CANADIENS SWEEP JETS, CLINCH BERTH IN STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS
The Canadiens pulled ahead 2-0 in the first period, but two goals by Jets defenseman LoganStanley evened the score before the midway point of the game, setting the stage for an overtime winner by TylerToffoli which propelled Montreal into the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

* Montreal completed the sweep of Winnipeg without ever trailing and have not been behind in a game over the course of their active seven-game winning streak. Their active stretch of 437:53 without trailing stands as the second-longest such run in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, behind the benchmark of 488:38 set by the 1960 Canadiens when they won their NHL-record fifth consecutive championship.

* After being the last to clinch a playoff spot and last to make it through the First Round, the Canadiens became the first to clinch a spot in the final four. Montreal completed the 23rd best-of-seven sweep in franchise history, doing so after claiming a Game 7 victory against Toronto on May 31.



* The Canadiens, who swept a playoff series for the first time since the 2014 First Round (vs. TBL), became the third team in NHL history to sweep a playoff round after overcoming a 3-1 deficit in its previous series, following Edmonton in the 1990 Division Finals and Tampa Bay in the 2011 Conference Semifinals.

* The Canadiens carry a seven-game winning streak into the Stanley Cup Semifinals dating to Game 5 of the First Round, the club’s longest in a playoff year since a franchise-record 11-game run en route to a championship in 1993.

CANADIENS TO FACE AVALANCHE OR GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN NEXT ROUND
Montreal will face one of the top-two teams from the 2020-21 regular-season in the next round - either Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado or second-ranked Vegas.

* Montreal has never faced Colorado in a playoff round since the franchise relocated to Denver, but the Canadiens and Nordiques went head-to-head in five postseason series in the rivalry known as “The Battle of Quebec” (1982 DSF, 1984 DF, 1985 DF, 1987 DF & 1993 DSF). Montreal held a 3-2 series edge against its provincial rival, including a six-game triumph over Joe Sakic and the Nordiques during the 1993 Division Semifinals en route to winning its most-recent Stanley Cup.



* A matchup against Vegas would be a franchise-first for Montreal and the 29th different postseason opponent for the franchise since 1918 (including matchups against four non-NHL clubs). Nick Suzuki, who assisted on each of Montreal's two series-clinching goals this postseason, was a first-round pick by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Draft (13th overall). On Sept. 10, 2018, Suzuki was traded with Tomas Tatar to Montreal for Max Pacioretty, who played for the Canadiens in each of his first 10 NHL seasons (2008-09–2017-18) including three in which he served as team captain (2015-16–2017-18).



ISLANDERS RALLY AGAIN, HEAD HOME WITH 3-2 SERIES LEAD
After allowing a DavidPastrnak goal just 85 seconds after the opening faceoff, the Islanders responded with five of the next six goals to claim a 3-2 lead in their series against the Bruins. MathewBarzal (1-1—2) tied the game with 71 seconds left in the first period, extending his goal streak to three games and helping New York claim yet another comeback win.

* The Islanders have trailed by at least one goal in each of their five victories since Game 5 of the First Round against the Penguins.

* The Islanders will return home to Nassau Coliseum – where they have clinched 13 series – with a chance to reach the final four in consecutive seasons for the first time since a run of six straight years from 1979 to 1984.

* Barzal was one of five Islanders with multiple points as they won a playoff game despite being outshot 44-19. It was the third time that New York claimed a playoff victory with a shot differential of minus-25 or higher.

* Kyle Palmieri scored his team-leading sixth goal of the postseason, marking the second straight year that the Islanders have had an in-season acquisition score as many goals in the ensuing playoffs.

QUICK CLICKS

* Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage
* #NHLStats Live Updates: Tuesday, June 8
* Canada approves border exemption beginning with Stanley Cup Semifinals
* Start times set for Stanley Cup Playoff games Thursday, June 10
* Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award finalists announced

DEFENDING CHAMPS LOOK TO JOIN MONTREAL IN STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS

The defending champion Lightning will look to join the Canadiens in the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals when they visit the Hurricanes tonight, opening a two-game slate that will also see the Golden Knights and Avalanche battle for a 3-2 edge in their series.

* The Lightning have won five of eight potential series-clinching games since the start of their Cup run last year, with BraydenPoint leading the charge with 3-6—9 (including two GWG) despite playing in only seven of those contests. Tampa Bay can become the fifth defending Stanley Cup champion in the last 18 years to reach the final four.

* One of the top two teams from the 2020-21 regular season will be a win away from the Stanley Cup Semifinals after tonight as the Avalanche put their 13-game home winning streak (including regular season) on the line against the Golden Knights. Of the 16 series in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) between the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams, 12 have required at least six games – including each of the seven most recent matchups.

Thanks to the NHL PR department for the information above.