), and his role on PP1 had carried forward from the last quarter of the season.

Hedman might still be valued ahead of Sergachev based on name and habit, but if this season is any indication, the 32-year-old defenseman is starting to lose value. Injury information that might surface over the coming days might also be relevant. Remember like Vasilevskiy, Hedman has played a lot of hockey over the past few seasons.

Rangers 5, Devils 2 (series tied 3-3)

To my friends in the New York area, I recognize that this series is a big deal as well. I haven't been able to watch as much of it, although I'm looking forward to Game 7.

Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal and added two assists for the Rangers. He now leads the playoffs with five power-play goals and is tied for the goal lead (6 G) as I type this. His goal was a typical Kreider tally.

Death, taxes, Chris Kreider tip-in on the powerplay 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H9wiTtWSUm

📢 advertisement:

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 30, 2023

Kreider's linemates Vladimir Tarasenko and Mika Zibanejad each scored a goal and added an assist with a plus-2.

A dose of reality hit Akira Schmid, who allowed five shots in Game 6 after allowing just two goals combined over his previous three starts. Schmid was pulled for Vitek Vanecek in the third period after allowing the Rangers' fifth goal. Schmid has been the much better goalie overall in this series, so that's who I'd expect Lindy Ruff to give the nod to in Game 7 on Monday. Whatever is decided then, expect the Devils to find a way to have Schmid on the NHL roster full-time next season. A Devils fan friend of mine even thinks Schmid will be the starter, for what that’s worth.

Oilers 5, Kings 4 (Oilers win series 4-2)

For the second consecutive season, the Oilers have ended the Kings' season in the first round. Kailer Yamamoto scored the game-winner with just over three minutes left in the third period.

KAILER YAMAMOTO WITH THE SERIES CLINCHING GOAL! 🍠 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/wfNv0c0TWM

— NHL (@NHL) April 30, 2023

Yamamoto also added an assist for his first two points of the six-game series.

The Yamamoto goal was also a sigh of relief for Oilers fans, who just minutes earlier watched Stuart Skinner fail to clear the puck, leading to a Phillip Danault game-tying goal. Even though this play will make blooper highlight shows, Skinner's stick had broken on this play.

Oh no, Stuart Skinner… pic.twitter.com/WJP3sb6g3P

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 30, 2023

Klim Kostin had a strong game for the Oilers, scoring twice while adding an assist with a plus-3. Kostin is affirming himself as a solid depth forward for the Oilers. He has five hits in three of the six games in this series.

Power-play effectiveness was a difference maker in this series. The Oilers went 9-for-15 on the man advantage.

Despite the loss, Kevin Fiala scored a power-play goal and added two assists. He had played in just three playoff games for the Kings, but he had recorded six points total and points in all three games. In his first season with the Kings, Fiala matched his pace from last season in Minnesota (1.04 PTS/GP). Sometimes trades don't do that much for a player's fantasy value.

Drew Doughty‘s average icetime in this series was over 28 minutes.

This was going to be a tough matchup for Joonas Korpisalo no matter what, but he was tagged with really bad starts in both Games 5 and 6. He had also allowed 14 goals over his last three games (with a .839 SV%) after allowing eight over the first three games. The most important decision the Kings will have on their hands this offseason will be in net, as Korpisalo will be a UFA this offseason. Will Cal Petersen receive another chance in the NHL, or do the Kings sign or trade for another more established goalie? Petersen finished the AHL season with a 2.88 GAA and .904 SV%, which is okay but not great. I think the Kings try to somehow upgrade at the goalie position this offseason.

In the first confirmed second-round series, the Oilers will now face the Vegas Golden Knights in a matchup of the top two picks in the 2015 draft (Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel). Should be an exciting series. Who do you like? Look for our picks shortly after all the first-round series are completed.  

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Injury update… Andrew Cogliano is out indefinitely with a fractured neck after taking a hit from Jordan Eberle during Game 6. Eberle received a two-minute minor penalty for the hit, but he will not be suspended. That sounds like a brutal injury, so hopefully Cogliano is able to recover soon.  

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Follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding for more fantasy hockey.